(Elk Horn) Exira-EHK boys golf coach Tony Petersen says if his team keeps working at it they have a chance to be a pretty good group.
The Spartans have a big roster with 17 golfers and lost just one senior from their varsity lineup last year. “We have 7-8 golfers with varsity experience so we feel pretty good about that, although they do have to get to work and shave some of the shots off of their scoring averages from last year if we want to get to the places we want to go. We have a good group of numbers and that’s always a good starting point and we have some kids that know what’s going on so we are pretty optimistic.”
Coach Petersen has identified some of the key areas where they can improve. “We have to get off the tee a whole lot better than we did last year. That’s going to be one of the big points and then like all golf coaches will tell you, our work around the green and that’s where we are putting heavy emphasis early in the season. From 50 yards on in we have to be a whole lot better if we want to cut some shots off. We think we can get the kids to stay in the fairway off the tees a little bit better, but we really have to focus from 50 yards on in. We feel pretty good about our kids and we’ll see what happens as the year goes on.”
Trey Petersen is a returning district qualifier while several others got varsity experience last year. “We are hoping he can pick up where he left off and improve and get a little bit better and maybe take that next step. We’ve also got some letter winners that picked up some really good experience last year. We only lost one varsity golfer last year and that was a good one with Tyler Petersen, but we have Dane Paulsen, Gavin Bengard, Derrek Kommes, Quintin White, and Aiden Potts.”
Other potential contributors include Easton Nelson, Davis Larsen, Aiden Flathers, and Jack Lacanne.
Exira-EHK coach Tony Petersen:
