Congratulations Blake and Steve
Driskell closes out Ozark win with run of pars
By BRIAN ROSENER
DailyAmericanRepublic
POPLAR BLUFF,Mo.— Clinging to a 2-shot lead in the 66th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational, Blake Driskell found his ball nestled against the base of a tree Sunday afternoon.
His tee shot on the par-4 11th at Westwood Hills Country Club sailed to the right, a few yards from the pro shop and behind a tree. Driskell’s only play was to punch it out to the fairway and chip on while his nearest competitor was already on the green in two shots.
A par save from 6 feet gave Driskell all the momentum he needed to win the tournament.
“That was a big point in the round,” Driskell said. “Making a par felt like making a birdie.”
TheCape Girardeaugolfer followed a 5-under-par 66 in the first round with a 1-under 70 to win his first Ozark title by 3 strokes.
“It’s kind of nice to know my name is going to be on (the trophy) with some pretty good company,” Driskell said. “It’s an honor.”
Brian Haskell ofSt. Josephwas second at 139 while three players tied at 140, including 2010 champion Carr Vernon. ThePoplar Bluffsenior closed with a 6-under 65, a shot off the Ozark course record, to rally from his opening-round 75.
Ryne Fisher, who started the day a shot behind Driskell, ended up tied withVernonand Brevin Giebler ofCape Girardeau. Buddy Allen of Pevely and Ron Mangold ofPocahontas,Ark.were tied at 143 for sixth.
Driskell never lost the lead, or his cool, on a hot and windy afternoon.
“He played good,” said Haskell of Driskell. “Had a couple of bad shot but other than that he played really well all day.”
Driskell’s tee shot to open the round landed among the trees after clearing the water. He chipped over a tree and onto the green, setting up an 8-foot birdie putt that padded his lead.
“That just kind of settled me down, which was good,” Driskell said.
Fisher answered with a long drive over the water on the par-5 second. His two-putt birdie got the former Mizzou Tiger to within a stroke.
After both got a par with two-putts on the par-3 third, Driskell gained a shot with a birdie on No. 4. His drive landed left of the fairway in the hardpan but a gap-wedge from 85 yards set up a 4-foot birdie putt.
“That was one of my better shots of the day there,” Driskell said.
Two holes later, the lead was 3 shots when Driskell sank a 6-foot downhill putt for birdie to get to 8-under for the tournament.
All four players in the final group — Driskell, Fisher, Haskell and Giebler –¬†got bogeys on the par-3 eighth with two-putts. On No. 9, one of eight birdie holes in the first round for Driskell, he found the sand with his second shot but saved par with two putts.
Fisher, meanwhile, got up-and-down from the left with a long, downhill putt to get within 2 of Driskell. Haskell moved to within 3 with an eagle putt from about 10 feet but the defending state stroke play champ, had bogeys on the next two holes.
“For two days I couldn’t get the exact speed,” Haskell said. “Couldn’t read the greens and couldn’t get the right speed, that’s a bad combination.”
The final group started the back 9 with a bogey each on the par-3 10th.
With out of bounds on the left side and a large tree in the middle of the fairway, the 11th hole is the longest par-4 at 410 yards and the toughest hole to make par.
Fisher, a long hitter, got past the tree in the middle of the fairway while Giebler landed just behind it at the 150-yard maker. Driskell’s tee shot was headed to the parking lot before nestling up next to a tree.
“A couple of years ago I would have lost it probably because I would have been upset,” Driskell said. “You just take your medicine. I tried to stay level headed, just do what I could.”
After a chip onto the fairway, Driskell stuck his shot from 80 yards to within 6 feet of the cup, setting up the par.
“That was a big one right there,” Haskell said.
Driskell two-putt on the par-3 12th and on the next six holes for par saves. He didn’t record one three-putt
66th TOM HOOVER OZARK INVITATIONAL
Photo provided by Daily American Republic
Steve Groom, Senior Champion
Westwood Hills Country Club, Poplar Bluff, Mo.Par: 71 (142)
Championship Division
| Blake Driskell,Cape Girardeau | 66-70 — 136 |
| Brian Haskell,St. Joseph | 69-70 — 139 |
| Ryne Fisher,Columbia | 67-73 — 140 |
| Brevin Giebler,Cape Girardeau | 69-71 — 140 |
| CarrVernon,Poplar Bluff | 75-65 — 140 |
| Buddy Allen, Pevely | 72-71 — 143 |
| Ron Mangold,Pocahontas,Ark. | 73-70 — 143 |
| Tom Barry,St. Louis | 72-72 — 144 |
| Wayne Fredrick,Springfield | 72-72 — 144 |
| Justin Gosa,Germantown,Tenn. | 72-72 — 144 |
| Danny Green,Jackson,Tenn. | 72-72 — 144 |
| Brent Holmes,Cape Girardeau | 71-73 — 144 |
| Brett McCauley,Poplar Bluff | 73-71 — 144 |
| Scotty McClellan, O’Fallon | 73-71 — 144 |
| Brad Nurski,St. Joseph | 74-70 — 144 |
| Patrick Riodan, Wildwood | 70-74 — 144 |
| Justin Robinson,Cahokia,Ill. | 74-70 — 144 |