The Simmons Invitational Golf Tournament will return to its roots this season. The Lions Club Municipal Golf Course will host the tournament, which tees off Monday at 10 a.m.
“This is the 25th year of the tournament and it originated at the Lions Club. I felt the sentimental pull to host it there this year and Danny Carelock was more than willing to accommodate the request,” said El Dorado golf coach Chris Ezell. “The Lions Club is in the best shape I have seen in 15 years. I believe the kids will enjoy the course and the opportunity to return to play.”
The 9-team tournament includes Bryant, Crossett, Sylvan Hills, Little Rock Central, Magnolia, Camden Fairview, Texarkana, Hot Springs Lakeside and the host El Dorado.
“The numbers are slightly down overall as some schools will only be able to bring individual players, lacking the requirements for a team score,” said Ezell. “Some of it is due to the COVID shut down for junior golf events that happened earlier in the year. A lot of those events were long standing events that got delayed and the ASGA has been working diligently to get all of those events completed in a much shorter time frame than usual.”
Last year’s boys’ medalist, Lakeside’s Wil Griffin, will return to defend his title, although his team will not be present. Ezell said Bryant’s boys and girls could be favorites along with Crossett’s girls.
“El Dorado could factor into both divisions,” he added. “Camden Fairview will be a wildcard to me. We haven't seen most of their current roster in competition.”
The Wildcats’ Jon Brooks Elia and Crossett’s Cooper Williams could be high on the leaderboard in the boys’ division. For the girls, Ezell listed Magnolia’s Meghan Lindsey and Crossett’s Tori Milton.
“They have posted near even par rounds this summer and that will be a fun group to watch,” he said. “I am sure Bryant will have players talented enough to contend, just haven’t received their rosters for the event yet.”
Traditionally, the Wildcats perform well at this event. Ezell said the goals are high for both of his squads.
“Our team goals are always to win this event. As the host school, there is some added pressure to perform well at home,” said Ezell. “Our roster is inexperienced with only one senior (Preston Howard) in the program. The keys for our success will be the decision-making our kids do out on the course. Some tend to take unnecessary risks at times when there is this much competition on the course. We try to encourage the kids to manage the course to their strengths of their own game and not watch what the other players in their groups are doing. Avoiding penalty strokes is also key to success.”
As for the weather, the coach didn’t expect it to be a negative factor in the play.
“Weather should be outstanding for us. The prediction for a high of 90 degrees shouldn't get to that point until the event nears completion.”