Opening round of Missouri Class 2 golf tournament rained out; Pembroke Hill third in Class 1

The two-day Missouri Class 2 state golf tournament is suddenly a one-day, winner-take-all event.

Thunderstorms washed away the opening round of the meet Monday. As a result, the girls tournament will be shortened to a one-day, 18-hole event that takes place Tuesday at Joplin’s Twin Hills Country Club — weather permitting, of course.

The opening round was delayed more than three hours before golfers were allowed on the course. They attempted to complete 14 holes — the minimum required for the scores to count — but most groups only managed nine or 10 holes before the rain became too heavy in the evening.

“Everyone was totally soaking wet to the point they could no longer even hold onto the clubs,” Liberty coach Forrest Bertoldie said. “There was every attempt possible to get 14 holes, but there was just no way.”

Blue Springs and Notre Dame de Sion both qualified their full teams for the Class 2 tournament and are thought to be in the mix of contenders for the state title Tuesday.

Blue Springs senior Mariah Peters is gunning for a fourth consecutive top-10 finish. Peters and teammate Jailyn Marshall tied for the sectional championship last week.

Class 1

A three-hour weather delay, a rain-soaked golf course and first-time jitters. None of it affected Pembroke Hill freshman India Gaume on Monday.

Gaume shot a 5-over-par 77 and sits in a fourth-place tie after the opening round of the two-day Missouri Class 1 tournament. She is 5 shots behind leader Ashley Childers of Mount Vernon, who shot even par.

The event was delayed by rain in the morning, but that gave way to clear skies in the afternoon, and all of the teams were able to complete their rounds. Pembroke Hill is in third place in the team standings, 13 strokes behind first-place Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. Smithville sits fifth.

“I set a goal for the team to finish in the top-three and after researching how other teams did this year, I thought that was pretty attainable,” Pembroke Hill coach Andi Wolfe said. “I’m very optimistic about our chances now. In fact, after today, my goal is moving up.”

Pembroke Hill does not have a senior on its roster.

Barstow’s Olivia Laub shot an opening-round 80, good for ninth place. Smithville’s Abby Harmeyer is in 14th after carding an 83.

This story was originally published October 13, 2014 at 8:56 PM with the headline "Opening round of Missouri Class 2 golf tournament rained out; Pembroke Hill third in Class 1."