By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – The Chester High School Boys’ Golf Team opened the 2022 season with a full slate of contests with four matches in Week 1. Coach Chris Toledo has the boys working hard improving with each outing. Week 1 featured two home matches and trips to Red Bud and the Anna-Jonesboro Invitational.
Chester High School senior golfer, Gage Hasemeyer, set a new personal-best record of 37, which is just one stroke over par, on Thursday August 25 when the YellowJackets hosted Steeleville. Jim Beers Photo
WEEK 1
Tuesday August 16
The Yellow Jackets opened 2022 at home at the Chester Country Club. It was a triangular match as Chester hosted Gibault and Steeleville. The Jackets ended up as runners up to Gibault (149), but beat Steeleville by two strokes, 165-167. Jack Knop of Steeleville led the pack of golfers shooting a 35 (-1) to earn medalist honors.
Chester was led by senior Chance Mott who shot 38 (+2) Other Yellow Jacket scores included Clayton Andrews 42 (+4), Gage Hasemeyer 42 (+6), Lucas Thompson 45 (+9), Aidan Blechle 46 (+10), Noah Homan 47 (+11), Evan Dunning 49 (+13), Max Blechle 53 (+17), and Nick Coffey 63 (27). CHS ended the day 1-1.
Wednesday August 17
CHS traveled to Red Bud for a dual match against the Musketeers on Tuesday. The event was held at the North County Country Club. Chance Mott had back-to-back leading scores for the Yellow Jackets shooting 38 (+3). His performance also earned him Medalist honors as he had the best score card of all golfers on that day.
Other Chester golfers included Clayton Andrews (43), Gage Hasemeyer (43), Aidan Blechle (46), Noah Homan (51), Lucas Thompson 53, Evan Dunning 56, Max Blechle 68, and Nick Coffey 72. Chester’s record after the Red Bud win was 2-1
Thursday August 18
Thursday August 18 the Jackets returned to the friendly confines of Chester Country Club where they hosted a triangular match featuring Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher and Cobden. The Jackets had a great day winning against both ZRC and Cobden to improve to 4-1 for the early season.
Chester recorded a winning score of 168, followed by ZRC (184) and Cobden (222). Chase Cole of ZRC was the Medalist with his round of 39 (+3).
The Jackets were led by both Chase Mott and Gage Hasemeyer who each shot 41 (+5) for the 9-hole event. Close behind were Clayton Andrews 42 (+6), Aidan Blechle 44 (+8), and Lucas Thompson 45 (+9).
Other Yellow Jackets performances included Noah Homan 47 (+11), Evan Dunning 50 (+14), Max Blechle 57 (+57), and Nick Coffey 70 (+34).
Saturday August 20
Saturday August 20 the Jackets traveled to Anna-Jonesboro for the AJ Invitational. Chester finished 7th out of 13 teams with a score of 350 for the 18-hole event. Ian Davis of Carbondale and Parker Ranken of Nashville tied with identical rounds of 69 (-2), forcing a playoff hole. Parker won the playoff to earn Medalist honors.
Chance Mott led the Yellow Jackets with a round of 80 (+9) for the 18-holes. Other Chester scores included Clayton Andrews (89), Noah Homan (90), Gage Hasemeyer (91), Aidan Blechle (92), and Lucas Thompson (93).
Coach Chris Toledo said, “We are proud of this entire team as all six of them broke 100 for the 18-hole match. Keep up the hard work guys.” At the end of the day, the Jackets picked up six wins and six losses to end with an overall record of 10-7.
WEEK 2
Thursday August 25
Week 2 was supposed to feature two matches, one on Thursday August 25 at home vs Steeleville and the other Friday August 26 at Marissa. The Marissa match had to be postponed due to the fact that the Meteors had an opportunity to play in an invitational. Therefore, the Jackets had a light week with only one match, hosting Steeleville on Thursday August 25.
Coach Toledo said, “It was a great day for golf as the boys played host to Steeleville at the Chester Country Club, losing a close one, 155-156, and dropping to 10-8 on the year.”
“Avery Hamilton of Steeleville was the medalist with a terrific round of 33 (-3). As for Chester, eight-of-our-nine boys set new personal-best scores or tied them, including Gage Hasemeyer who set a new PR with a round of 37 (+1).”