The Golden Eagles boast numbers and experience this season, but have yet to hit the links.
The roster lists 14 golfers in grades seven through 12 including four seniors: Jessica Gourneau, Kayla Krueger, Ashley Rook and Amanda Tobin. Returning letter winners are Tobin, Rook, Brianna Kuckelburg, Gourneau, Krueger, Leah Beringer and Mikayla Santjer.
"We should be very competitive based on the number of athletes we have returning from last year's team," said Central golf coach Kim Zimmerman, who is in his 16th season. "We still have to go out and perform to the best of our ability. The teams that finished in front of us last year also have a large number of athletes returning as well."
Krueger and Tobin earned All-Eastern South Dakota Conference honors as the Golden Eagles finished fourth. Central took home a sixth place finish at the State AA Meet as Kruger (12th tie), Tobin (19th tie) and Rook (19th tie) finished among the top 20 golfers.
"We have experience and know what to expect from the golf courses we play. We know how to handle the difficult weather conditions that the spring season usually delivers," said Zimmerman.
The returning state champion is Sioux Falls O'Gorman, which edged Pierre by three strokes. Hallie Getz of Pierre won medalist honors and returns this season along with three other top finishers.
"The teams that placed high at the state tournament last year will be the same teams that should be very good again this year. Yankton and Pierre in the ESD and O'Gorman, Sioux Falls Lincoln and Rapid City Stevens at state. This is because of the number of returning athletes and the traditions some of the programs have with girls' golf," said Zimmerman.
The Golden Eagles schedule has already backed up its opening competition after a meet in Huron was cancelled. Right now Central is scheduled to open at the Pierre Invitational on April 9. Aberdeen will host one home meet this spring, the Hub City Invitational on May 14. Yankton will be a hot spot of girls' golf this spring as the Gazelles host the ESD championships on May 4 and the State AA Meet at the Hillcrest Golf and Country Club on May 20-21.
"In golf, it's always about improving and getting better throughout the season," said Zimmerman.
Right now, Aberdeen Central's biggest opponent is the weather.
April - 9, at Pierre Invitational; 18, at Huron Invitational; 19, at Yankton Invitational; 26, at Mitchell Invitational; 29, at Sioux Falls Washington Warriors Invitational; May - 4, Eastern South Dakota Conference at Yankton; 7, at Watertown Invitational; 9, at Brookings Invitational; 14, at Hub City Invitational; 20-21, State AA Meet at Hillcrest Golf & Country Club in Yankton.