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Fore! Wayzata Golf Team Set to Tee Off

The defending Class AAA champion Trojans are back with a golf bag full of talent, including state runner-up Tyler Lowenstein.

Between the rough and the fairway lies the fringe, which is exactly where Wayzata’s boys’ golf team is situated entering the 2011 season.

Last year’s team ran away with the Class AAA title, winning the State Tournament by a dominant 16 strokes.

As they set to tee off this year the Trojans are poised for another title run and return five-of-six golfers from the 2010 championship squad.

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“This is a close knit group of players,” said Wayzata coach Allen Christopherson. “They’re there for each other, they support each other.”  

But the Trojans will approach their first tee boxes this season without the services of one of last year’s leaders.  

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Former captain Kyle Beversdorf graduated after tying for 2nd as an individual at state and is now golfing at the University of Northern Iowa.

“He’s playing golf down at UNI and doing a fantastic job down there. We’re all really proud of him,” Christopherson said.

Still, Christopherson said Wayzata returns enough talent to compete with anyone, and highlighted across-the-board improvements in the varsity squad.

“Overall,  everyone has gotten better, and we expect that [people] are going to step up this year,” Christopherson said, going on to predict Wayzata golfers will put some low numbers on the scorecards in 2011.

The team will rely heavily on senior Tyler Lowenstein and younger brother Zack Lowenstein, a junior, for those low scores.

“Zack is a little bit more relaxed, fun, out-going,” Christopherson said.  “Tyler is a different type of personality. Much more critical of himself and determined.”

It was Tyler’s determination that helped him to tie Beversdorf at state, posting a four-round average of 71 for the tournament. With Beversdorf gone, Lowenstein - who will golf for the Gophers next year - is the elder statesmen on a team with lofty aspirations.

Wayzata will look for strong contributions from the Lowenstein brothers, junior Andrew Brandt and junior Alex Higginson - four golfers who Christopherson said will form the core of Wayzata’s leadership both on and off the course.

“Are we a group of accomplished golfers that are pushing each other, or are we pushing each other to become more accomplished golfers?  I’d have to say it’s more of the latter,” coach Christopherson said.

One golfer already being pushed  is freshmen Jack Holmgren.  

A young two-year starter on varsity and tying for 21st at state as an eighth-grader, Holmgren will be someone to watch as the season goes on, and Christopherson said he expects big things from the rising star.

“I anticipate that he is going to play better this year for us,” he said, adding that all of Wayzata’s golfers are entering this season focused on improving their individual games.

Time will tell, but Christopherson knows success will come from the collective.

“We’re a team, and we’re going to get better as a team if we support each other,” he said. “The nurturing and  support comes from [teammates].”

Luckily, golf success for the Trojans is par for the course.

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