Lambert shines, qualifies as Indians place third in district tournament

Placed in a district full of potential state championship contenders, Jackson boys’ golf placed third in Thursday’s MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 golf tournament to fall just short of the top-2 threshold required to advance to the state tournament.

With a final team score of 320, the Indians fell short of the round scores of Christian Brothers College (301) and Chaminade College Prep (315), ending the team’s overall season in the district phase despite a strong showing at Crystal Highlands Golf Course in Festus, Mo.

However, Jackson sophomore Ian Lambert finished in first place among all golfers in the district tournament, earning him an individual gold and clinching his spot at the state tournament, set to begin on May 15 in Bolivar, Mo.

Lambert shot an even-par 72, uncontested by any other golfer while three golfers, Nathan Barclay and Austin Jacobs of CBC and Harrison Zipfel of SLUH, all finished at a one-over 73 strokes in a tie for second.

Jackson’s remaining three golfers on the scorecard, Jake Miller, Dru Eller, and Bradley Loos, all placed in the top-25. Miller’s 10-over score of 82 put him in a tie for 21st, while Eller and Loos both shot 83 to finish in a five-way tie for 25th.

While the road ahead at the state tournament looks tough for Lambert, the Indians’ lone qualifier, he’ll look to build upon his success at the district level as the sophomore makes his second career appearance at the state tournament.

Lambert finished 24th in the 2022 MSHSAA Class 5 state tournament, shooting nine-over par over two rounds as a freshman at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo. This year, Lambert will travel west to unfamiliar territory as he looks to continue the Indians’ success at the state level.