Southeast Missourian player of the week: Central's Travis Simmons

Central junior Travis Simmons grabbed his third tournament title of the season by winning the Class 4 District 1 individual title last week at Aberdeen Golf Club in Eureka, Mo.

Simmons covered the par-72 layout in 1-over to edge Lindbergh's Christopher Ferris by a shot.

"He's just having a fantastic season," Central coach Dick Wadlington said. "The two of them kind of separated themselves from the rest of the field. Travis is just playing really well. I'm really proud of him."

Simmons was among three Central golfers to qualify for the sectional round, joining sophomore Luke Kinder and freshman Kobe Franklin.

Simmons won the SEMO Conference medalist honor a week earlier at Dalhousie Golf Club, and he opened his season with the low score at the Notre Dame Invitational at Bent Creek. Simmons has proven to be a threat to win every time he tees it up, emerging as medalist in eight of his 13 competitions this season. His high score over 18 holes is 77, and his highest nine-hole score is 37. He's made a rare double-eagle (at Hidden Trails Country Club in Dexter, Mo.) in a season in which he's a cumulative 14-over par over 171 holes.

"He's just an intelligent player," Wadlington said. "He's got a good, solid game. All his game is strong -- his woods, his irons. He's a good chipper and a good putter. He's just a nice high school player."