The Blue Earth Area girls golf team is anxious for the warmer temperatures so they can get outside for their practices. Pictured in front, left to right, are: Devyn Dopp, McKinley Hanson, Katelyn Storbeck. Back row: Rylan Storbeck, Kylie Rosenau, Madison Ehrich, Payten Gudahl, Liz Beeler.

Temperatures in the 50s and 60s, along with bright sunshine for three straight days on March 19-21, seemed to indicate winter was over and it was time to hit the golf course.

But then, on March 22, the first day of practice for the Blue Earth Area girls golf team, the skies opened up and it rained all day. The next day featured snow showers during both the morning and afternoon hours.

“Needless to say, all of our practices have been inside so far,” Al Cue, BEA girls head golf coach, said. “Unfortunately, the weather does not look good for the week of March 28 either.”

Hopefully, by the time their first meet rolls around on April 5, the temperatures will have taken on a more “golf-like” feel.

“We head to Rose Lake Golf Club to take on Granada-Huntley-East Chain to open the season,” Cue says. “Three days later, on April 8, we host Maple River at Riverside Town and Country Club.”

The BEA girls golf team has just two home meets on the schedule out of 12 total meets this year. Their other home competition will be on May 10, at Minn-Iowa Golf Course, when they host Jackson County Central.

“I guess we will be the road warriors this year,” Cue comments.

BEA currently has eight girls out for this year’s squad.

“We would be happy to have more join,” Cue shares. “I would love to see more girls on the team.”

There are two seniors on this year’s squad: Liz Beeler and Kylie Rosenau.

“Liz played as a freshman. COVID wiped out her sophomore year and she had a wrist injury which prevented her from playing her junior year,” Cue explains. “It is nice to have her back.”

Rosenau seemed to hit her stride towards the end of last season.

“She improved during the year and qualified for the second day of Section play,” Cue notes.

There are no juniors on the team but two sophomores, who gained a lot of experience last year, are ready to tee it up again.

“Payten Gudahl worked her way up to play at the No. 2 position last year,” Cue says. “Rylan Storbeck was steady as the No. 4 or No. 5 player a year ago.”

One freshman, Madison Ehrich, is on the team.

“She had never played a round of golf until last spring,” Cue mentions. “She is athletic and picked up the game in a hurry and played a couple of meets in the No. 6 position.”

Katelyn Storbeck and McKinley Hanson are two eighth graders back for their second year of varsity golf.

“It is good to have both of them back,” Cue comments.

One seventh grader has joined the team: Emily He.

Continued improvement during the year and getting more girls interested in playing golf are two of Cue’s goals for the year.

“Fairmont has everybody back and they won the Section last year, so they will be tough,” Cue shares.

Still, he is looking forward to seeing what his group of young players can accomplish this year.

“Katelyn and Payten played a lot of golf last summer and Rylan also got in a number of rounds,” Cue remarks. “We do not have big numbers, but we have a chance to be a decent team.”