Clayton Andrews is ready to compete in Division II
BY JIM BEERS, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – Clayton Andrews graduated from Chester High School May 21, 2023 and already knows what his immediate future hold for him. He has been offered the opportunity to continue his golf career at the college level and has signed a letter of intent to play golf at McKendree University.
Andrews was one of the Chester YellowJacket’s key golfers the past several years and loves the sport. CHS Head Coach Chris Toledo said, “I had a great team last year. I have coached for several years and the 2022 season was one of my most enjoyable seasons as a high school coach.”
One of the contributing factors to that enjoyment was having boys on the team like seniors Chance Mott, Clayton Andrews and Gage Hasemeyer, and Aidan Blechle.
Andrews qualified to advance to the IHSA Sectional Match twice in his high school career. His junior season he moved on to Sectionals as an individual golfer and last year, in his final season at CHS, Clayton’s entire team advanced to Sectionals.
Andrews helped his team finish as runners-up in the Cahokia both his junior and senior seasons. He was a solid player and contributed well to the YellowJacket’s success in 2021 and 2022, his junior and senior years.
To close out the regular 2022 season his senior year, Clayton and his Jackets swept the competition at the Murphysboro triangular match and finished with a win.
The event held at the Jackson County Country Club had Chester facing Sparta and Murphysboro. CHS won with a team score of 165 strokes, followed by Sparta, 176, and Murphysboro, 191. At that match, Andrews was Chester’s No. 2 player shooting a score of 40.
At the Class 1A IHSA Regional at West Frankfort, Andrews contributed to his YellowJacket’s success in qualifying to advance to the Sectional Match. The top-3 teams advanced and Chester made it as a team with a team score of 341 points to finish 3rd. At that match Clayton was Chester’s No. 3 golfer with a score of 86. That performance placed him tied for 18th Place out of 88 golfers at the Regional.
Andrews then advanced with his team to compete at the 2022 IHSA Class 1A Sectional Tournament held at Effingham St. Anthony. There were 12 teams competing with a total of 111 golfers. Andrews was one of those 111.
Chester finished 8th out of 12 teams with a score of 355 strokes. Andrews finished tied for 78th overall with his score of 99 strokes.
Andrews is excited to be able to play at the college level and can’t wait to compete at NCAA Division II McKendree. The Bearcats are in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree Head Coach is Mikal Guffey. He coaches both the Bearcats and the Lady Bearcats and is pleased to welcome Andrews to the squad.