Republic golfer Dylan Bekemeier shot a sizzling 34 on the back nine to take the championship of the Joplin Invitational Thursday. Bekemeier finished with an overall 18-hole score of 73. That was good enough to beat the runner-up, John Quitno of Nevada, by two strokes. John Fuchs of Kickapoo finished 3rd with a 76.
The Tigers finished 11th overall out of 15 teams. Blake Fanning shot a 97, with Austin Melton, Mitch Coiner and Dakota Fortner all scoring over 100.