By Travis Rosenau, Journal Sports Editor
SLEEPY EYE – Dedicated, humble and always improving was Sleepy Eye United’s Carson Erickson throughout his high school golf career.
After making it to the Class A state tournament for the third year in a row at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker last week, Erickson improved again from the prior season as he cracked the top 10 and finished tied for 10th place with a two-day score of 155.
Two years ago when the SEU boys golf team went to state together, Erickson finished with a 159, good enough for 21st overall. Last year when Erickson made it back to state individually, he shot a 157 to take 11th.
While taking home a state medal was always the goal for Erickson, he wasn’t upset with his improvements and getting into the top 10.
“It’s a little different now being done, but I was pretty happy with that top 10,” he said.
Erickson’s state tournament success and success all season, a season that saw him medal in 13 meets, earned him another repeat award as he finished his senior year as the All-Journal Boys Golfer of the Year for the second year in a row.
“It’s nice always being acknowledged for what you do,” Erickson said. “So you know everything you do, the time you put in gets acknowledged just kind of dedicates you to keep it going.”
SEU head coach Bryant Mages said Erickson’s continued success came from much dedication to the sport.
“Carson’s so deserving of what he’s accomplished over the last couple years,” Mages said. “He pretty much grew up on the golf course from sixth grade on. I remember when his mom would drop him off at the course in the morning before he was even able to drive and he would literally be up there from sunup to sundown.”
After last season, Erickson had a goal in mind to work on his driver. This year, he said the work he put in over last summer paid off.
“I think it definitely got better this year than it was last year,” Erickson said. “Overall, it was just a little longer this year, but a little bit of work in the offseason helped out. … Go out to the course a lot, hit driver, play the game, it kind of happens naturally.”
Mages said Erickson has impressed him with his continued improvements over the years.
“I think when you get to where he’s at, it’s kind of easy to plateau when you get to that level,” Mages said. “But for him, he’s been in the top 10 scoring average in the state the last three years. But even with that, he’s been improving by a stroke or so every year for nine holes, so that’s been pretty impressive to see.”
This season Erickson shot a 69 at North Links Golf Club against Springfield on May 24, an 18-hole low score. He also shot a nine-hole low of 34 on two different occasions this year and was named an All-State golfer for the third year in a row.
Erickson also finished this season as the Tomahawk Conference champion and Player of the Year for the second year in a row, turning in a nine-hole average of 37.7 to lead the Tomahawk Conference.
“It was just nice to go out, senior year, have a pretty good year,” Erickson said. “It could have been better, but its always fun to end senior year on a good note.”
Erickson said his favorite moment from his high school career was during his sophomore year when he went to the state tournament with his teammates Toby Weiss, Logan Netzke, Jack Nelson, Jacob Schultz and Allen Arneson. The SEU boys finished third in that 2021 tournament.