Watertown Wins State Golf Tournament by a Stroke; Dakota Valley Claims Class A Title

WATERTOWN, S.D. – Just as every vote counts in an election, so every shot counts in a golf tournament. That was the case in the State AA Boys Golf Tournament held Monday and Tuesday at the Cattail Crossing course in Watertown, as the top three places were all separated by just two shots. Watertown finished a collective 7-under par to edge Pierre by one stroke and Harrisburg by two to repeat as the State Team Champion. Individual medalist Ty Lenards led the way for the Arrows with an 8-under 136 for the two-day event, besting Derek Anderson of Tea Area on the first playoff hole to win his first title. The Pierre Governors went into the tournament with high hopes after winning the ESD Tournament the week before, but the talented senior-led group finished just short. Nicklaus Bothun tied for fourth place at 3-under par; Luke Olson tied for seventh at 2-under; Lincoln Houska finished tied for tenth place at even par; and Sawyer Sonnenschein came in at 1-over, tying for 12^th place. Jack Bartlett also finished in the top 20 at 5-over par. The Governors team total would have easily won any other past State Tournament, but this was a season that featured a number of scoring records from several different teams. By comparison, while three teams finished under par in this tournament, Watertown won last year’s tourney in Brandon with a combined 10-OVER par score. And while last year’s tournament featured just two golfers at even par or better, this season there were eleven. The golfing talent is definitely high in South Dakota.

Meanwhile in Hartford, it was Dakota Valley earning the State Class A Team title with an overall 39-over par 615 total, 14 shots ahead of second-place Vermilion. Logan Collette of Dakota Valley earned the individual medalist honors with a 5-over 149, one shot in front of Canton’s Carson Steffensen. Ryder Halligan of Winner tied for 22^nd place with a 162 as the Warriors placed ninth in the team field. Chamberlain finished in 12^th place as a team with Chase McQuirk carding a 169 total for the two-day event.

Story via Brian Oakland