Houston High School graduate Dustin Blackburn recently helped the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly men’s club golf team win the first-ever collegiate tournament in West Plains.
Blackburn was one of three Grizzlies to end the day-long event in a three-way tie for first place. All three shot 75s before a two-hole playoff. Taylor Vanzant of Cassville won the playoff, followed by Blackburn in second place and Josh Kern of Seymour.
Blackburn is a 2009 HHS graduate and three-time state golf qualifier.
The Grizzlies posted a team score of 387, besting the second place Mineral Area College Cardinals by eight strokes. Lyon College shot a 429 to finish third.
“I think our first tournament was a success,” Grizzly coach Phil Wade said. “I’m proud of our team. They put forth a lot of effort, and they kept their composure on a day in which is was difficult to play. The winds were strong, and the greens were fast, which made it difficult to putt. But I’m happy with the progress our team continues to show in every event.”
Other Grizzlies competing included freshman J.W. Blevins of Salem, Ark., who shot a round of 80; freshman Josh Hicks of Willow Springs, who shot an 82; and freshman Jay Williams of Eminence, who shot an 84.