January 23, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Smith, Kern and Maddux keep SJO golf on right track

For an athletic program that is still relatively new to the history of St. Joseph-Ogden High School, the Spartans golf team is having a superb season.

SJO is now 11-1 in dual matches heading into Friday’s Saybrook Scramble after picking up a triangular win on Thursday at Tai-City Country Club in Villa Grove. The Spartans compiled a team score of 179 to top Okaw Valley (187) and Villa Grove (219).

Logan Smith won medalist honors with a 41 to pace SJO, with Maddux Carter coming in second with a 42. Jacob Kern (45) and McGwire Atwood (51) rounded out SJO’s scoring efforts.

The two wins on Thursday happened after SJO beat Tri-Valley and Fisher on Sept. 9. SJO finished with a team score of 179, 20 strokes better than runner-up Tri-Valley (199) and well ahead of Fisher (217) at Indian Springs Golf Course in Saybrook.

Kern earned medalist honors with a 40, while Carter wasn’t far behind with a 43. Atwood (46) and Jack Robertson (50) rounded out SJO’s scores.

Prior to the win against Tri-Valley, SJO teed off against Monticello and Rantoul/Paxton-Buckley-Loda in a triangular match on Sept. 2 at Willow Pond Golf Course in Rantoul. Monticello won the three-team event with a score of 164, while SJO was runner-up with a 181 and Rantoul/PBL carded a 190.

Carter paced the Spartans with a round of 43, with Smith next up with a 45. Kern (46) and Atwood (47) also chipped in.

The Spartans also played at Willow Pond two days prior, coming away with a 188-215 win against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin on Aug. 31.

Kern won medalist honors with a 44, while steady play from Carter (47), Robertson (47) and Atwood (50) allowed the Spartans to pick up the win.

SJO only has two more events left to play before the postseason arrives on Sept. 29. After Friday’s scramble in Saybrook, the Spartans are set to play in the Illini Prairie Conference tournament that will tee off at 9 a.m. next Tuesday at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.

All of this leads up to the Class 1A regional the Spartans will play in on Sept. 29 at Turtle Run Golf Club in Danville. SJO is one of 14 teams in the field along with BHRA, Blue Ridge, Fisher, Judah Christian, Monticello, Oakwood, St. Thomas More, Salt Fork, Schlarman, Tuscola, Tri-County, Villa Grove and Westville.

Banner
Related Posts

Dukeman shines in classroom and in athletics

March 7, 2019

March 7, 2019

School comes easy for St. Joseph-Ogden High School junior Hannah Dukeman. Dukeman, who plays softball for SJO in addition to...

Berry, Bigger help power SJO volleyball to five straight wins

September 26, 2019

September 26, 2019

Heading into Thursday night’s home showdown with St. Thomas More, the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team has won five straight matches....

5 Question Friday with Charlie Mabry

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

Every Friday we are going to ask an athlete to answer five questions. This week we talked to Charlie Mabry....

Taylor reflects on SJO coaching tenure

August 16, 2021

August 16, 2021

Kevin Taylor realized he needed to make a change. But stepping aside from coaching the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’...

Duval, SJO boys’ basketball ‘embrace high expectations’ ahead of upcoming season

December 2, 2019

December 2, 2019

More than nine months have elapsed since the last time the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team played a...

SJO cross-country teams eager to start season off and running

August 31, 2019

August 31, 2019

The end goal for every high school cross-country runner in Illinois is to end the season racing at Detweiller Park...

All conference basketball teams announced

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

The 2021 Illini Prairie Conference Girls Basketball All Conference Team has been announced. Junior Taylor Wells from St. Joseph-Ogden was...

Dukeman leads Spartans to victory

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

Eight games. Eight wins so far for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team. The Spartans carry an 8-0 mark...

Get to know SJO Volleyball Player Mikyla Haley

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? I think the way our team is so close is what...

Three relays, three individuals move on to state for SJO boys’ track and field

May 21, 2019

May 21, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team will have a solid contingent representing the Spartans at the...

SJO girls’ basketball tips off season tonight

November 14, 2022

November 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has lofty expectations each winter. This winter is no different for the...

Pence helps SJO boys’ basketball win opener; Toyota of Danville Classic up this week

November 30, 2021

November 30, 2021

All eyes will be on Ty Pence this basketball season. Understandably so. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School junior boys’ basketball...

Mabry, Stegall pace SJO boys’ cross-country to regional title; sectional meet up Saturday

October 30, 2021

October 30, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team has shown the capability it could win a state title all season....

McDonald on cusp of 400th win as SJO volleyball continues success

September 11, 2023

September 11, 2023

A historic night is potentially on tap Monday at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.SJO volleyball coach Abby McDonald, in her 16th...

Hamilton, relay team win state titles as Spartans place third

May 21, 2019

May 21, 2019

Bringing state trophies home isn’t an easy task. But the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and field team sure...

Comments
Leave a Reply