Nesselrodt, Bearcats net top-5 finishes at Class 3 state championship

SPRINGFIELD — The Dexter Bearcats boys’ golf team kept the 2024 season momentum going Monday and Tuesday as they competed in the Class 3 state championship at Rivercut Golf Course, in Springfield, Mo.

As a team, the Bearcats shot 317 during round one action, and concluded the second round in a downpour, 313, good for fifth place (630).

Incoming junior Fredric “Banks” Nesselrodt led the team with his 3rd-place tie, shooting a 143 over the two days (73-70).DEXTER STATESMAN/Tyler Thompson

Incoming junior Fredric “Banks” Nesselrodt led the team with his 3rd-place tie, shooting a 143 over the two days (73-70).

Nesselrodt tied California’s William Boyd.

“It was definitely a battle, left a couple of shots out there,” Nesselrodt said. “Overall, proud of my performance and hoping to do a little bit better next year.”

The soon-to-be junior was just as focused on the team as he was himself.

“Maybe, as a team, even pick up a win with us improving over the summer, fall and into spring,” he said of his teammates.

Rivercut — a top 100 course in the country — provides some tough terrain.

The course was named to GolfWeek’s top-10 Missouri public courses in 2022, and rated Golf Digest’s No. 1 Missouri Municipal Golf Course (2009).

“The greens were tricky,” said Nesselrodt. “A lot of putts that I thought I hit well just didn’t drop. Overall, they were pretty nice, pretty nice. The weather was tough but everyone else was playing in it. It didn’t mess me up too bad.”

Benjamin Christian finished tied for 26th with a 79 and 75 (154); Tucker Temples tied for 37th with his 78, 81 (159); Alyssa Warren tied for 70th with her 87, 87 (174). And William Guethle finished tied for 81st with his 92, 88 (180).

Nesselrodt likes the maturation of his team: a team took home the district championship earlier this month. The Bearcats shot a program-best 305 en route to the title.

“I have seen a lot of improvement,” he said. “Just us coming together; really proud of us. We shot the best scores we ever have at state.”

Christian said while he didn’t have his A-game, it serves as motivation for an even better 2025.

“Obviously, I didn’t play to my capabilities this week,” he said. “I have been in a slump, but one tournament does not define you as a player. I can take some positives away from the week; we are a young team and we played well.”

Work ethic is the motto headed into the offseason, Temples said.

“We play well together. We have good work ethic,” he said. “If we have good things for years to come. We had a great season. We pretty much beat every record we’ve had for golf. It is one of those years where the class we are in is really good.”

Fellow incoming senior Tucker Temples said playing through unfavorable conditions comments on the team’s resolve.

“It was the longest two days of golf in my life. The weather was ... today was worse than yesterday. Yesterday, I didn’t get touched by the rain. Today, was really bad. It was just a grind both days.”