FARMINGTON, Minn. -- Farmington High School boys golf returns six of their top eight players from 2025. Their goal is to focus on the team aspect of the game and be in position to contend at section time.

Junior captain Ethan Button believes, "We compete with each other every day. We're out here every day. No spot's guaranteed. It's a blast though.

"I think we have something to prove this year. We lost two seniors. Both of them are playing college right now. So, we're going to have a little younger team than last year, but I think we can definitely be better than last year."

2025 grads Cale Thompson and Logan Henriksen are playing at Concordia-St. Paul and Alexandria Tech, respectively. Button aspires to reach the collegiate level as well and plays Minnesota Junior PGA and Minnesota Golf over the summers, "I just want to get better. It's fun."

Coach Jon Holmes says, "It's tough to see them go because they've been around for so long and played so well. But at the same time, they left it better than they found it. That's a Gary Player model…They made the program better. So, these guys know what they've got to do in order to have success.

"In the last seven to eight years, we've really focused on the team aspect of golf…On any given day your individual number might not be your best but it's still going to matter, and I think that that's helped us quite a bit, maybe even overachieve in certain situations. Because when it comes down to that number four score, no one's giving up," says the 18-year head coach.

Sophomore Ayden Wollak likes that trend, "We've been really solid. We've always been good. This year we're going to be pretty solid too. We've got a bunch of guys that can go low. I think we have a good chance at making a run this year."

He made his varsity debut in eighth grade, "I've been having a lot of fun. Playing some good golf. Met a lot of new friends and it sticks with you and I love it.

"I've definitely grown a lot. I can see the progress throughout the years. From seventh grade being on JV to where I am now," Wollak commented.

Holmes says the lineup may evolve, "At the start I think we'll have a preset lineup of who's going to be given those first few matches. But then after that the depth goes pretty low. So, we'll be battling for those 5, 6, 7 spots."

Button, on the varsity since ninth grade, knows it takes effort, "Putting in the work every day. Working hard. Going in the summer. Play tournaments."

He's seen results in his own game, "Everything. From around the green to the fairway to getting off the tee. Creating less and less strokes."

Wollak conveys it's not complex, "I think just simplify everything. Don't need to complicate the game. Just try to get the ball in the hole and it doesn't really matter how you do it. Sometimes going back to the basics can help."

The season opened with a trip to Troy Burne Golf Course in Hudson, Wisconsin. Highlight events include StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater on April 22, Dacotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton on May 1 and 2, and The Jewel in Lake City where the Tigers will act as host May 6 and 7. That is is also the site of the Section 1AAA meet. FHS hosts a meet on April 29 at Southern Hills Golf Course.

"It's a pretty fun year for the guys," states Holmes. "They get to play some really good courses that would normally cost hundreds of dollars, per round."

He believes state qualifier from last year Northfield will be a "team to beat in our section. They reload. They bring back everybody they had last year for the most part…Lakeville's are always tough.

"Goal of ours is, obviously, to put ourselves in a position to win the section," says Holmes. By season's end he hopes Farmington can be among the top four, "So we're in those last foursomes coming in at The Jewel during sections so we know where we got to be to finish strong."

In the South Suburban Conference Rosemount is the front runner, "They won last year and they come back this year, just stacked. And my nephew's on the team. So, it's bittersweet." The Irish finished third at state in 2025. He says Prior Lake is an "up and coming" squad.