MINNEAPOLIS — On April 15, the Ellsworth High School golf team had a day of medals, beautiful weather and multiple personal records at the Minneapolis High School Golf Invitational.

Junior Cooper McGowan shot 89 for fourth place while junior Micah Galvan tied for fifth with 90, said head coach Darin Holecek.

Ellsworth took third place in the meet with a team score of 382. Other placings were Beloit, first with 353; Republic County, second with 364; Minneapolis fourth with 423; and Ell-Saline in fifth with 464.

In addition to McGowan and Galvan, junior Elyse Haxton shot 99 to tie for 15th; senior Aidan Johnson shot 104 for 17th; junior Braylyn Gardner shot 111 for 21st; and sophomore Carsyn Johnson placed 25th with a score of 117.

“Cooper, Micah, Aidan, Elyse and Carsyn all PRed with the scores they had on Tuesday,” Holecek said.

And that says something.

“I think it shows that with the work they put in and focusing on practice that they are getting better. That’s how we measure if you’re improving, and they are all competitive, that’s why they are out there,” Holecek said.

“Being able to PR, well, that just kind of reflects on the work you are putting in and the time and practice. Being focused on what you’re doing and improving and getting better.”

The mild weather for the day also helped.

“It was the nicest day we’ve had so far,” Holecek said. “You didn’t have three layers of clothes on trying to sling a golf club.” “It was perfect,” McGowan echoed. “It allowed me to stay fresh.

“I started off really good through the first six holes. I was one over. I had a birdie on one of my first holes which really set me up good. I started to cool down toward the end of the nine. The second nine, I started to play ‘bogey golf ’ as they say, just doing about average.

I was able to keep that up the rest of the meet. I’d say my great beginning really set me up for success.”

McGowan enjoyed the course.

“It’s a nice course. It is really open,” he said. “I like that you can have more leeway for shots and different angles.”

He’s looking forward to improving his game.

“I think with my potential, I could shoot honestly low 80s, high 70s. Last meet I had a few mishaps that really could have led me to do a lot better, but I’m still proud of my performance.”

Team member Galvan also started the day fast on the Minneapolis course.

“I started off really hot, a really good day to start.

I shot six over through my first nine,” Galvan said. “Then I think my mind started to wander a bit and fatigue set in. I ended up 14 over on my back, so definitely a big difference from my front nine to my back nine.”

He sees room for improvement for his game.

“If I can keep my back nine like my front nine, I should be shooting at least in the 80s. At least that is what I’m hoping for,” he said. “I’m having fun, but I definitely want to be shooting close to par, obviously.”

Holecek is pleased with the potential for his team.

“We have 19 players total, with three seniors.

I see several years of good team camaraderie and everyone improving scores. I just see us getting better and better as we keep going,” he said.

“The kids are pretty dedicated. When we have practice, there are a lot of them out there after practice. I see numerous kids out here on the weekend playing. Last summer, several of them who didn’t even play high school golf last year were out there all summer playing. So, I think they have the drive to practice, learn the game more, figure the game out and get better. That’s like any sport or any activity you do, that is what it takes, the dedication to work on it and get better.”

Holecek said it’s not all about the PRs.

“To kind of sum it up, a personal best reflects not only the score, it reflects their etiquette out on the course. Those are things we talk about every day — life skills that you can learn — that’s not all about the score. There are a lot of things that go along with it,” Holecek said. “Being responsible. Being honest. Being respectful.

Making relationships.

They are going to meet a lot of different kids playing high school golf, and to me, that translates into life after high school.

Relationships, friends you make. Business opportunities. Job opportunities.”

Those skills aren’t all about competitive golf.

“I kind of kid with them, if you get a job down the road, some of those jobs do golf outings and that’s how they entertain clients and you may have to do that for a job. It is the relationships you are making and how other people judge you, not just the score,” he said. “To be honest with you, if you have a workrelated golf outing, there isn’t anybody that cares what you shoot for a score. They are judging you — your personality, how you handle yourself, how honest you are and how courteous you are.

The life skills that golf teaches.”

McGowan and Galvan agree that lessons on the golf course translate to life.

“I really think my relationship with my teammates and my coach has gotten better this year.

There are a lot of new golfers and a lot of new people to meet,” McGowan said. “I’ve golfed with a lot of new people in the tournaments as well.”

“I think it is great for networking — meeting people and getting your name out there,” Galvan said. “Some guy you might golf with might be someone I need to know later on in the future, and it’s good to have those connections with people and build off that.”

After competing in a tournament in Republic County on April 21, the team will be in action at Beloit April 24.