While still on the young side, Aberdeen Central will feature a veteran boys’ golf team this fall. That’s because the Golden Eagles have four state-qualifying golfers returning this season.

“That’s a good start,” said Central coach Matt Brust, entering his third season as the head coach.

The top foursome includes his sons, Peyton and Cole Brust, Quincy Madsen and Carter Blanchard. Peyton Brust tied for 23rd at state last season.

“They have the potential to play well and score well. They’re all kids that get along and do things outside of golf, which provides for good team cohesion,” Coach Brust said. “But it’s a matter of performance that day, and every day is different and every day provides its own challenges.”

Peyton Brust and Madsen are the lone seniors on the team this year. Blanchard is a junior.

Coach Brust said staying mentally focused is a big part of the game.

“Being as young as they are, it’s learning to stay in the moment,” he said. “No matter what’s happening, if it’s good or bad; staying where you are, not looking ahead and not looking behind, and hitting each shot as best you can, regardless of what happened before or what you think might happen in the future.”

Additional depth will be provided by up and comer Jackson Ravelette, who put in hours on the course during the off-season.

“Jackson Ravellette played quite a few of the SDGA events this summer and performed pretty well,” Coach Brust said.

Class AA boys’ golfers play into their season in the fall, unlike their female counterparts, who have their season in the spring.

“It makes it easier, but it also makes it more competitive,” Coach Brust said, “because everybody else is in the same frame. They’ve been playing all summer.”

Central starts its season with back-to-back tournaments, playing in the Brandon Valley Invitational on Monday, and the Sioux Falls Invitational on Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles host their own invitational and only home meet on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Lee Park Golf Course. Brust said his players always look forward to that event.

“They’re pretty friendly with the kids from Pierre. I think they keep in contact with them pretty regular over the season,” he said. “Pierre has a solid team. A couple of good players and Watertown also comes to that event. It’s a good way to measure up against those two teams, because they are both solid all the time.”

Coach Brust said that this year’s squad has the potential to be among the top half of the teams at the state tournament.

“On a well-played Monday-Tuesday, I don’t think a top-seven finish is out of the question at state, but the golf course at state where its being played is going to dictate some of that,” he said. “It’s in Brandon, which fits a couple of these guys and not a couple as well. But ESD is at Fox Run at Yankton and that’s a lot more wide-open place that should fit everybody here.”

Brust said it will take a total team effort led by the top players to help ensure a successful season.

“It’s that core couple of players performing well most of the time, and a couple of other players filling in where they need to,” he said. “And those days will happen and I’m hoping that there’s less days when it doesn’t.”

The golfing journey begins in earnest on Monday.

“It’s always exciting,” Coach Brust of the new season ahead. “It’s always fun to see them grow and progress.”