K/EV-W boys?Äô golf team: Conference Champs!

Kimball/Eden Valley-Watkins wrapped up conference play with a double header on Friday, May 19, and with that, also wrapped up the conference title. The boys started off the day at Prairie View golf course in Brooten and ended the day at the Osakis Country Club. The team brought their ?ÄúA?Äù games to these matches after a busy and wet couple of meets at Koronis and Shadowbrooke on Monday and Thursday. The guys gave a strong performance in Brooten. K/EV-W?Äôs Adam Sandquist earned individual meet medalist, shooting an impressive 38 and sinking a long birdie putt on a tough par-five hole. Other individual results were Nathan Vossen (41), Drew Gustafson (45), Jack Bates (48), Grant Kahlstorf (56), and Ben Zipoy (62). K/EV-W captured first place with a sparkling 172, their best team score of the season.

The team arrived at Osakis with a lot of momentum and capped off conference play with another team victory, posting a 174, and clinching the conference title with a 1,230; 53 strokes ahead of 2nd place team BBE. Creating a d?©j?? vu feeling for the gallery, Sandquist again earned individual medalist accolades, shooting another impressive 38, and sinking another birdie putt on another par-five hole. He also took home the medal for best overall of the day, shooting a 76 on 18 holes. Another highlight from the meet was Jack Bates (45) chipping in for his first ever eagle on the same hole as Sandquist?Äôs birdie. Other individual results for the meet were Vossen (41), Gustafson (50), Kahlstorf (52), and Zipoy (52). Final results for the season include three all-
conference titles for K/EV-W golfers. Sandquist took 1st, with a six-meet average of 40.17; Vossen placed 2nd, with a six-meet average of 41.00; and Gustafson tied for 8th with a 44.17.

The team is getting ready to make a strong appearance at the section tournament, June 6, at Blackberry Ridge in Sartell. They have a busy couple of weeks ahead to make sure that they are ready for the competition that will be there. The conference season ends with an optional trip up to Madden?Äôs on Gull Lake. The team will get a couple of practice rounds in before its conference appearance, ending with an invitational held by Albany High School on Saturday, June 3. 

?ÄúI am very happy with how the team ended this season, and we have a good chance of making a strong showing at sections. The team is looking forward to preparing for the meet, and maintaining the momentum built up from the season. The boys program is on the rise as we have 20-plus students in grades 7-12. We are shaping up to have a strong team for a few years. I am very proud of every single member of the team this year and of all the progress they have made. I would love to give a personal thank you to our JV/Junior High Coach, Gerry Bahe, our girls coach, Kit Pennie, and Kimball Golf Club Director, Bob Deem, for all of their help this year working with the kids. I would also like to thank all the parents for their help and encouragement this season. Thank you for supporting a great sport and program. Your kids are the next generation of golfers. I would also like to thank my family, friends, and staff at KAHS for all the help throughout the season; helping at meets and tournaments; and just being an ear to talk to. Thank you again!?Äù?ÄîCoach Zach Boser

The K/EV-W boys?Äô varsity golf team are Conference Champs heading into Sections. The girls?Äô varsity golf team has completed their season (see story on page 1). Pictured is the entire 2017 Kimball/Eden Valley-Watkins golf team. Front row, from left, Abbey Schelske, Andie Phelps, Shaelyn Desm, Joseph Monge, Sam Nistler, Alex Ertl, Wyatt Schmidt, Jakob Thielen, Trinity Erickson, Ashley Gruenes, and Tasha Donnay. Middle row, Adam Sandquist, Jake Spaulding, Reece McQuiston, Zach Kuechle, Ben Ruhland, Casey Gohmann, Drew Gustafson, Jack Bates, Branson Jensen, Ethan VanNurden, Lucas Jansky, Jesse Shepherd, Ty Gustafson, and Johnathan Gathje. Back row, Zach Boser, Kit Pennie, Adam Hilbert, Brandon Rosha, Joe Munson, Everett Fischer, Hunter Weiss, Jacob Lindberg, Nathan Vossen, Ben Zipoy, Tommy Becker, Dominic Schlangen, Rylan Schlueller, Grant Kahlstorf, Brendan Maurer, Jayce Stanger, and Gerry Bahe.