The Purdy High School boys golf team hosted the Class 1, District 3 Tournament on Monday, and one Eagle senior punched his ticket to the next stage.

Brady Garner shot a 111 (+30) on a windy, hot day on Windmill Ridge Golf Course, tying for 13th overall but finishing 9th in the individual scoring system used for state qualification. Brandon Moore,

Brandon Moore, Purdy golf coach, said he lobbied to host the district tournament to give his seniors a sense of home when they played.

“One of the reasons I wanted to host was to give the opportunity to my seniors to be comfortable, and when you play a course every day, the conditions are a factor, but you know the course.”

Conditions played a major factor in Monday’s play.

“The course played really tough because of the wind and the rough,” he said. “You really had to stay in the fairway. The best score on the day was a +11, so that tells you how difficult it was for all.

“Temperature-wise, it was the hottest day of the year, and for high school kids to wake up and practice, then play, like 6 hours total on the day, that’s tough,” Moore said. “Those last three or four holes, you really have to keep your poise and push through.”

Garner pushed through with consistency and caution, Moore said.

“Brady played his game, which is to hit the fairway, hit the green and two-putt for par,” he said. “He had to make less mistakes on the green, limiting threeputts, and he had to stay in bounds. He made some decisions to shoot straight shots instead of going for distance.”

Moore said the challenge the course offered Monday is a positive factor going forward.

“It’s a win-win for all because Windmill Ridge is a competitive course for high school kids,” he said. “The back nine, with its elevation changes and rough, is really challenging. I thank the city of Monett for providing a course like that for us to play on. A home course that competitive makes all of the kids better golfers.”

Garner now heads to Rivercut Golf Course in Columbia for Boys Golf State, set for Monday and Tuesday.

“He will get a practice round over the weekend, and the big key is to just have a good first day,” Moore said. “You can’t let the moment swallow you mentally, and I’ve had teams in the past that have gone to state at Rivercut and been swallowed whole.

“Brady just has to keep the mindset of just going out to play some golf.”

Full scores for Purdy include: Brady US THE A Garner, 111 (+30); Jarik Tettenhorst, 123, (+42); REA’S MOST-Carter Keeling, 123 (+42); Jake Young, 143 READ NEWS (+62); and Brad Hutson, 158 (+77). SOURCE!