Area Prep Golf: Erholtz the latest Cardinal to take his golf game to next level

A “fair amount” just got bigger Wednesday, Nov. 11.

While in the middle of his golf swing in Arizona, Glen Hasselberg couldn’t put an exact number on how many of his former Staples-Motley Cardinal student-athletes have gone on to play college golf.

Whatever the exact number is, it increased by one as senior Beck Erholtz signed his NCAA National Letter of Intent to play golf next season at North Dakota State University.

Erholtz becomes the third Cardinal to do so following the steps of former teammate Andrew Israelson and his aunt Cydney (Hasselberg) Knaust.

Erholtz signed his letter in the S-M High School Gymnasium in front of classmates, faculty and his parents Duff Erholtz and Heather Erholtz and sister Beau. His older brother Finn and a handful of other friends were on Google Meet to watch.

“Ever since Andrew, who has been a life-long friend of mine, I just decided to go there, it’s been a goal for me,” Erholtz said. “Nine years ago (NDSU) made the decision to go to Division I, which was also a big reason they were on the top of my list. I really didn’t talk to coach (Steve) Kennedy until a couple of weeks before I decided to even make it happen. I thought maybe they had too many guys (on the roster), so I didn’t think it was going to be a possibility, but it all worked out in my favor.”

Erholtz’s other concern was not having a high school golf season last spring because of COVID-19 to pad his already impressive resume. He scheduled an aggressive summer schedule and it paid off. He tied for fourth in the Minnesota Golf Association’s Amateur qualifier June 17 at his home course The Vintage at Staples and won his qualifier for the MGA Players’ Championship Aug. 5 at Greystone.

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In the Amateur Championship, Erholtz fired a 1-under 215 over three rounds to tie for 15th and earn an automatic spot in next year’s tournament.

He advanced to the quarterfinals of the Birchmont Golf Tournament Aug. 1 at Bemidji Town and Country Club.

“I was fortunate to have a really good summer this last summer,” Erholtz said. “I played in a couple of big tournaments that I had never played in before and did well. I had a good time while doing it. It kind of gave me that idea of loving to compete again and wanting to bring it to that next level.”

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Erholtz’s high school career includes being a six-year varsity player, if you include last spring’s non-season. He has played in three state tournaments and tied for the Section 6-2A individual title as a sophomore. He won the section title as a freshman. He tied for 27th at state his sophomore season. He tied for 14th as a freshman in 2018.

His goal is to focus on his game and utilize the facilities and coaching NDSU has to offer. He said his game will need work to compete at the next level. This according to the many times he and Israelson have played.

“(Andrew) constantly goes out there and kicks my butt every time,” Erholtz said. “I think short game is so huge and just developing those consistencies. You can say that about anything. You can always get better.”

Erholtz called himself a numbers guy and hopes to major in business finance with a minor in accounting.

His high school coach and grandfather, Glen Hasselberg, believes NDSU is the perfect fit and things should add up to success

“I think very highly of the program and I think it will be a good fit for him,” Hasselberg said. “I’m very proud of him.”

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.