JOPLIN, Mo. --Nathan Woolard tied for the lowest round Tuesday to close out the MSHSAA Class 4 championships and earn a second all-state medal.
The Poplar Bluff junior shot 1-over-par 73 for a two-day total of 6-over 150 to finish tied for fifth. It was the highest finish for the Mules since 2011 when Carr Vernon was runner-up.
Woolard was one of three players to shoot a 73 in the final round, improving four shots over his opening 77 at Twin Hills Country Club.
"I felt a little more comfortable," Woolard said. "I wasn't as nervous as (Monday), I was a little more nervous, a little more antsy over shots. Today, I felt more calm about them."
He finished four shots behind medalist Joe Terschluse of Chaminade who had a second straight round of 73 to finish at 2-over 146. Alex Locke of Glendale and Rockhurt's Jacob Propeck tied at 148 for second. Washington's Matt Hoemann, tied with two others for the first-round lead at 72, was fourth at 149.
It was Poplar Bluff's 18th top-five finish that includes five medalists.
Woolard's round featured four birdies and nine pars.
He was 6-over for the tournament after a bogey on the par-4 fourth but got consecutive birdies starting on the par-5 seventh. Instead of going for the green in two shots, Woolard played it safe and his approach landed within 10 feet for a birdie putt.
On the the par-3 eighth, Woolard stuck a 7-iron from 155 yards to within eight feet for another birdie.
"I was feeling good," he said of making the turn at 4-over for the tournament.
However, consecutive bogeys followed, including losing another ball on the par-3 11th.
In the first round, Woolard's tee shot landed out of bounds on No. 11 while Tuesday it found water. Again, he was able to save bogey when his shot from the drop zone landed within a foot for a tap-in putt.
"I don't know if I like the hole or don't like the hole," Woolard said.
After bogeys on the par-4 13th and par-5 15th, Woolard was at 8-over with a chance of falling out of an all-state medal. His 3-wood approach on the par-5 16th fell short of the green and his chip ran past the hole but he was able to drain a 10-footer for birdie.
Woolard chipped in for birdie on the par-4 17th then closed the par-3 18th with a par.
He became the 10th Poplar Bluff player to earn multiple all-state honors and has a chance for a third next year, joining Trent Hillis (3), Tyler Hillis (3), Craig Caringer (3), Tom Hoover (3) and Colby Robertson (4). Last year Woolard tied for 11th at state after tying for 28th as a freshman.
Woolard nearly didn't make the trip this year.
He took the final individual spot, tying for 21st at the sectional with a 5-over 78. He was the runner-up at the district for a second straight year, a shot behind Jackson's Tanner Walton who tied for 60th at state, after earning medalist honors at the conference tournament.
"We practiced pretty hard on short game," Mules coach Billy Pyland said. "We worked on stuff that really hurts him and he perfected it. We worked 2 1/2 hours on short game, wedging it, approach shots. It's all about getting your ball in the hole, having confidence in putting."
Rockhurst won the team title by three strokes over Glendale 610-613 while Chaminade was third at 615.