FREMONT HILLS, MO  -- After a historic run the past three years many were left wondering if the Lady Irish could pick up where they left off in 2021. After winning their first three tournaments of 2022, the teams seems to have answered that question. The Lady Irish claimed the Ozark Invitational for the fifth straight year behind Lyla Louderbaugh's even par round of 71.

The Irish carded a tournament low 347 to grab this year's Ozark title. Runner-up honors went to the Willard Tigers. The Tigers carded a 390, 11 strokes better than the third place Nixa Eagles who turned in a 401.

"Our top two players, Lyla and Grace Tiedemann, who finished out her day with an 82, did struggle somewhat on the front nine today. That's something neither one of them are accustomed to. But they turned things around on the back side to finish well," said Springfield Catholic head coach Jeff Tebbenkamp. "The fact that they did turn things around tells you a lot about their character and that they can handle adversity."

"When you play the game of golf eventually you're going to run into some kind of adversity," he said. "So when the wheels begin to wobble a little bit, it's a very positive thing for a coach, when he watches his kids weather the storm to get their game back together. And that's exactly what I saw today from Lyla and Grace."

Louderbaugh shot a two over par 37 on the front side at Fremont but rallied on the backside to card a two under par 34 to close out her afternoon at an even par 71.

"I was hitting greens today but my lag putting wasn't the best. So I was struggling to make putts," said Louderbaugh. "But I figured things out on the backside. My lag putting was much better and I left the ball close to the hole for tap-ins. I didn't have any three putts or bogeys on the backside to go along with two birdies."

Louderbaugh's back nine, not only helped her to finish the day even, but it also helped to earn her top medalist honors.

TEAM SCORES

1. Springfield Catholic – 347
2. Willard – 390
3. Nixa – 401
4. Logan-Rogersville – 418
5. Ozark – 419
6. Branson – 420
7. Greenwood – 436
8. Joplin – 435
9. Central – 439
10. Webb City – 457

INDIVIDUAL SCORES

1. Lyla Louderbaugh – 71 – Springfield Catholic
2. Marlee Edgeman – 73 – Marshfield
3. Josey Roberts – 77 – Ozark
T4. March Mantala – 82 – Logan- Rogersville
T4. Grace Tiedemann – 82 – Springfield Catholic
6. Kylee Hopper – 83 – Willard
7. Sarah Han – 84 – Springfield Catholic
8. Maci Rogers – 87 – Branson
9. Shay Gaddis – 88 – Carthage
10. Aubrey Foster – 92 – Willard