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Here are the 12 members of the 2023 Springfield all-area boys golf team

ryan mahan, springfield state journal- register
·4 min read

There were more state qualifiers than could fit on The State Journal-Register's Boys All-Area Golf Team for 2023, as the sheer number of stellar performances in the regionals and sectionals — not to mention throughout the season — made this task a difficult one.

But nonetheless, here is the 12-member boys golf team, in alphabetical order.

Colton Barr, Jacksonville

The Crimsons’ junior shot 77-82 for an 11-over 159 in the Class 2A state meet at Weibring Golf Course in Normal for a 33rd-place finish. In the 2A Monmouth-Roseville Regional, he led JHS with a 73 as the Crimsons captured the team title. He followed that up with another 73 at the Peoria Richwoods Sectional as Jacksonville took second overall — ahead of eventual state champion Sacred Heart-Griffin.

A.J. Charpentier, Jacksonville Routt

The Rockets’ sophomore fired a 86-82–168 to finish 56th in the 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington. He was the Mount Sterling Brown County Regional medalist with a 73 as the Rockets finished second. He shot an 81 in the Auburn Sectional to advance to state.

Drew Downen, Chatham Glenwood

The Titans’ junior tied for 41st place with a 78-82–160 in the 3A state meet at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington. He was third on the Titans’ runner-up finish at the Edwardsville Regional with an 80, then shot 79 in the Pekin Sectional to earn the last qualifying spot for the state tournament.

Bennett Fretueg, Rushville-Industry

The Rockets’ junior had rounds of 82-81–163 in the 1A state meet to tie for 39th place. He helped Rushville-Industry to a third-place finish at the Brown County Regional with an 84 then tied Reed Fretueg for the team’s top honors at the Auburn Sectional with a 79 as the Rockets again took third.

Augustine Hyde, Sacred Heart-Griffin

SHG’s senior had rounds of 76-80–156 and tied for 24th in the Class 2A state meet as the Cyclones took the team title by three strokes over Lemont. He was also second with a 75 as SHG won the Champaign Centennial Regional title and fired a 79 in the Richwoods Sectional.

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Cal Johnson, Sacred Heart-Griffin

Sacred Heart-Griffin's Cal Johnson putts on the 18th green at Weibring Golf Club in Normal on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. He shot even-par through two rounds to end in second place overall and lead the Cyclones to the Class 2A state title as a team.
Sacred Heart-Griffin's Cal Johnson putts on the 18th green at Weibring Golf Club in Normal on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. He shot even-par through two rounds to end in second place overall and lead the Cyclones to the Class 2A state title as a team.

The Class 2A state runner-up had rounds of 71 and 71 for an even-par 142 at Weibring Golf Club in Normal as the Cyclones captured the state championship in the two-day event. He earned medalist honors at the 2A Centennial Regional with a 71 as SHG won the team title and followed that with a 75 in the Richwoods Sectional as SHG took third.

James Oh, Springfield High

In the 3A state meet in Bloomington, he recorded rounds of 80-79–159 to tie for 35th overall. In the Edwardsville Regional, the senior shot an 80 then qualified for state in the Pekin Sectional with a 76, which tied for seventh.

Sam Schwab, Litchfield

The Purple Panthers got stronger as the postseason advanced and so did Litchfield’s sophomore. In the 1A Alton Marquette Regional, he posted a 78 — good for second on the third-place finishing team. At the Waterloo Gibault Sectional, he tied for the team lead with a 76 as Litchfield edged Effingham St. Anthony 311-312 for the team title. In the state meet in Bloomington, he posted rounds of 78-76–154 to tie for 15th. Litchfield took third at state with a 636, 14 strokes behind state champ St. Anthony.

Tug Schwab, Litchfield

The Purple Panthers’ senior tied for seventh in the 1A state meet at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, posting rounds of 78-72–150 as Litchfield beat Rockford Lutheran by six strokes for third place in the team standings. He led Litchfield with a 77 in the Alton Marquette Regional and tied Sam Schwab with a 76 as Litchfield won the Waterloo Gibault Sectional.

Will Seman, Williamsville

Williamsville's Will Seman chips on the practice green at The Rail Golf Course on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Williamsville's Will Seman chips on the practice green at The Rail Golf Course on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

The Bullets’ senior took medalist honors in the Class 2A Richwoods Sectional with a 72, beating Barr by a shot, to qualify for the state meet. He carried that momentum to tie for ninth in the state meet (75-76–151.

LOGAN SMITH, South County

The Vipers’ senior shot a 5-over-par 77 to guide South County to the Class 2A Taylorville Regional team title. Waverly topped Staunton 345-349 for the hardware. In the Mt. Carmel Sectional, he carded a 73 to earn a place in the state meet at Weibring Golf Club in Normal. At state, he had rounds of 84-84–168 to tie for 69th.

Julian Valenti, Springfield High

The Senators’ senior matched teammate Oh with a 35th-place showing in the Class 3A state meet. He opened the two-day event with a 79 and followed with an 80. His 76 in the Edwardsville Regional was good for eighth overall and he advanced to state with a 78 in the Pekin Sectional.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA golf: Springfield all-area boys golf team for 2023