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Cardinal boys golf numbers improve

FAIRMONT — Just by looking at the Fairmont Cardinals boys golf team’s photo from last year and this year’s picture, there’s one noticeable difference.

The team has gone from six varsity golfers to 22 to start 2018. The Cardinals added a few sophomores and juniors, but the majority of the newcomers are seventh- and eighth-graders.

Eighth-grader Alexander Moeller leads the group after having been the lone junior high golfer on the varsity squad last year.

“Not being outside kind of puts us behind the eight ball as to see where those seventh-graders are going to fit in,” Cardinals head coach Brad Haugen said in reference to the snowy weather. “I think a few of them are going to be chasing at those heels of those (returning) varsity boys to get some playing time.”

The influx of golfers has allowed for a new level of competition. Because of a smaller varsity group last year, the spots were essentially guaranteed, but this year, each golfer will have to work to earn their spot.

“So now instead of having to shoot a 50 to get on varsity, you have to shoot a 46,” Haugen added. “That’s just going to drive that team score down because now when your last player is shooting that high of a score — a 46 — that’s just going to make those other guys have to go lower to keep their spots.”

Even with the increase in numbers, the Cardinals return their top four golfers from last year in seniors Bryan Grotte and Tom Havnen, junior Tanner DeWar and freshman Colby Grotte.

Havnen and DeWar both made it to the second day of the Section 2AA Meet last season, with both shooting a two-day score of 90.

Haugen said the team will be looking to the four to continue leading the way, making adjustments where needed to lower the scores.

“I’m pretty sure they all know where they can lose those strokes, and a lot of it isn’t even physical. It’s just the way we need to mentally attack the game,” he said.

The Cardinals are aiming to shoot a 330 and fixing the mental errors plays a major part in achieving the goal.

“Coach (Ryan) Stevens and I are working a lot with them on managing their misses, so when they hit a bad shot, they don’t make it two bad shots in a row or two bad holes in a row,” Haugen said. “(It’s about) just being able to recover and get back on track.”

In addition to the new players, the Cardinals’ coaching staff has changed. Stevens moved from assistant to the team’s associate head coach, and Mike Martinson trades his role as the junior high school coach for the varsity assistant role.

Steve Pierce is the new junior high school coach, while Tyler Brackey will be a volunteer coach and help out where needed.

The season is filled with changes. Not only are there new golfers and coaches, but the team moved from Section 2AA to Section 3AA. The section includes Luverne, New London-Spicer, Marshall and New Ulm, which took seventh at the 2017 state meet.

The weather has affected the Cardinals’ ability to practice, but the team does what they can and hope to get back on a course soon.

“We send them on about a mile walk through the school with their backpacks on. They’ll be be moping around a little bit, but they’re still using it as bonding time to talk with their friends and have a good time in a bad situation,” Haugen said. “We’re really appreciative of all their efforts indoors.”

If the weather holds up, the Cardinals will tee off at the Marshall Invite at 9 a.m. next Saturday.

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