Grain Valley golf earns two medals in tri dual victory

by Michael Smith

     The Grain Valley boys golf team has a clear goal of making it back to the state tournament this season.
     Last season, the Eagles competed in the Missouri State High School Boys Golf Championships for the first time in program history.
     The momentum from that season appears to have carried over into 2023 as the team finished third in the season-opening Independence Invitational Monday. They followed that up by shooting 320 in a tri dual against Class 5 Blue Springs and Blue Springs South Thursday at Adams Pointe Golf Club, taking first place.
     Blue Springs South had a team score of 329 and Blue Springs shot 355.
     Junior Charles Aldred and senior Owen Herbert were both medalists, each shooting a 78 to lead the field. Seniors Mason Morris and Jaiden Owen both shot 82 to complete the scoring for the Eagles. Eli Herbert had an 83 and Jack Hileman had a 92. Both of those scores did not count toward the team score.
     “When you get to throw out an 83, that’s a good day,” Grain Valley golf coach Andy Herbert said. “The kids played great. We can’t rest on our laurels but keep working to make every round a little better than this.”
     “When (Owen Herbert and Aldred) get into a groove at the same time, this team is really good. It’s exciting and I know they are excited. They will both tell you that 78 is good but they could have done better.”  
     Herbert, who was an all-state medalist last season, said he thought he could have played better but was happy with the outcome and the team victory.
     “I started off early well then I was four over on my last four, so it wasn’t my best finish,” Herbert said. “But to be able to shoot 320 as a team and 78 individually, is a really good way to start the year.”
     Alred had a similar path to his score of 78, he started out hot but tailed off near the end.
     “I was even through the first seven holes then I messed up (Hole 8) and I had a double (bogey) on the last hole,” Aldred said. I played a really good round and it was exciting to see what our team could do. We had someone who had a good score today that hasn’t played in over a year. That just shows how deep we are.”
     Aldred said that his putting was the key to get one of the best scores on the day.
     “I think I putted really well,” Aldred said. “I didn’t make a ton of puts but I set myself up for simple tap-ins that I didn’t have to stress over.”
     Grain Valley, which is in Class 4 this season, could build momentum off a win like this, especially against bigger programs.
     “Blue Springs South is a pretty good program that has had success,” Aldred said. “It gives us confidence going forward.”
 
Oak Grove Invitational
 
     On Friday, the Eagles won the Oak Grove Invitational with a team score of 313 Friday at Adams Pointe Golf Club.
     Aldred won medalist honors and tied a school record low score by shooting a 74. Owen Herbert was in second place individually with a 77, Eli Hbert shot a 79, Jaiden Wilson had a 83 and Mason Morris shot an 89.

Grain Valley junior Charles Aldred, left, and Owen Herbert both shot a 78 to earn medalist honors as they contributed to a team score of 320 that was good for first place in a tri dual against Blue Springs and Blue Springs South Thursday at Adam's Point Golf Club. Photo credit: Michael Smith