Jackson golf finishes fourth in Class 4 State Tournament

BOLIVAR – Unlike most coaches, Jeff Fahrner knew exactly where his team stood in the live state tournament standings Tuesday.

After entering the final round of the Class 4 girls golf championships at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club in fourth place, Jackson was trying to hold off hard-charging Father Tolton to hang on to that all-important final team trophy spot.

“Oh yeah, we were looking at it,” Fahrner said. “I was sweating it a little bit. I actually thought they were behind us (on the course), and I went and told Alana (Gilbert) they were right on our heels for a little extra motivation for her. Turned out I was wrong. They weren’t behind us. They were already finished.”

The Jackson team poses for a photograph prior to the medal ceremony during the Class 4 girls golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, at Silo Ridge Country Club near Bolivar, Mo. Gordon Radford ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

After Gilbert’s score was recorded, the Indians had indeed held on for that team trophy with a fourth-place finish after they compiled a two-day total of 341-338-679 to edge the Trailblazers by just two strokes.

On the heels of a sixth-place finish in Class 4 last season, Jackson claimed its third team trophy in girls golf after third-place efforts in 2019 and 2021.

“I’m so glad for the entire team that we get a trophy this year because for most of them it’s the first time they’ve ever placed,” said Gilbert, who was on that 2021 state team. “Last year was not the best for us, so I’m glad we did better this year.”

Like the other eight teams at Silo Ridge, the Indians improved their team score in Tuesday’s final round.

Jackson's Julia Schlitt competes during the Class 4 girls golf championship on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Silo Ridge Country Club near Bolivar, Mo. Gordon Radford ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

“It was warmer. Wind wasn’t as bad,” Fahrner said. “But you multiply the pressure, too, for Day 2.”

Four Jackson players – sophomore Julia Schlitt (82-82-164), senior Harper Ready (93-84-177), sophomore Madison Thrower (91-87-178) and senior Grace Hightower (100-85-185) – all either equaled or bettered their opening-round scores.

Only Gilbert, the team’s No. 1 player, struggled Tuesday with a second-round score of 15-over-par 87 one day after she posted a round of 3-over 75 to sit just one shot out of the lead.

“I think I just couldn’t handle the pressure out there today,” she said. “Normally I’m fine, but there was something today. I don’t know if it was my last round, make it count. Or knowing I was one stroke from the lead starting. Warming up, I felt fine, felt great. But as soon as I got out there, I don’t know what it was. I just fell apart.”

Jackson's Alana Gilbert competes during the Class 4 girls golf championship on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Silo Ridge Country Club near Bolivar, Mo. Gordon Radford ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Fahrner said Gilbert was able to maintain some perspective in the midst of an outing that saw her fall from a tie for fourth place coming in to completely out of the all-state (top 15) picture in what would be a tie for 19th place.

Jackson's Alana Gilbert competes during the Class 4 girls golf championship on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Silo Ridge Country Club in near Bolivar, Mo. Gordon Radford ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

“She kind of had a perfect quote when we were out there walking down a fairway,” Fahrner said. “She said, ‘I’m just a little off and I just can’t get it going.’ And then she looked at me and said, ‘That’s golf.’ That’s probably what I would have said to her.”

Fahrner said the Indians will miss the leadership the three seniors brought to this year’s state squad.

“And just the maturity that they bring to this program,” he said. “We faced some adversity this year in a lot of tournaments and districts as well and I don’t think that we would have been able to do that last year. I think this team has matured quite a bit over the last year and I think it’s due in large part to their leadership.”

Despite the loss of those seniors, Fahrner is confident the Indians won’t miss too much of a beat next season.

Jackson's Harper Ready competes during the Class 4 girls golf championship on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Silo Ridge Country Club near Bolivar, Mo. Gordon Radford ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

“We’re gonna reload, man. That’s kind of what we do. We don’t rebuild, we reload,” he said. “We’ve got some great players on JV that probably would have been high-level varsity players on any other team. I’m really excited for that.”

Fahrner is also excited to see what a strong up-and-coming player like Schlitt will continue to bring to the program in the coming seasons.

“She was fantastic last year. I wasn’t real sure how much better she would get, but she was exponentially better than last year and it’s crazy,” Fahrner said. “She just works like a dog at her game. She just lives golf. It’s all she wants to do and that’s what you’ve got to do to improve. I’m really excited to coach her for the next two years.”

Gilbert will move on to Indiana State next year to continue her golf career at the next level, but she couldn’t do so without shedding a few tears amongst all the picture-taking near the 18th green at Silo Ridge.

Tears of joy for her team’s fourth-place finish, but also tears of sadness for the finality of it all.

“Honestly, it means everything to me. I really love this team,” Gilbert said. “I just didn’t want it to end. I wanted to be out there forever and not move on from high school. This team is such a family, which makes it hard to leave. It’s like you’re leaving your family when you go off to college. They’re technically just teammates, but they’re not just teammates. They’re family.”

Jackson's Alana Gilbert and Coach contemplate a shot on the sixth hole during the Class 4 girls golf championship on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, at Silo Ridge Country Club near Bolivar, Mo. Gordon Radford ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian