Derby’s golf team is filled with outstanding talent and Jace Knudson is no exception. The main goals the team has set for themselves are postseason driven. Knudson shared he is most looking forward to Regionals and State. As a team, Derby has set the goal of winning Regionals, but their goals don’t stop there. They have a goal of placing at state and making it to day two of the State competition.

To prepare for his upcoming senior season, Knudson spent lots of extra time in the offseason working on fundamentals of the game. “I worked on everything possible over the summer to get better.” Golf skills included in this practice were chipping, putting, iron work, and driver work. In addition to these golf skills, Knudson went to golf camps, completed workouts and trainings.

After placing first at regionals last season, a title Knudson shared the team is most proud of, The Derby Panther’s carry the pressure as defending regional champions. However, the team is up for the challenge to defend their title. The goal of placing first for The Panther’s at Regionals again this season is highly attainable. Knudson and his teammates are focused to make this a repeat year of regional champs with a return to the state meet.

Knudson will soon be graduating from Derby High School this spring and in the fall, he plans to attend Kansas State University. His plan is to major in Kinesiology with a goal of becoming a physical therapist in the future.