Edmonds full of “Lion Pride”

Edmonds full of “Lion Pride”

Marion senior to hit the links at Missouri Southern State

Sports Editor There may not be another person in Crittenden County that enjoys golf more than Taylor Edmonds. The Marion senior has made a reputation for himself as a guy that can be found on the links, perhaps more likely than any other place.

As a result of that dedication to the game, Edmonds signed a national letter of intent to continue his golf career at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri on Tuesday afternoon.

“The coach is a great guy. He’s very real, and he’s very honest with you,” Edmonds said of Mike Wheeler, his college coach. “He didn’t give me any lines, and didn’t tell me anything that I just wanted to hear. He was just straight up with me. He told me to go on other visits, check it out, and make sure that Missouri Southern is where I want to be.”

Edmonds was a four-year player at Marion, and his game improved each year. In 2015, Edmonds was the No. 1 golfer for the Patriots and garnered an All-Conference selection, while helping his team finish fifth in the state tournament.

“Every time I drive past the course, Taylor is usually out there and I’d honk the horn and before he even turned around, he knew who was honking,” said Marion first-year head golf coach, Anthony Nail. “He’d work on different types. One day, he’d shoot when it was really windy and try to cut it into the wind to keep a ball straight. It’s pretty awesome. It’s tough going into every match and tournament being a No. 1 and having that target on your back all the time, but he was that guy for us.”

In addition to golf at the next level, Edmonds was impressed with the scenery in Joplin in and around the school.

“Everything there is great,” said the senior. “It’s more in the mountains, which is different from here, but I really love it, and I think I’ll enjoy that.”

The Missouri Southern State golf team enjoyed a decent season, but Edmonds is looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the table for the Lions.

“I think I have the capability to play as a top-five bag,” Edmonds says. “Whether I execute or not, is on me. I have to make sure my head’s right. I have to keep my nose in the books, too. But I’m looking forward to working hard up there, at golf and in class.”

By Chuck Livingston