Class 4 Golf State Tournament: Mules flourish in first round

Freshman Landon Barks finishes in the No. 1 spot with a putt on hole 18 at the opening round of the Class 4 Boys State Championships at Dalhousie Golf Course on Monday.

DAR/D’Courtland Christian

CAPE GIRARDEAU — The Poplar Bluff Mules golf team had a difficult day due to strong gusts and a few light rains, but they persevered and finished at the top.

The Mules had a busy Monday at Dalhousie Golf Course as they were ready to face off against some of the top players in the state in an attempt to win the coveted title of MSHSAA Class 4 Boys State Champions for 2024.

After a stellar first round against 10 other teams, the Mules finished as the top squad, scoring 295 with an 18-stroke lead. With much momentum heading into the next round, senior Lawson Barks believes this could be the year the Mules take it all.

“Our motivation all year was getting to this moment,” Barks said. “I have to give praise to the man upstairs for how we’ve played all season. We’ve prayed before every match together as a team, and it’s been working for us.”

Despite having a strong lead as a team, Barks said he started off solid but had a few mishaps toward the end of the course. He said he played well on the front but had a five-hole bogey streak on the back end. Though the day was brutal, Barks plans to clean up his play to keep his team out front.

Individually, freshman Landen Barks was the player who landed a spot at the top of the first round. Barks finished in a three-way tie for first on a total par of -1 with a score of 71. Caiden Luke tied for fifth on a total to par of +2 with a score of 74 and Lawson and Corban Thomas both tied for seventh on a total to par of +3 with a score of 75.

Thomas said he felt good on the greens, and he hopes to hit the ball better in the second round. Though the weather could play a factor in how well the Mules shoot on Tuesday, Thomas said the weather is not something they can control. He said they can control how they approach the game and play through whatever adversity is thrown their way.

“The weather is not something you can control because everybody has to play in it,” Thomas said. “We just have to go out and hit the ball. I’m hoping that we all go out and putt good and have a fairway green to putt good. Right now, it’s in the Lord’s hands, we just have to play our game. We played solid as a team, and I think we will be fine for the next round.”