Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Ozark Invitational preview

Posted Friday, April 24, 2009, at 6:27 AM

Right in the middle of the 11th fairway at Westwood Hills Country Club stands a tree so despised, many would be happy to see it turned into furniture or firewood.

Everybody in the 63rd annual Ozark Invitational will face that oak tree this weekend with the same decision to make.

"Without the tree it would be a nothing hole," said Tom Hoover, tournament director. "With the tree, you have to figure to hit it right or left of the tree. If you hit left, you can hit it out of bounds.

"But the tree makes the hole."

Of all the trees that were damaged during an ice storm this past February, the large oak tree in the middle of the 11th fairway was nearly untouched. It lost a branch or two, but unlike many of the trees on the 6,248-yard course, it's hard to tell.

Hoover estimated that five good-sized trees were completely removed and it took over 75 volunteers the course of two weekends to remove the majority of the debris.

With fewer trees and limbs, will there be lower scores among the 135-man field?

"The course is more open but I don't think it will affect the scores," Hoover said. "You still have to put the ball in the fairway, you have to put it on the green.

"The greens are going to be hard and slick."

The tree on No. 11 aside, the real test at Westwood Hills comes with putter in hand.

"I think it's going to be harder because the greens are a lot firmer and a lot faster," said Billy Pyland, golf coach for Poplar Bluff High School who is also in the field.

For the first time, Pyland's high school players can enter the tournament.

The Missouri High School Activities Association changed a rule to allow golfers to play in two non-team tournaments during the season. Three players from Poplar Bluff -- Zack Stricker, Trent Hillis and Carr Vernon -- will play in the two-day tournament along with several other area high school players.

In past years, Vernon caddied for his dad and Hillis was on his brother Tyler's bag last year as he finished tied for fourth. Instead of lending their knowledge of the course to others, the high school players could be a threat.

"We have a couple of kids that can play with anybody," Hoover said.

Playing in the Ozark will help prepare them for the two-day state championships in May, Pyland said.

"I think anytime you get a tournament under your belt it's a good thing," he added.

Also new this year is a split into two divisions -- championship and senior for players age 50 and up. The change is to accommodate the Missouri Golf Association's point standings to determine the top golfers in the state for the year.

There will also be a new champion. Kyle Ramey, who shot a 6-under 136 to win last year, turned pro, as did four-time champion Rob Long. Still, five former champions are expected to play including four-time winner Ben Godwin, 1994 champ Antonio Serrano, '92 champ Scott Thomas and Roger Null, who won in 1982.

Buddy Allen of Pevely, last year's runner-up by a stroke, is back along with three of the top six finishers.

Newcomers include Lane Pippin of Ocean Springs, Miss. who has won his state's Amateur and Open titles along with the Mid-Amataur.

The tournament starts at 8 a.m. Saturday while the annual Ozark Shootout will be held at 3 p.m. Friday starting on the 10th tee.

With all the damage to trees, Hoover said the one hole that may be the most different is the par-4 13th. The dog-leg right lost much of the canopy that protects the green from the tee on the 395-yard hole.

"Most of the long knockers like to knock it over the top of the trees," Hoover said. "It used to be a risk and if you took the risk, you had reward."

Much of the tree damage was done on the front 9, which is the newer part of the course and has younger, smaller trees. The back 9, which opened in 1936, lost two trees on the left side of the green at No. 14 but the large sycamore tree 118 yards from the green on No. 15 had little damage much like the oak on 11.

That "#%$@ tree" on No. 11 stares down golfers teeing off 272 yards away, standing in the way of an easy birdie on the par-4 hole. Located 150 yards from the green, the tree splits the fairway with 28 yards on the left and 32 yards on the right before another row of trees.

It's the toughest hole in terms of relation to par and only one winner in the past four years has carded a birdie there.

"You have to pick a side, it's got to be right or left," said Stricker, a senior on the Poplar Bluff golf team. "It's a tough one and it's right in the landing area too."

Stricker said after the ice storm hit, he knew that tree would still be standing.

"It's Murphy's Law," he added. "I knew the tree on 11 will still be there and one on (No.) 4. I'm always behind that one too and it's still standing."

While the trees took a hit, Westwood's signature greens are faster and slicker than ever.

"The Ozark is all about the greens," Trent Hillis said. "Whoever putts the best is going to win. That's what the Ozark is about."

Here's the starter's list for the first day of the tournament, which is subject to change:

63rd MICHELOB OZARK INVITATIONAL

Westwood Hills Country Club, par 71

8 a.m.

Schooner Fitzgerald, Cahokia, Ill.

James Gorsuch, St. Louis

Tim Horne, Piedmont