Aberdeen Central has three returning golfers this season who will be joined a group of underclassmen which will be looking to make an impact.

The Golden Eagles will be led by seniors Jackson Ravellette and Kalen Larson, and junior Cole Brust. All three were varsity members a year ago. They were also regulars on the SDGA Junior Tour and Sanford Tour this summer.

“The Sanford Tour is the best form of competition, because it’s not just AA kids,” said Central coach Matt Brust. “It’s A and B kids that are towards the upper side of junior golf in the state. You want to be competing against everybody and that Sanford Tour certainly does that.”

Central will start its season today at the Brandon Valley Lynx Invitational. That means there has been limited practice time as a team before the beginning of the regular season.

“Get to check out a few swings and go play a qualifying round, and you’ve got to pick a team and get going,” Coach Brust said.

Other players who will be relied on this season include senior Grayson Rehder, and sophomores Easton Kludt and Maddox Dinger.

Unlike the Class B boys and all girls teams who compete in the spring, Class AA and A boys’ golfers get to prepare during the summer heading into their season in the fall.

“That spring is season is tough, but they’re all in the same playing field,” Brust said. “There’s also benefit to being able to play heading into your season the prior 4-5 months.”

Brust said that Harrisburg and Mitchell will be among the better teams this season and that the competition is stiff in the state’s largest division of golf.

“AA golf is silly competitive,” Brust said.

Brust said there is a temptation for golfers to watch what others do and try to emulate that, instead of concentrating on their own games.

“All you can do is go out there and hit the best shot you can hit,” he said, “and make the best decision that you can make.”

Brust recalled what former Moccasin Creek Country Club pro Dean Zahn used to say about staying in the moment out on the golf course.

“Don’t follow a bad shot with a stupid shot. … It’s so true, but unfortunately it’s easier said than done,” Brust said.

Central has just one home tournament this season. The Hub City Invitational will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Lee Park Golf Course.

This year’s Class AA State Tournament will take place at Meadow Brook Golf Course in Rapid City in October.

“It would be great to just watch the kids get better as the season goes along,” Brust said, “and see where we could end up by the time we go to Rapid City.”