December 9, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Five Question Friday with SJO Golf Coach Jeff Kern

How cool is it for the team to do so well at the regional tournament?
It was awesome for the team to do so well at Regionals.
We only missed first by six stokes which is amazing.
We have come a long way and other teams know we are there to play when we show up.
    
 What was it like for you, both as a dad and a coach, to see Jacob win the regional?
I will never forget that moment when he walked off of the 18th green at Regionals.   It’s pretty hard to explain what was going through my head but I have a picture that someone took us shaking hands and hugging and I am going to have that on my desk forever.    I’ve seen the hard work that he has put into it so I knew he was capable. At one point he was two under par but he did not realize he was four or five strokes in the lead too.  When you are shooting that well, it is a very stressful place to be because mentally, you are trying to stay there and know that the competitors are hoping you don’t.  Golf is unusual because there are no time outs, no substitutions, and once you start, you are on your own. 
Jacob does a great job keeping calm when he plays, it’s really hard to tell how he is doing unless you are really watching him play.  Seeing it play out the way it did was amazing, we are very proud of him.


  How much progress has the team made from the first meet back in August to now?
The team has made amazing progress.  Scores have been good this season and the boys played well when it counted.  I think most importantly their confidence has improved this season and they know they have great potential.   


 How much do you think this outcome will help the program moving forward?
Hopefully the success we have had will draw more people into Golf at SJO. 
We really need to keep people involved if we want to continue to move forward.


 Why do you like coaching golf at SJO?
Coaching Golf at SJO has been an honor and something I don’t take lightly.  I really enjoy just being apart of the team and providing opportunities for kids to play.
 

Banner
Related Posts

SJO soccer to have new home in 2023, while issues arise about current field maintenance

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is set to have a new home field for the 2023 season. SJO...

Born to dance: Hess takes passion with her to SIUE

May 30, 2019

May 30, 2019

Kaitlyn Hess has danced nearly all of her life. The recent St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate will continue to do...

Spartans learn postseason foe, lose close game at Charleston

May 2, 2019

May 2, 2019

Playing for the first time in a week after inclement weather caused multiple postponements, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball...

SJO football back in the playoffs, meets Williamsville in first round

October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019

The last time St. Joseph-Ogden High School football met Williamsville in a playoff game, the Spartans ended up playing for...

Opportunity for growth is outlook SJO boys’ track and field is taking amid pandemic

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and field team had competed in a few indoor meets in February and...

Smith, Spartans on roll entering playoffs

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

Hosting home football playoff games became common for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team in the past. In fact,...

Pence, Ingram lead SJO boys’ basketball off to superb start

February 19, 2021

February 19, 2021

After having the season delayed more than two months and then missingthe first week of the condensed season while dealing...

SJO football looks to rebound at Rantoul after home loss against Unity

September 26, 2025

September 26, 2025

Emotions are always high when the St. Joseph-Ogden and Unity football teams meet.Two tradition-rich programs who have experienced plenty of...

10 things you don’t know about me…the SJO girls basketball team

February 22, 2019

February 22, 2019

After this weekend, Maclayne Taylor will have 12 state medals and has been apart of five team state trophies.  ...

Rajlich, Mattsey thrive for SJO cross-country in Peoria

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Thank you to Carrie Mattsey photography for the photo! The St. Joseph-Ogden High School team got its first look at...

Primmer trying to keep hope as SJO baseball waits on possible start to season

April 7, 2020

April 7, 2020

Blake Primmer’s senior season wasn’t supposed to play out like this. As the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team was...

SJO boys’ track and field looks to build upon past success

April 2, 2019

April 2, 2019

Jason Retz is no stranger to success when it comes to St.Joseph-Ogden High School athletics. The sixth-year coach of the...

Wells, Armstrong help balanced Spartans to strong showing in Illini Prairie

March 11, 2021

March 11, 2021

Performing well in conference games is about the best outcome a high school basketball team can consider during this pandemic-abbreviated...

Maroon named student-athlete of the month

November 25, 2020

November 25, 2020

Carson Maroon wants to have a job that supports people in their time of need. “After high school, I hope...

Griebat dances her heart out

January 24, 2019

January 24, 2019

Dancing is what Haley Griebat loves to do. And she’ll get a chance to do so on the state’s biggest...

Comments
Leave a Reply