Lady Jacket is the first girl in CHS school history to play golf at the collegiate level
By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — Chester High School Lady Jacket senior golfer, Aubrie Medford, has signed with a National Letter of Intent to play golf at the collegiate level. She will play next fall at Shelton State Community College. The school is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Medford, who is a three-year golfer for the Lady Jackets at CHS, is the daughter of Bill and Christina Hormann of Chester and the granddaughter of Jerry Medford of Chester.
Aubrie Medford signs a letter of intent to play golf at Shelton State Community College at a ceremony at the Chester High School James F. Sharp Cafeteria on December 2. With Medford are family members (seated) Deanna Medford, Aunt, Tracy Stumpf, Aunt, Aubrie Medford, Trevor Harsy, Brother, and Jerry Medford, Grandfather. (Standing) Bill Hormann, Father and Christina Hormann, Mother. Jim Beers Photo
Medford said, “I was actually the first girl to sign for the team which will be in its first season at Shelton State. This is a rare opportunity to be a part of the first team ever to compete at Shelton.”
“I am very excited to get to continue playing golf at the college level and am very thankful to my coaches, family, God, my friends, and fellow teammates for all of the support they have given me over my high school career.”
CHS Athletic Director, Bryce Bainter is pretty sure that Medford is the first girl from Chester High School to ever sign to play golf at the collegiate level.
Aubrie Medford is pictured with her Head Golf Coach at Chester High School at her ceremony to sign a letter iof intent to play golf next season at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School Head Girls Golf Coach, Meg Schnoeker, said, “Aubrey is very excited to be playing at Shelton State Community College next year. She is the first player to sign for this brand new team and is anxious to start this new opportunity ahead of her.”
“Aubrie was a key player on our team this past season. She has much to be proud of. This is just one more amazing accomplishment for her. She has only been playing golf since her sophomore year. In the last three years she has continued to improve and has become a very successful player. Her drive and love of the game are clear, and she will be an asset to her new team.”
Aubrie Medford of Chester High School is pictured with her Head Coach, Chris Sanford at Shelton State Community College where she has been recruited to play golf next fall. She had just signed her National Letter of Intent at a ceremony at CHS Friday December 2. Jim Beers Photo
Schnoeker concluded, “While I will miss coaching her, I am looking forward to seeing what else she can accomplish as she continues her golf career at the collegiate level.”
Considering that Aubrie didn’t begin playing golf until her sophomore year, she has really learned quickly and achieved a lot in a short time.
Aubrie Medford, CHS Lady Jacket golfer, appears with her Lady Jacket Golfers after signing a Letter of Intent to play golf next year at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Standing left to right are Addy Gottschammer, Jessica Stumpe, Camryn Luthy, Aubrie Medford, Rylie Myers, Riley Lochhead, and Macy Bert. Jim Beers Photo
When asked how she accomplished so much as quickly as she has, Medford said, “I have put in lots of hard work. I drive all the way to Paducah, Kentucky to take lessons with a professional gold coach, Bruce Dowell. He has really helped me a lot. I put a lot of time into learning how to play well and accurately. It has paid off!”
This year in her senior season at CHS as a Lady Jacket golfer, Medford battled as either the No. 1 or No. 2 golfer throughout the 2022 season. Medford earned the “Most Improved” award in 2021 as a junior. As a senior, she earned “Medalist Honors” at four of her 11 matches.
In the first match of the season, Medford finished 2nd for Chester with a round of 44 strokes. She shot 41 at Zeigler-Royalton to win Medalist honors. In Week 2 Medford stumbled at Pyramid Oaks against Steeleville and Trico shooting 52.
Aubrie Medford poses for a photo at her signing to play golf next year at Shelton State Community College. Seated with Medford are (left to right) Shelton State Head Coach Chris Sanford, Aubrie Medford and CHS Head Coach Meg Schnoeker. (Standing left) is Chris Toledo, Head Boys Golf Coach at CHS and (Standing right) is Paul Zemlyn, Assistant Boys Coach at CHS. Jim Beers Photo
At Chester Medford shot 44 against Marissa and Trico and shared medalist honors with teammate Camryn Luthy against Sparta and Steeleville with a round of 40.
At Marissa Medford was Medalist with her game of 43, helping her team to win the match. At Nashville Medford and Luthy each shot 44 as the Lady Jackets placed 3rd. At the 11-team Okawville Invite Aubrie had an 18-hole score of 95 to help the Jackets finish 6th with a team score of 389.
Medford led the team against Red Bud with a 9-hole round of 41 and shot 42 against Sparta and Trico.
Thursday September 22 Medford led the field at the 2022 Cahokia Conference match to become the Cahokia Conference CHAMPION with her round of 81 in the 18-hole competition.
CHS senior Lady Jacket golfer poses with [parents and coaches at her signing to play golf next year at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Seated are Bill Hormann, Father, Aubrie Medford, and Christina Hormann, Mother. Standing are Chris Sanford, Head Golf Coach at Shelton State, and Meg Schnoeker, Head Coach at Chester High School. The ceremony took place at CHS Professor James F. Sharp Cafeteria December 2. Jim Beers Photo
CHS “Senior Day” was Monday September 26 and the Lady Jackets hosted Trico and Red Bud at the Chester Country Club. Aubrie Medford was the winner of that match with her score of 40 strokes.
Last Year Medford tied for 12 place at the IHSA Class 1A Regional Golf Tournament and made it to the 2021 Sectional Golf Tournament.
This year, on Thursday September 29, Medford competed in her final Regional Golf Tournament of her high school career. The event was at Governor’s Run in Carlyle. Teammate Camryn Luthy led with a score of 86 and Medford shot 95. Medford tied for 21st Place for the 18-hole match.
Both girls finished in the Top-10 individuals to advance to Sectionals. At Sectionals Medford finished in 27th Place and her score was only 4-strokes away from advancing her to the 2022 IHSA State Golf Tournament. Unfortunately neither girl advanced to State out of the Salem Sectional.
In 2022 Medford earned “All-Conference” honors in the Cahokia Conference. Medford also earned the “Leadership Award” for the 2022 Lady Jackets team. Finally, she was named to the 2022 “All-South” team.
Medford has the honor of being the “very first woman to sign” to play golf at
Shelton State Community College as the women’s program is brand new and will play its first match in the fall of 2023.
Shelton State is a Division I school in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and they compete in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). Shelton is a 2-Year Junior College which currently has 4,200 students.
The Shelton State mascot is the Buccaneer. Their colors are green and gold. They will play their matches on their “home” course at the O’l Colonel Golf Course. Head Coach is Chris Sanford.
Sanford said, “This is my first year at Shelton State. The Men’s Team competed this fall and the Women’s Team will begin competition next fall of 2023. In my 22 years of coaching at the Division II level I have earned 6 Division II Championships. I am looking forward to coaching Aubrie next season.”
Sanford said, “We are very excited to have Aubrie Medford as our first woman to sign to play for the “Lady Bucs”. She has demonstrated the drive and desire to play at the college level and we are excited to have her. I have read about her accomplishments since starting to play golf just three years ago and she is a proven hard worker and is very coachable.”
Shelton State Athletic Director, Cara Crosslin said, “We have a desire at Shelton State to increase both educational and athletic opportunities here at Shelton and Women’s Golf will join Men’s Golf, Basketball, Cheerleading, Baseball, Softball, Bass Fishing and Esports. We want more opportunities for students at Shelton State.”
When asked about selecting Shelton State as her college of choice, Medford said, “I was recruited, first of all. Besides that, I wanted to go somewhere warm. I know it is 7-hours away, but I need to get away and grow.”
“I love golf. I like being outside and golf makes me feel free. It is a mental game and playing at Shelton State will give me that opportunity to continue playing after high school. I have worked hard to have this opportunity. I practice a lot and go all the way to Kentucky for lessons once a month. I love to win, have fun and enjoy earning trophies. Hopefully I can help the Lady Bucs be winners.”
At the signing ceremony at the Chester High School Dr. James F. Sharp Cafeteria, there was a good showing of support for Aubrie from family, friends, teachers, Administration and the local media.
Aubrey appreciated the support and thanked everyone for their past support over the years and for the encouragement for this next chapter in her educational and athletic career.
Medford said that she hopes to study either nursing or teaching while at Shelton and that currently she is leaning towards becoming a grade school teacher. Best of luck to Miss Medford in her future endeavors!