Pioneer Golf Opens Season in Kennett, MO

Pioneer Golf Opens Season in Kennett, MO- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 9/19/25

Kennett, MO- Pioneer Golf opened the 2025-26 season this past Monday and Tuesday, September 15th and 16th, by teeing off in Williams Baptist University's Fall Invitational hosted in Kennett, MO, at Kennett Country Club. After two rounds of eighteen holes, the Pioneers concluded their season opener in 9th place overall, totaling 658 strokes as a team and finishing +82 over par. 

Pioneer Golf took to the course with a new look, hitting the green with an entirely new coaching staff and team. Head Coach Brady Flynn made his coaching debut, leading a newly assembled group of Pioneers in their collegiate debuts. 

Individually for the Pioneers, freshman Christian Walls led the team shooting back-to-back rounds of 75 (+3) to end the tournament with 150 swings +6 over par, placing 17th individually. Walls was nearly perfect on day one, seeing par on sixteen of eighteen holes before finally finding three birdies on day two. 

Taking second for the team is California native and freshman, Christopher Riddle, who bounced back on day two, dropping nine strokes from his day one round of 81, to shoot a team-tournament best of 74 in his second go-round. Riddle picked up three birdies each day and one eagle, with Riddle chipping in for it on hole number one in round two. Riddle totaled 155 swings (+11), placing 26th overall. 

Taking third for the Pioneers was sophomore Blake Brothers, who lowered his opening round performance by one stroke, shooting an 88 in round two. Brothers picked up one birdie in the invitational, sinking it on hole number one in round two. Brothers totaled 177 strokes (+33) to land in 55th place overall. 

Rounding off the team score for the Pioneers was freshman Slayde Barker, with the newcomer finishing third on the team after the opening round with an 84. Woefully, the freshman would face setback through the addition of 15 strokes to his scorecard in round two to push him down the rankings. Barker would sink two birdies in the invitational, making one each round. Barker totaled 184 strokes (+39) for 58th overall in the individual. 

Up next: The Pioneers will hit the course again on Monday, September 29th, at the Lyon College Fall Invite. #GOPIONEERS