​Eagles golfers aim to make State for third straight season

by Michael Smith


For the past two seasons, the Grain Valley boys golf team has been put on the map.

The Eagles made the Missouri State High School Boys Golf Championships in 2022 and 2023 and finished seventh and sixth respectively.

Those were the only times in the history of the program in which Grain Valley got to compete at the event. Now, the team is hoping to make it back for a third time this time with some new players entering the fold.

“We used to have a lot of first-year golfers stumble in here who were athletes that we turned into golfers,” head coach Andy Herbert said. “Now we have some kids coming in as golfers and are ready to play.”

Grain Valley is returning senior Charles Aldred and sophomore Eli Herbert are returning to the squad after getting to compete at state in 2023. Senior Jack Hileman likely will be promoted from junior varsity to the varsity squad. Sophomore Mason Smith and freshman Jacob Gorden are also expected to be a part of the lineup, as well.

“I think we are going to be able to pick up right where we left off, just with different names,” Aldred said.

The Eagles lost two-time, all-state placer Owen Hebert, who graduated in May 2023, along with Jaiden Wilson, who also got to compete at state.

The Eagles will still have a seasoned golfer in Aldred, who got to compete at the state tournament the past two seasons. In 2023, he finished just five strokes off the score needed to be named an all-state selection, which is awarded to the top 15 finishers.

He took 29th last season with a total score of 155. In 2022, he was 68th with a score of 173. Last season, he admitted he sometimes struggled handling bigger tournaments and dealing with the pressure of playing in them. He said he’s gotten better in those situations and it showed with his stark improvement at state.

“I want to keep the momentum going that I had last year. When it came down to state, a little bit of the pressure got to me. I could have played a little better.

“I feel like I am getting better in those big moments. Playing more golf helps and staying as locked in as I can.”

Herbert, whose primary sport is basketball, had an impressive freshman season in 2023. At state, he finished tied two other golfers in 49th place with a 162. At the Class 4 District 4 tournament, he was a huge part of the team success as he took fifth by shooting a 76 (+4).

He admitted he didn’t pick up a golf club during basketball season but is starting to get back into the swing of things now that the spring sports season is here. For him, the key is having a strong mentality.

“You are not going to have your best every day,” Herbert said. “My main goal is to be a competitor and just win the hole and win the swing and grit out my rounds.

“I don’t want to let one bad hole lead to two or three. I want to keep that laser focus and not getting too high or too low.”

As far as the newcomers go, Hileman said he’s stoked to get his first varsity season started and will aim to strike the ball better and more accurately with his iron clubs.

“I am just ready to be a part of the ride,” Hileman said. “There are no pictures in the scorecard.”

So are Gorden and Smith, whom Andy Herbert said will be some key contributors.

“Jacob was our next door neighbor for a few years, and he really got into golf at that time,” Andy Herbert said. “I think he was in the fifth or sixth grade when he started. He played a lot of competitive golf. He’s going to be a good player.”

​Grain Valley will kick off the season in the Oak Grove Invitational at 8:30 a.m. today at Adams Pointe Golf Club.
 

From left, Eli Herbert, Charlie Alfred, Jack Hileman and Jacob Gordon will be a part of the Grain Valley boys golf team which will aim for a third consecutive state tournament appearance in 2024. Photo credit: Michael Smith