Eastview Golfers Push One Another To State

Competition is everything for the Eastview boys golf team.

You name the challenge, and someone is going to bite. And you can bet whoever wins is going to dish out a couple one-liners when it’s over.

“There’s always, we can say, some talk to each other,” senior Max Tylke said, smiling. “We all give each other a go. There is a lot of competition during practice—we all like to stay competitive.”

Those daily challenges might have pushed the Lightning to the next level.

Eastview will compete Tuesday and Wednesday in the Class AAA state meet at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids after winning the Section 3AAA title last week.

Boasting five seniors and a junior, the Lightning had high expectations heading into the season. But during the year, by constantly pushing each other in practice, the team made good on its first team state appearance since 2009.

No question, they made the journey fun.

“It’s probably one of the best things that’s happened to me senior year,” Sam Christian said about being on the team. “All these guys, it’s really fun. It helps a lot to be relaxed. I think that’s why we did a lot better this year than last year.”

The Lightning took charge on the second day during the two-day section event. Eastview led Eagan by six strokes at one point, then ballooned its lead to 12 thanks to consistent play up and down the lineup.

Tylke won the section with a 146, while Christian finished at 157, Max Smith at 163 and Erik Edsten at 166 to round out the scorecard. Matt Foley had a 172 and Lucas Allen had a 176.

The consistent play leading into the tournament kept coach Mark Wanous optimistic about winning the section title.

“It wasn’t a surprise—we’ve been playing well all year,” Wanous said. “We had won five or six tournaments leading up to sections, so the kids had a lot of confidence.”

Keeping that confidence is the key, and it’s something Eastview is determined to do. So even on a scorching 100-degree Tuesday afternoon, the Lightning gathered together at Valleywood Golf Course to do their routine work at practice.

Tylke said those little competitions among teammates help make even the most difficult weather conditions tolerable. 

“You’re still going to have fun whether the weather is nice or not,” he said. “It makes practice go a lot easier, and you still keep getting better.”

That, along with the team’s experience and confidence, is what gives Eastview hopes of a top three finish at this year’s tournament—despite going head to head with talented programs like Eden Prairie, Wayzata and Lakeville North. Wanous said that’s the goal, and Tylke said if the Lightning can make the cut to Day 2, anything is possible.

So they go back to work, one stroke and one wise crack at a time.

“We're really close-knit, probably one of the closest teams I've ever been on,” Tylke said. “We're always together most of the days, and a lot of us hang out outside of school anyways. It's nothing new.”