Consistency key for Jackson boys golf, returning wealth of experience, talent

It always feels good to bring back a lot of what made your team special last year, and Jackson boys golf will be no exception to this in 2024.

So, naturally, with the Indians returning all five of their top golfers from last season, there’s kind of a rare air about the program as they’ll look to run back their successes from last spring and then some.

“We've got a lot of returning players from last year,” Indians coach Zack Walton said. “We've got several kids right now that can break 80.”

Not only do the Indians return last year’s leaders, but they’ve brought up some new leaders who have contributed heavily to the depth of the program.

One of the first things Walton noted was that depth, and how significant it’s been to have that competition within the team over the offseason.

“We could probably go nine-deep, at least, that can break 80,” Walton said. “Our qualifiers are going to be tough.

“We’re gonna have some guys who are gonna shoot some good numbers this year that may not get into the top five.”

At the forefront of Jackson’s returners, of course, is the renowned Ian Lambert.

He’s preparing for Year 3 with Jackson after an astounding finish to 2023 that saw him emerge as one of the top golfers in all of Southeast Missouri, narrowly missing out on Boys Golf Player of the Year at last year’s Semoball Awards.

A season ago, the Indians finished third in Class 5 District 1 and sent then-sophomore Lambert to the state tournament, where he finished with all-state honors.

Lambert, now a junior, finished as the district medalist last year in a loaded group and returns for his third season on varsity following his first all-state nomination last spring.

Over the past two years, he’s become something of an exemplary Jackson golfer, becoming a model of what’s brought success to Jackson High School in years past.

“He's been one of our top players for the last couple of years here,” Walton said. “He’s very consistent and plays really well, day in and day out.

“That's what our kids see a lot in him: that consistency. That's what they all try to strive for.”

Classmates Dru Eller and Marshall Earnhardt both return for the upcoming spring, part of a deep and talented junior class.

Meanwhile, seniors Bradley Loos and Jake Miller, with the former signed to continue his golf career at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri, look to guide the team via their wealth of experience with the squad.

Paired with Kael Dameron, who cracked the lineup a couple of times last season, those three seniors have become an example in their own right of dedication to Jackson’s program.

“All three decided not to play a fall sport that they had played all their life so they could focus on golf,” Walton said.

“That right there should let you know a little bit of what their true love is right now.”

Jackson’s program has fostered a lot of pride over the years, with both the boys and girls becoming one of the premier programs statewide with some big results over the years.

This latest squad is no exception, with sights seemingly aimed at getting back to the successes of old.

Jackson’s golfers finished strong among district competitors last spring, with Lambert placing first while Eller, Loos and Miller all finished within the top-25 range at Crystal Highlands Golf Course in Festus, Missouri.

Despite that strong performance, which earned the Indians third with 320 strokes behind Christian Brothers College (301) and Chaminade College Prep (315), only Lambert advanced to state.

In this upcoming spring, Walton looks to use that experience to Jackson’s advantage and make the most of its strong upperclassman talent.

“They've all had some experience, you know?” Walton began. “They've all got some varsity experience, so I think that will definitely help us a little bit when that comes in.”

That age, as Walton harped on, is something that could come into play this season after it came back to bite Jackson down the stretch a year ago.

Moving into the late-season stretch, a lot of teams can benefit from that experience and having played in certain situations before.

In the past, it’s been something that helped Jackson hoist a state championship trophy. Now, they’ll look to make the most of a similar situation.

“I’m excited to see how consistent they can be,” Walton said. “That'll be the key this year, and it was one of our struggles last year. I think some of that was being a little bit younger with that consistency.

“That's something that we've definitely talked about and something that we're going to try to achieve this year. Becoming a little bit more consistent in our scores.”

If they can figure out the stage and perform to their potential, the season could bode quite well for the Indians as they appear to have the talent to make a deep run.

The program is no stranger to success, having placed in the top four twice since 2018, including a state championship in 2019 behind some legendary Indian golfers.

Walton, who coached both of those teams, knows what it takes to get his guys back into postseason contention.

After a disappointing exit for the team in the district stage last year, he’s worked with the squad and will look to that seasoning and knowledge to get Jackson back on the podium.

“It definitely motivates us to go this year,” Walton said. “I think our boys realize that. That it’s something we can accomplish.

“It's not going to be easy. You're always gonna have some big private schools in our district, and you’ve got to play well. That's where our focus on consistency comes in. If we can get out of our districts, we’ve got a chance to be in the top four.

“Once you're at the state tournament, who knows? If you play well enough, you can make a run at it.”