OZARK TIME AGAIN: Tournament returns to Poplar Bluff for 77th edition this weekend

Chad Niezing recorded the largest win over an opponent in decades to capture the 2022 edition of the Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational.

Niezing returns to defend his title at the 77th annual tournament at Westwood Hills Country Club this weekend, with a chance to enter the prestigious class of a three-time champion. Last year he became the 14th player to win the Ozark title a second time, following his 2020 victory when he shot 136 to win by four strokes.

He will compete against key returners such as Tod Rose, who placed third last year, and 2016 champion Joshua Rhodes, who tied for sixth. Along with some competitors that finished in the top 10, Niezing will also face off against the best players in the region.

“We’re really looking forward to this weekend,” said Jimmy Vernon, the club professional at Westwood Hills and the tournament director. “It’s kind of the kickoff of the golf season for the state of Missouri, where it’s the first event for individual points. We should expect many guys from all over the state to come down and get their game tuned up.

“The weather looks pretty decent for Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, we won’t get much Friday, so we can get our shoot out in. Overall, we got a full and strong group in seniors and championship division.”

A weekend filled with nonstop action will kick off with the annual Ozark Shootout, where the top 10 from last year will compete. The event starts at 3 p.m. Friday. Following is the 36-hole Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational, which starts at 8 a.m. Saturday with the Senior Division players teeing off first.

With the Invitational reaching its 77th year, Vernon said it’s amazing to see this event become such a long-standing tournament. He’s seen many champions crown from the Poplar Bluff area and has enjoyed watching a few of the greats from Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and Arkansas compete for top honors.

Vernon said one of the biggest changes over the recent years is the growth of the senior division.

“Our senior division is starting to get stronger and stronger,” he said. “There’s definitely more golfers starting to trend a little bit more towards the senior divisions in Missouri. As we gear up for this tournament, I believe we’ve got a great senior field as well as a great championship field, and I’m excited to see how well they perform.”

One participant looking forward to the senior division is local golfer Troy Bell. Bell has played golf for many years and enjoys getting out on the course with his family. He recently just returned from Augusta, Georgia, where his youngest daughter Anna competed in the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Nationals.

Bell has competed in the invitational for years and said it is always a fun time playing against other golfers.

“I always enjoy playing here at the Ozark Open,” Bell said. “Jimmy Vernon does a wonderful job getting players from all over the state of Missouri and further to come here. It’s a great time just to get out and compete on a great golf course at Westwood Hills. I’m always amazed at how many players play in this Ozark Invitational. It’s just a fun time, but be ready to bring your ‘A’ game.”

Bell isn’t the only local participant, as Poplar Bluff will have a combined 30 golfers competing in the Ozark.

Poplar Bluff’s last champion was in 2015 when Carr Vernon won for the second time in a playoff, while Dexter’s Chance Holden won in 2018. Tyler Norton came close as he tied for fourth place last year.

Poplar Bluff had two other players finish in the top 10 last year, with Ben Brumitt finishing tied for sixth and Derek Rahlmann tying for 10th.

In the Senior Division, defending champion Bobby Godwin returns for a chance to win a third senior title, which started in 2020. Godwin also won the Ozark in 1989 .

So far, every senior winner has gone on to win a third title. Could this be in the cards for Godwin as he takes on past champions Brain Haskell and Steve Groom? Stay tuned.

As golfers prepare to make their way to the Ozark, Jimmy Vernon said they put a lot of prep into getting the course ready, and the players should expect nothing but the best.

“I think the golfers will have a great time because our course is in really good shape,” he said. “It’s early in the year, but our greens are just fantastic. They’re about as good as you can get anywhere, not only in the state of Missouri but really anywhere in the country. They’ll be in perfect condition for the players this weekend, and we are really excited to kick it off Friday.”