Dylan Bekemeier’s run for another all-state selection ended in disappointment Tuesday at the Class 5 state golf tournament in Cape Girardeau. Bekemeier struggled for a second straight day, posting an 11-over-par 83 to end the tournament with a two-day total of 161. That score put him one shot away from earning all-state honors in golf for a second time in his career. Despite his struggles, Bekemeier finished tied for 17th in a field of 88 golfers.
Brad Carpenter of Washington earned the individual championship with a two-day total of 145 (+1). Joplin’s Nicholas Yuhas was the highest southwest Missouri golfer in the field, tied for eighth with a 156.
Bekemeier had entered the tournament with hopes of earning a 4th state championship — a second golf title to go with two in basketball. He opened the first day with a strong front nine, shooting two over par on the very difficult course at Dalhousie Golf Club. But five bogeys on the back nine, along with only one birdie, left him at +6 through the first day.
Tuesday, Bekemeier opened on the 10th hole and had trouble finding a rhythm all day. After shooting par on the first three holes of the day, he bogeyed seven of the next eight holes, and 11 of the next 14.
Tuesday also marked Bekemeier’s last day as a Republic Tiger, after one of the most successful careers of any athlete in school history. He’ll take both his basketball and golf careers to Evangel University next year.