Experienced Tea Area boys’ golf team ready to make its mark in 2026

The Tea Area High School boys’ golf team enters the 2026 season with a veteran roster, plenty of varsity experience and several players who have made significant improvements since last season.

Head coach Amber Olafson is entering her third season leading the Titans. While her tenure at Tea Area is relatively young, Olafson brings extensive experience to the program. She has coached golf with The First Tee program in Sioux Falls and Brookings for 10 summers and played competitive golf throughout middle school and high school before continuing her career at South Dakota State University.

She is assisted by Rick Willemssen.

Last season, the Titans had a successful 2025 campaign, sending six golfers to the State Meet in Rapid City.

Landon Baker and Quentin Maag also earned medals at the ESD Conference tournament at Brandon Golf Course, providing the Titans with a strong foundation heading into this season.

The team graduated CJ Slack, but returns an experienced group that Olafson believes is capable of taking another step forward.

“We have an experienced golf team this year,” Olafson said. “All of the boys on the team have played in at least one varsity golf meet.”

Tea Area’s 2026 roster includes nine golfers, with six returning varsity players.

Leading the Titans are Landon Baker, Quentin Maag, Blake Lundin, Sawyer Slack, Carson Case and Gavin Shawd, all returning varsity players.

They are joined by Jaxson Drury, Isaiah Hlavka and Colt Kelling.

Olafson said each golfer brings different strengths to the team.

“Every person on the team has a different strength,” she said.

Baker, Lundin and Slack have all made notable improvements to their short games, with Olafson describing Baker as having “one of the best short games in AA.”

Maag has established himself as a strong ball striker, while Slack and Hlavka have shown an ability to consistently find the fairway.

The combination gives the Titans a balanced group heading into the season.

Baker and Maag are two of the team’s key returning golfers and both have continued to improve their games during the offseason.

Olafson expects both players to have the ability to put together low rounds throughout the season.

“Landon Baker and Quentin Maag are two returners who have improved their game and can post a low score any day,” she said. “Sawyer Slack and Blake Lundin have improved so much since last season, and are ready to play consistent good golf.”

Behind the team’s top four golfers, Tea Area also has four seniors with considerable experience who will be counted on to provide depth and consistency.

Olafson said the Titans are hoping that group can find a good rhythm and put together strong rounds when the team needs them.

With plenty of talented golfers on the roster, the biggest challenge for Tea Area may not be talent but consistency.

“We have many good golfers on the team, but not all of them play well at the same time,” Olafson said.

The team has spent time discussing the mental side of the game and finding ways to remain composed throughout a round.

“Consistency and finishing strong” will be an important focus for the Titans throughout the season, Olafson said.

The team has emphasized mental toughness and learning how to finish rounds after putting together strong starts.

Tea Area will face a challenging schedule with several of the state’s top Class AA programs.

Among the teams expected to contend are Sioux Falls Lincoln, Brandon Valley, Brookings, Harrisburg and Yankton.

The Titans will get an opportunity to compete against many of those teams throughout the season, providing valuable tests as they work toward the postseason.

One of the meets the team is especially looking forward to is the ESD Conference tournament in Brookings at Brookings Country Club.

The Titans are also excited about the Sioux Falls Christian Invitational at Spring Creek, which gives the golfers an opportunity to compete in an A-class tournament.

The Titans have put in significant work during the offseason in preparation for the 2026 campaign.

Olafson said the golfers have spent numerous hours working on their games, and several players have already seen noticeable improvements.

The Titans’ combination of experienced varsity golfers, improving younger players and senior depth has Olafson optimistic about the season ahead.

“Our goal is to show up and play well,” she said.

The Titans season got underway this week with a meet at Brandon Valley on Aug. 17 and a meet at Willow Run Golf Course on Aug. 18. The team will compete in the Pierre Invite on Tuesday, Aug. 25 and in the Huron Invite on Thursday, Aug. 27.