For Jackson Friesen, golf this season has been about more than scores and standings. It has been about enjoying the game, staying positive and helping lift his team.
“My primary goal this season was to make sure I enjoyed it,” Friesen said. “My goal this season was to have fun playing golf and try to get our team to state.”
Friesen has embraced a leadership role at Andover Central, focusing on energy and encouragement throughout the year.
“I think my strengths would be being positive and always trying to hype up my teammates even when things are rough,” he said. “I think for the team I just try to make it a fun environment.”
On the course, Friesen worked to improve consistency, especially off the tee and on approach shots, while also managing back issues that affected him last season. He credited offseason work with a swing coach and physical therapy for helping him make adjustments.
“This offseason I practiced a lot with my swing coach and really worked on slowing down my tempo to help me hit the ball more consistently out of the middle of the face and help out my back,” Friesen said. “I did physical therapy and stretched a lot to get over the issues. As well as working in my takeaway.”
Friesen narrowly missed qualifying for state last year, a motivation that has carried into this season as both he and the team push toward a breakthrough.
“I missed it last year individually at regionals at Rolling Hills by just a shot and our team missed it by just a shot as well,” he said. “I think for the team we would all be really happy being able to go to state as a team.”
Friesen posted a career-low round of 72 (+1) and carries a career scoring average of 84.4. This season, he has lowered that mark to an 80.3 average with a top finish of fifth place and multiple top-10 and top-20 performances.
“We got first today in league and hope to carry that over to our regional to make it to state,” he said.
