If the Dickinson High School girls' golf team wants to return to the North Dakota state Class A tournament in 2007, it's not going to matter what senior Chivas Beaudoin shoots.
The Midget's fate rests in the hands of Beaudoin's supporting cast.
"We know Chivas is going to carry us," DHS girls' golf coach Olivia Wellenstein said. "She can golf in those 70s. The rest of our crew is going to have to be in the low 80s range to be competitive."
Dickinson High will attempt to best its second place finish in Class A from a year ago, and both Wellenstein and Beaudoin said they feel the Midgets have the team to compete again in Class A. Dickinson lost the state team title to Fargo-Shanley by 43 strokes last year.
Beaudoin, who won the North Dakota Women's Golf Association Stroke Play championship this summer, said she feels no pressure when it comes to carrying the team, only the pressure she puts on herself to shoot low scores.
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"I definitely think we have some good girls," Beaudoin said. "We have four or five, maybe even six who can shoot in the low 80s. It takes the pressure off a little bit."
Beaudoin will be joined by one other senior, two juniors and a freshman -- Jenna Wellenstein -- who replaces the Midgets' lone senior from 2006, Whitney Wellenstein.
Jenna Wellenstein has been with the varsity since seventh grade and finished with an average in the low 90s as an eighth grader last year.
"Jenna is our biggest surprise from last year," Olivia Wellenstein said. "We are looking for some good things with her. Her strength happens to be right now over the summer she is hitting the ball longer, lifting weights and her putting has come a long way."
Leading the returning golfers along with Beaudoin is senior Shaynna Mann. According to her coach, Mann has matured a lot over the summer and eliminated the mind games that she played on herself in the past.
"I've been golfing in the junior tour and shot a couple lower 80s but there have been those that have got up there," Mann said. "Hopefully I can keep it down in the lower 80s."
Rounding out the lineup will be the two juniors -- Chelsea Galipeau and Caitlin Dunn. Both are dual sports athletes that participate in volleyball.
"Chelsea is a long ball hitter and Caitlin is pretty good with her short game," Olivia Wellenstein said. "Both are very motivated people when it comes to golfing."
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Other possible names that Olivia Wellenstein said could work their way into the lineup this season include Liz Bransen, another long ball hitter, Steph Wallice, Morgan Catherine and Rachel Kelly.
The Midgets will be tested right from the start when they kick off the season with the East-West Classic at the Jamestown Country Club.
The Midgets won the inaugural EWC last year with Beaudoin taking home the individual crown. The tournament will also feature the 2006 state champion Shanley Deacons.
"All the east and west towns will be there and it will be fun to see where everyone is at after the summer," Olivia Wellenstein said.
