Flier Girls' & Boys' Golf

Posted

Coach:

Jake Otkin

Three notables are back on the roster for the Flandreau boys’ and girls’ golf team this season.

On the boys’ side, the Fliers return Dawson Blum, who participated in the Class B State Golf Tournament a year ago.

For the girls, Grace Johanson placed 11th in the regional in 2016, missing the state tourney by just one stroke. Alaina Cloud took 15th at the regional.

First-year head coach Jake Otkin listed attitude, putting and chipping as the strengths; and experience as a weakness.

“This is a new and exciting year for the Flandreau golf team,” he said. “With 18 athletes (nine male and nine female) signed up to participate, we have great numbers to build on for the future. This year we will be very young with only one senior (overall). With the loss of John Gassman to graduation, Dawson Blum will be looked upon to carry the load for our boys’ side as he is a region medal winner and State B participant.

Dawson is very experienced and we will look to him to lead a young group of male golfers.”

Other expected to contribute on the boys’ team are Kyle Lewis, David Allen and Devon Burggraff.

“Although we will be very young with many junior high members looking to compete for varsity spots, the future looks very bright for the Flier boys,” Otkin added.

For the girls, “Grace Johanson will look to take the reigns as the leader,” Otkin noted. “She puts in a lot of offseason work and will look to turn the corner and lead the Lady Fliers to a great season. Alaina Cloud is another female returner that is expected to be a leader on the course and compete for a region medal. She was only a few strokes from qualifying for the State B golf meet last season.”

Also expected to contribute for the girls are Destiny Nelson, Gayle Vazquez, Ailee Southwood and Ashleigh Timmerman.

“The girls’ golf team is just like the boys’ golf team as they are very young and have a bright future ahead of them with many junior high players looking to push for varsity spots,” Otkin said. “Without a senior in the bunch, the field and future is bright and wide open for the Lady Fliers.”

Flandreau Boys’ & Girls’ Golf

Front row, from left, Devon Burggraff, Tanner Christenson, Tathan

Headrick, Cade LeBrun and Brayden Sayler. Middle, Dawson Blum,

Alaina Cloud, Keva Burshiem, Grace Johanson, Patience Cease,

Macy Willams and Ailee Southwood. Back, Bradley Heinemann,

Gayle Vasquez, Grace FlutePlayer, David Allen, Destiny

Nelson and Kyle Lewis.