Aldred, Herbert brothers shine as Eagles qualify for State again

by Michael Smith


Grain Valley junior Charles Aldred had one focus going into the 2022-23 season.

He wanted to perform better in bigger tournaments. It’s something that he said that he struggled with last season.

He had a big test Monday as he competed with his team in the Class 4 District 4 Tournament at Paradise Point Course in Smithville.

He appeared to make a big leap on the big stage as he led the Eagles to a second-place finish by shooting a team-low 76 as Grain Valley had 315 points as at team, qualifying for the Missouri State High School Boys Golf Championships for the second consecutive year.
Pembroke Hill took first with a 311.

Freshman Eli Herbert matched Aldred by shooting a 76 himself as he and his teammate tied for fifth overall. Senior Owen Herbert also earned all-district honors, tying two other golfers for 11th overall with an 80. Jaiden Wilson completed the scoring for the Eagles as he was 17th with an 83.

Mason Morris also competed and finished tied for 26th with one other competitor, shooting a 91.

“We set a goal as a team at the beginning of the year to make it back to state,” Grain Valley head golf coach Andy Herbert said. “Getting to state is the hardest part. Playing at districts is when the pressure is on the most.”

And Aldred handled that pressure to perfection. It’s something he has been working on all season.

“If I have a bad shot, I try to have a short memory and focus on the next one,” said Aldred, who tied the school record for the lost score with a 74 at the Oak Grove Invitational before Owen Herbert broke it later in the season. “I am not putting as much pressure on myself as I have before.”

Aldred said that his drives are what put him in a good position to make the top five.

“I hit the ball really well,” he said. “I struggled on this course in the past so it feels good to come up big and get a good score. I was aggressive on putting and sometimes that left me longer puts.”

Eli Herbert had a similar approach to Aldred.

‘I thought this tournament was the same as the others I’ve had this season,” he said. “I tried to have the same mindset. There is no reason to get upset over one bad shot.”

“I thought I played pretty well. My ball striking was strong, so that helped a lot.”

Owen Herbert, who was an all-state golfer last season, said he had a good performance on the Front 9, but had a couple of holes he struggled with on the Back 9, but overall, he was pleased with his performance.

“I struggled with this course in the past, so to be able to overcome some past demons,” Owen Herbert said. “I had a couple of hiccups on the Back 9, but this is the best I have done on this course.

“The course is really fair. If you drive the ball well, you will have a good day at this course, but if you are hitting the ball all over the place, the course is unforgiving.”

Andy Herbert and his golfers said they hope to earn the program’s first state team trophy ever and everyone is aiming to finish in the top 15 at state to be named to the all-state team.

“I proved that I can play well on one day, but at the state tournament, I will have to put together two good rounds of golf,” Aldred said. “It would be great if we can get into the top four as a team.

​Owen Herbert added: “We want to get one of those big trophies. That would be cool.”

From left, Charlie Aldred, Jaiden Wilson, Eli Herbert, Owen Herbert and Mason Morris shot 315 as team in the Class 4 District 4 golf tournament Monday at Paradise Pointe Course in Smithville. The Eagles finished second to qualify as a team. Photo credit: Andy Herbert