The Guaranty Bank Athlete of the Week for April 18-24 is golfer Noah Naugle.

The senior was the top linkster at the Carthage Invitational on April 21, propelling his team to the Eagles first tournament championship of the year by over 13 strokes. Naugle led the entire field on the Par 71 Carthage Golf Course against 103 other competitors, finishing six-under-par (65) with seven birdies to take home the gold.

A week prior, Naugle and the Eagles competed in the Cape Notre Dame Invitational on the Dalhousie Par 72 Golf Course, which is recognized as a premier Missouri golf tournament and course that features several of the most elite boys golf teams in the entire state. The Missouri State University signee shot an even score of 72 to lead Nixa to another top-three squad finish, as the Eagles claimed second place against the 13 additional teams. His score placed Naugle sixth overall.

With one regular-season tournament remaining, Naugle has had a phenomenal season thus far in his final go-around representing the Eagles. He's helped lead the Eagles to a top-three finish at every tournament this 2025 campaign. The Carthage title secured the first one of the year. Additionally, the Eagles placed second (SLUH and Cape Notre Dame) and third (Bolivar and Springfield) twice. 

Naugle has impacted the program ever since he first stepped foot on the greens during tryouts in his freshman year. Last year, he made history by becoming Nixa's first-ever state medalist, placing 12th overall in Missouri. He is on pace to conclude his Nixa career with another state medal, while hopefully helping bring home the program's first-ever team trophy after placing fifth in 2024.

"Noah Naugle worked extremely hard on every aspect of his game during the offseason. Naugle's first 5-6 practice rounds were either even, par, or below, but he was a little disappointed with his early tournament results, although they were still respectable scores. After his performance at Carthage, he has certainly turned his game in the right direction," said head coach Jeff Lotz. "Noah is a great teammate who leads by example and has impacted our program since his first tee shot during tryouts as a freshman. He is a very intelligent young man who has an outstanding character and has what it takes to persevere."

The Eagles close out the regular season in Webb City, Mo., at the Central Ozark Conference Tournament on May 5. The journey towards the state tournament begins at the Class 5 District 3 Tournament at Bill & Payne Stewart Golf Club on May 12.