PIERRE – The Aberdeen Central golf team is on cruise control right now.
The Golden Eagles won their fourth straight tournament in dominant fashion and Olivia Braun won her fourth consecutive individual title.
Central had a team score of 301 thanks in part to having the top three finishers with Braun in first with a 70, followed by Emma Dohrer in second with a 71, and Kyley Wirebaugh in third with a 75.
“It kind of confirms what I’ve been saying all along. We really have three number ones on our team, which is a luxury and we kind of take for granted once in a while,” said Central coach Kim Zimmerman. “I don’t take it for granted. Emma and Kyley kind of get overshadowed by Olivia, but they continue to play great golf. They just kind of fly under the radar a little bit, but I’m very fortunate to have three number ones playing.”
Central’s superior depth has allowed the squad to consistently be around the 300 mark this season, including a school record 289 total last week.
“I’ve been coaching 29 years girls golf. Obviously, I haven’t had a team like this, nor do I recall any other school having a team this good,” Zimmerman said. “Posting these scores around 300 like these girls have, when they were seventh and eighth graders you can only hope and think what might be, and they’re just kind of living up to their expectations. They’re really zoned in right now.”
The Golden Eagles individually are routinely shooting low scores which leads to stellar team totals.
“I don’t know if they can sustain it or not. I hope so, but golf’s a very difficult and humbling game,” Zimmerman said. “They’re making it look easy, which it isn’t. They’re making look easier than it should be right now.”
Central will host its own Hub City Invitational on Thursday at Moccasin Creek Country Club.
It’s a rare opportunity to get to play in front of the hometown fans.
“Just to showcase our talent at home on a golf course we’re very familiar with that we play a lot, and practice on,” Zimmerman said.
Central will also host the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament later this spring.
For now, the Golden Eagles are having fun enjoying the fruits of their labors from the past few seasons.
“I want them to enjoy this. This is all kind of a culmination of hard work and years of practice and things like that. That just doesn’t happen over night. That’s what I want them to realize,” Zimmerman said. “All those years and summers they’ve put in of practicing and playing in tournaments, this is what you’d like to see and that’s what they’re doing right now.”
To see complete tournament results, click on the following link:
