From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Missouri Southern posted a four-man score of par-288 in Tuesday’s final round of the Pittsburg State Invitational golf tournament at Crestwood Country Club.

Unfortunately for the Lions, Central Missouri and Washburn shattered par in the final round, leaving the Lions in third place in the year’s first MIAA points tournament.

“A 288, I thought it was good,” MSSU coach Kevin Greim said. “It’s easily the best score we’re put up in Pittsburg. My first year the weather was not very good and we didn’t play very good. Two years ago we played really bad there.

“I was really happy with 293 (on Monday)-288, but you look at those other two teams, they put on a show.”

First-round leader Central Missouri fired a 13-under-par 275 in the final round for a 563 total. Washburn, the defending conference champion, was next with 279-575, followed by Missouri Southern 581, Lincoln 588, Truman State 589 and Pittsburg State 592.

Completing the team scores: Fort Hays State 596, Southwest Baptist 600, Missouri Western 601, Coffeyville Community College 615, Sterling 616, MSU-West Plains 621, Pittsburg State B 624, Kansas City CC 628, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 645 and Independence CC 648.

Justin Yoder of Central Missouri shot a 5-under-par 67 and earned medalist honors with 7-under 137.

Missouri Southern’s Andy Hogenmiller and Central Missouri’s Matt Miller tied for second with 140. Hogenmiller, who was third one week ago in the Lions’ first tournament, shot 72-68, and Miller had 73-67.

“Andy is so solid right now,” Greim said. “He never seems to get in trouble. He’s doing everything well. He hits fairways, puts himself in position to score and finishes off holes he should finish off.”

The Lions’ Taylor Griffith tied for seventh with 71-72–143. Other MSSU scores: Seve Smith 73-74—147, Chris Needham 77-74—151 and David Eddy 78-77—155.

“Taylor Griffith didn’t play well in our first tournament,” Greim said. “He’s qualified very well, and I was glad to see him play well in a situation that was not qualifying. When it really mattered, he played well.”

Three Lions played as individual entries — David Clark 75-74—149, Adam Nelson 74-78—152 and Stephen Boyd 73-79—152.

For Pittsburg State, Shane Collins and Fletcher Harder tied with 148, and Kyle Capps shot 149 after a final-round 69.