The 2009 BEA boys golf team includes: front row (left to right); Slater Peterson, Bodey Bell, Derick Abel, Andy Aukes, Sandor Hahn, Coach Steve Fernholz. Back row (left to right); Jacob Black, Chris Sundquist, Tanner Stindtman, Nate Glimsdal, David Beattie, Ethan Armstrong and Jon Trasamar.

There is no doubt who the leader will be on the Blue Earth Area boys golf team.

Senior Jon Trasamar has been a state tournament participant three times during his high school career, scoring as high as second in state. He has been an all-conference player since eighth grade.

But Buc Coach Steve Fernholz has more than just one reason to be optimistic about this season.

“We return four of our top six scorers from last year,” Fernholz says. “Some of them are getting to be experienced veterans.”

Two freshmen who Fernholz expects to do well this season actually have two years of varsity experience already – having started as seventh graders. They are Andy Aukes and Derek Abel.

Senior Nate Glimsdal will be having his second year on the varsity, and the coach expects he will contribute a lot. So will junior Chris Sundquist.

“I think there will be a lot of competition among the players to fill out the fifth and sixth spots on the squad,” Fernholz says. “We have a lot of good, young players.”

He points to Slater Peterson filling one of the spots – and after that it is wide open, the coach says.

The team lost two seniors from last year to graduation, Tom More and Thane Nowak. More was also a state participant last season.

Last year’s team placed first in the subsection and second in the section.

“I have some high expectations again this year,” Fernholz says. “Last year we didn’t always score as well as a team as I hoped – our team average was poor.”

The coach thinks that will change this year, with some of the players ready to step up and play well.

“Jon (Trasamar) had the second lowest average score in the section last year, but we didn’t get consistent scores to go with his,” Fernholz says. “I think we will this year.”

The coach feels Fairmont is the best team in the conference this year, with St. Peter expected to be the most improved.

“After that, it is pretty balanced up and down the conference for boys golf,” he says. “We should be competitive with most of them.”

The team started practice on March 9, but has been spending a lot of time practicing in the hallway at Pemberton Auditorium until the weather warms up and they can move outdoors and hit the practice area behind the high school.

The team opens with an away meet in New Ulm on April 13. Fernholz expects the Bluejays to be good, as they have an excellent golf program there.

This will be Coach Fernholz’s 10th year. Gary Holmseth is the junior high coach.