JACKSON, Mo. -- Jackson's best score of the season wasn't enough to claim first at the Jackson Invitational on Monday, as district rival Poplar Bluff edged the Indians by two strokes.
The Mules shot a 319 as Nathan Woolard led the way with a 1-over-par 72 to grab medalist honors at Kimbeland Country Club.
"Everything clicked," Poplar Bluff coach Billy Pyland said. "His driver clicked. He started hitting fairways, started hitting greens and started putting well. And you know what's good about him is he walks around the greens and does the little things. You just can't get frustrated when you're playing bad. He expects to shoot under par all the time, but hey, it's not going to happen. You're human, so you've just go to take what you get."
Poplar Bluff's Justin Pierce and Justin Capps tied for fifth at 80 while Ryan Bridgewater shot 87 and Analeise Pyland a 94.
While it wasn't a team title, it was a satisfying result for Jackson coach Zack Walton.
As the season progresses and the Indians inch closer to the postseason, Walton is pleased his group is improving.
"It was a good score for us," Walton said. "We've kind of struggled getting us all to shoot a good score on the same day, and we shot a good score today. We could have shot a little bit better. A couple kids on there I know are a little bit disappointed. I know they wanted to shoot about three, four strokes less, but I think that's everybody's golf game."
Jackson's Tanner Walton, Zack's son, and Brandon Wagner of Park Hills Central tied for second with a 2-over 73. Notre Dame's Jonathan Bell was fourth, shooting a 77.
With Bell leading the way, the Bulldogs finished third with a score of 339. Saxony Lutheran was sixth, and Cape Central finished ninth in the 11-team field.
Bloomfield placed seventh led by Peyton Bell's 78 at 363, followed by Dexter's 377 as Spencer Warren shot 82 for 10th.
Jackson carded a 321, with Case Englehart joining Walton in the top 10 with a score of 80.
Two of the Indians' three other golfers shot in the 80s playing on their home course. Seth Waters shot an 83, and Nate Kaminskas finished with an 85.
"We're trying to get the whole team down there close to 80, and today we accomplished that a little bit," coach Walton said.
Everyone had to deal with less-than-ideal conditions, as rain fell throughout the invitational. Coach Walton said it was a drizzle at times, but the weather still presented a challenge for the golfers.
"It does come in and play a little factor in there," coach Walton said. "You shoot in the 70s today in the rain. That's a really good score today in the rain."
Coach Pyland said his team seems to thrive in bad weather.
"You've got to be mentally tough and like to play in the rain," he said. "You're defeated once you decide the rain's going to hurt your game. You're dead. You're done."'
Woolard's round featured 12 pars while two of his four bogeys came in the first four holes. He got back to 1-over with a birdie on the par-4 fifth. The junior was 2-over after 12 holes before an eagle on the par-5 13th when he rolled in a 12-foot putt.
Woolard finished with four straight pars while Pierce closed 1-over in his final four holes. Pierce and Capps each had 10 pars but Capps opened his round with a birdie on the par-3 18th and five straight pars before running into trouble.
Bridgewater had seven pars during his round while Analeise Pyland carded four. With four holes to play, Bridgewater was 9-over following four straight pars but ran into trouble on his next three holes before finishing out with a par.
"I was proud of my kids," Coach Pyland said. "Two of my kids I saw struggle a lot, but they never quit and that's what I was proud of that they kept chunking the ball and then making a double bogey, triple bogey and they kept on fighting. I think that helps you win."