Despite shaving four strokes off his score from last year’s state tournament, Republic junior Cason Bekemeier found himself in a familiar position on the leaderboard. Bekemeier tied for 65th at the Class 5 boys golf state tournament at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield, the same spot he finished in 2023 at Silo Ridge in Bolivar.
Bekemeier carded rounds of 79 both days for a two-day total of 158, a notable improvement from his sophomore campaign, when he shot a 162. His first-round 79 this year matched his second-round score from the previous state tournament.
John (Bubba) Chapman of Chaminade College Prep won the individual title with a 137, edging out Caden Mickelson of Liberty North by one stroke. Harry Satterlee of Joplin, a Central Ozark Conference rival of Republic, tied for third with a 140.
Bekemeier will return next season, but the Republic squad will be under new leadership. Tuesday’s round marked the last coaching duty for Kris Flood, who announced his retirement as girls basketball and boys golf coach earlier this year.
