Holy Angels Golf Team Plays its Best Game at the Right Time

boys golf coach Randy Nelson admits his team has been a work in progress. The Stars spent much of the spring season trying to get their games on the right track.

All those stories of summer tournaments shooting in the low 70s just don’t seem to show up in early May.

“I don’t know what it is about us, but we don’t bring that out in the spring,” Nelson said.

Fortunately for the Stars, they’re playing their best golf at the right time. Holy Angels will take that momentum into the Class AA state meet on Wednesday and Thursday at Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m.

If the Stars took home the championship, it would be their first since back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999.

Holy Angels is coming off its best showing of the season at sections. Nelson said he didn’t think the team shot in the 320s more than once all spring, but the Stars won the Section 4AA tournament with a 311 score on May 26.

“I had the confidence in them to play this kind of golf,” Nelson said. “Maybe it was just reinforcing that. They know they can play better.”

Coming off a fourth place finish at state last year, the Stars lost defending state champion Jake Erickson—the first in school history—to graduation.

It was a big hole to fill, but the Stars continued to grow throughout the season. Much of that has been thanks to Josh Littman and Jack Riester, who have led the way as the teams No. 1 and No. 2 golfers through much of the year.

Nelson said Littman took the time to correct part of his game, and as a result he has been striking the ball better and putting better this season.

Nelson said he thinks Littman and Riester can potentially finish in the top third of the state field individually at state this week.

Meanwhile, Nelson said Charlie Haumersen—making his fourth tournament appearance—always plays his best at the end of the year.

But the team’s hopes of competing for a state title could depend on the health of Connor Flaherty. Flaherty, an pivotal part of the team’s score throughout the year, felt ill during Tuesday’s practice round and is day-to-day for playing on Wednesday.

Nelson said Flaherty’s presence is critical to the team’s success.

“It would be a crying shame if he doesn’t get a chance to play,” Nelson said.

Either way, with a field that includes three-time defending champion Orono, the Stars’ main objective is to finish in the middle of the pack in the team standings. 

If the team’s recent success is any indication, Holy Angels could be on its way to reaching that goal come Thursday.

“It’s always exciting for me, too,” Nelson said. “It’s just a great experience to play at this level against the best in these various classes. They’re so looking forward to it.”

Holy Angels Day 1 Tee Time Schedule

• Connor Flaherty at  7:30 a.m.;
• Ben Hook at 7:30 a.m.;
• Griffin Baker at 7:39 a.m.;
• Josh Littman at 7:48 a.m.;
• Charlie Haumersen at 7:57 a.m.;
• Jack Riester at 8:33 a.m.