Looking at the 2014 Boys High School Golf Season

April 22, 2014 | 5 min.


By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org



MINNESOTA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL GOLF PREVIEW

1. EDEN PRAIRIE – At the 2013 Minnesota State Boys High School Golf Championship the Eden Prairie Eagles edged Wayzata to capture the state title by a single stroke.

The Eagles got a big lift from Zach Peters who finished tied for second at last year’s tournament, shooting an even par 72 and a 2-over 74. The Eagles will need Peters to step up once again as well as senior Ryan Mayer and junior Jack Koehler. Mayer finished tied for 15th last summer at the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship.

Both Mayer and Koehler will begin the season ranked 12th and 23rd, respectively.

2. WAYZATA – One stroke was the difference between a state championship and second place last year for the Trojans, but look for Wayzata to be on the heels of the Eagles often and early. The Trojans return a stacked team, as three players begin the season ranked in the Top 20.

Senior Jack Holmgren will undoubtedly play a big role for the Trojans as he finished seventh at the state tournament last year and seventh in 2012.

Freshman Van Holmgren should make a big impact for the Trojans this season. Holmgren finished tied for 15th as an eighth grader at the state tournament last season and had a Top 10 finish at both the Minnesota PGA Junior Championship and the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship last summer.

Will Holmgren finished tied for 34th at the state championship last season during the summer finished 10th at the Minnesota PGA Junior Championship and 11th at the Minnesota Junior Boys’ Championship.

3. HASTINGS – The Trojans marched to a fourth-place finish in Class 3A a season ago as Sam Otto, Jacob Cooper and Matthew Radke all finished tied for 17th to lead Hastings. The trio return this season and again will be called upon to lead Hastings back to Bunker Hills.

The Trojans seem to be off to a fast start again this season as Otto has posted consecutive rounds of 76, while Cooper carded a 75 Tuesday to kick off the season. Radke completed his first round of the year Tuesday as well, shooting a 75 at Prestwick Golf Club.

4. STAPLES-MOTLEY – Last year Staples-Motley put an end to a two-year run by Detroit Lakes at the state tournament in Jordan, Minn., winning by seven strokes. A year later the Cardinals return just three players from that championship squad.

Sophomore Andrew Israelson will take the lead this season as Israelson finished tied for fourth at the state tournament a year ago, shooting a 1-under par 71 during the opening round.

The Cardinals will also need big performances from senior Dakota Waverek who finished tied for 21st at state last season, and senior Kyle Quast. If the Cardinals can get some solid play from its newcomers, look for Staples-Motley to turn some heads going into sections. 

5. DETROIT LAKES – Knocked off by Staples-Motley a year ago at the state tournament, the Lakers will look to rebound and jump into contention with four solid starters. The Lakers lost three seniors, all of whom finished in the Top 15 at last year’s state tournament, and will look to senior Michael Herzog to fill part of the void.

Herzog finished tied for 17th at the tournament last summer and will begin the season ranked inside the Top 10. Junior Christian Hedstrom will be called upon as well as Hedstrom finished 21st at state last year, while junior Ben Mallow will begin the season ranked in the Top 30 and looks to improve on his 33rd-place finish at last year’s tournament.


FIVE BOYS GOLFERS TO WATCH 

1. Jack Holmgren (sr., Wayzata)
– Holmgren has been one of the most consistent players for the Trojans in quite some time. Holmgren has back-to-back seventh place finishes at the state tournament the last two seasons. Holmgren captured two titles last summer at the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship and the Minnesota State Junior Boys Championship.

In 2012, Holmgren finished seventh at the Minnesota Junior Boys Championship and an impressive 11th place finish at the MGA Amateur. Holmgren also had a third place finish at the MPGA State Junior Public Links Championship in 2011.

2. Freddy Thomas (sr., Lakeville North) – Thomas is setting up to have a big season for the Panthers as Thomas finished the 2013 season with three Top 5 finishes. He tied for second at the state tournament before qualifying as an alternate for the U.S. Junior Amateur, finishing third. He then went on to another third place finish at the Minnesota State Junior Boys Championship last July. Thomas earned medalist honors already this season with an even par 72 at a South Suburban Conference meet at Minnesota Valley Country Club.

3. Pete Sienko (sr., Spring Lake Park) – After the 2013 season Pete Sienko showed he has talent and is ready to break out as one of the top high school golfers in the state. Last summer Sienko qualified for the state tournament as an individual shooting an opening round 75 and finished tied for 26th at 154. At the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship in July, Sienko carded back-to-back rounds of 76 to finish tied for 17th at 152.

4. Bobby Thomas (sr., Lakeville North) – The Panthers will have a scary tandem in Bobby and Freddy Thomas that teams in the South Suburban Conference will need to be aware of. Thomas looks to build on a 17th place finish at the Minnesota State Boys’ Championship and a 37th place finish at the state tournament last season.

5. Paul Vogt (sr., Hopkins) – The senior from Hopkins had a disappointing showing at the state tournament last season finishing 60th. He rebounded extremely well and collected two Top 10 finishes during the summer. Vogt finished tied for fourth at a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying event as well as a 10th place finish at the 2013 Minnesota PGA Junior Championship.

At the 87th Minnesota Junior Boys’ Championship Vogt carded a final round 2-over par 74 to finish tied for 25th. Vogt was also a member of the winning 2012 MGA Junior Team Championship at Les Bolstad Golf Course.

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