CHS boys golf: Jackets win CIT for second consecutive year

The Chester High School Boys Golf Team continues to impress in week 3 of the 2020 golf season. The Yellow Jackets had back-to-back wins at Freeburg and at home hosting New Athens on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, before sweeping the competition Sept. 3 at their own annual Chester Invitational.

<b>CHS beats Freeburg</b>

Chester's Jarrett James led all golfers at the Freeburg dual match Aug. 31, which the Jackets took 173-189 at St. Clair Country Club. James shot 38 in the 9-hole match, followed by Jaden Mott 42, Chance Mott 45, Kaden Freytag 48, Luke Miller, 49 and Clayton Andrews, 63. With the win the Jackets improved to 7-2.

<b>CHS over New Athens</b>

The Chester boys improved to 8-2 with a decisive home win over New Athens on Sept. 1, in a 9-hole dual competition. They won 156-208 to start September off right. With the win, CHS earned its 8th victory of 2020.

Assistant Coach Paul Zemlyn said, "On a nice day at the Chester Country Club, the Jackets took on New Athens and had something happen that I have never seen before in Yellow Jacket golf. Jarrett James, Jaden Mott, Chance Mott and Kaden Freytag all shot 39 for the match (+3 over par). All four Yellow Jackets shared low-score medalist honors."

Head Coach Chris Toledo added, "Today, Chance Mott, Luke Miller, Gage Hasemeyer and Jared Landeros all achieved new personal-best or personal record scores for their 9-hole matches."

In addition to Jarrett James, Kaden Freytag, Jaden Mott and Chance Mott all shooting 39's for the day, Luke Miller shot a 44 personal best (+8), and Chance Mott shot a new personal best 39 (+3).

The Chester JV Jackets also had a good day led by Gage Hasemeyer who shot a new personal best 44 (+8) for his nine holes. Reed Welborn also had a good day shooting 53 and Jared Landeros set a new personal best with 55. Aiden Blechle and Lucas Thompson each shot 60 and rookie Matt Korando had a 61.

<b>Jackets sail through CIT</b>

For the second year in a row the Chester High School Yellow Jackets won their own annual Chester High School Invitation Tournament.

Coach Chris Toledo was impressed.

"For the second straight year the Jackets are champions of the CIT," he said. "We not only won the tournament, but our own Jarrett James was the Individual Champion for the second straight year!

James beat the entire field of golfers by 10 strokes with an 18-hole round of 68. He fired a 32 (-4) on the front nine and an even par of 36 on the back nine.

James now has five low-score medalist honors to date in 2020.

Last year James shot a 70 for the 18 holes. This year James shot 68 which is a new tournament record.

Senior Jaden Mott also had a solid round, shooting 80 for 18 holes and earned himself the third place award in the Top 5 finishers.

Other Yellow Jacket golfers include Kaden Freytag and Chance Mott who each shot 90 (+18). Chance is the younger brother of Jaden Mott. Luke Miller had a score of 93 (+21) and Clayton Andrews shot 108 (+36).

As a team, the Yellow Jackets led the field of seven teams with a score of 328. Marissa had 338; Steeleville, 346; Trico, 349; Sparta, 370); Zeigler-Royalton, 372) and New Athens, 410.

The Top 5 finishers and award winners are Jarrett James of Chester, Jack Knop, of Steeleville, Jaden Mott of Chester, Ross Coleman of Trico and Avery Hamilton of Steeleville.