Clark-Willow Lake golfer Roehrich wins state title, gets text from LPGA pro Kim Kaufman

BROOKINGS — Don't bet against Clark-Willow Lake freshman Brynn Roehrich someday getting her name alongside LPGA professional Kim Kaufman on the sign welcoming people to Clark.

Roehrich was born in 2009, the same year that Kaufman (a Clark native) closed out her stellar high school career with a fourth-state B championship before eventually becoming a professional golfer.

On Tuesday, Roehrich put her name on the school's champions list by rallying to win the 2024 state Class B tournament at the Edgebrook Golf Course.

"Whenever we drive into Clark we see the sign that says Clark is the home of LPGA golfer Kim Kaufman. I always told my mom and dad, and my grandpa and grandma, that one day that's going to be my name on that sign," Roehrich said.

Roehrich, who took second last year, opened the day in third place. She trailed sophomore Jadyn McDonald of Chester by three strokes and Jayce Pugh of Miller, another sophomore and two-time past champion, by two heading into the final 18 holes.

By the turn, Roehrich had taken control with a 1-over 37 on the front (compared to 42 for Pugh and 43 for McDonald) to gain a three-shot lead that she never gave up. In the end, she fired a 3-over 73 to finish the two-day tourney at 12-over 152, six shots better than Pugh and seven better than McDonald.

"I didn't know after the first nine holes that I had a taken a three-shot lead," Roehrich said. "Coach (John) Brown came up to me with three holes left but I didn't want him to tell me where I was because I didn't want to worry about it the next three holes."

Instead, Roehrich focused on playing and found out shortly after finishing play that she was a state champion. A shortwhile later, she received a text from Kaufman who had been notified by Brown, also her high school coach at Clark, that there was another state champion golfer from her hometown.

The victory at state also helped Roehrich put her name alongside Kaufman's in another category.

"Mr. Brown said I was only the second girl he's every coached to have an unbeaten season (win every tournament)," Roehrich said. "Kim was the first one and she did that her senior year. This year, I became the second one."

In three years of varsity play, Roehrich has already recorded three top-10 finishes at state and at least, mathematically, has the opportunity to catch Kaufman with four state titles. She trains with Eric Stevens at the Vitality Golf Academy in Watertown and seems more than willing to see how far the game will take her.

"When Kim texted me, she wrote some other things and I just told her that one day I was hoping to be just like her,:" Roehrich said.

Roehrich knows, however, there are no guarantees and a lot of other good golfers (like McDonald and Pugh) who will be around to challenge her for top honors in the coming years.

"It is just kind of what it is. All of them are good golfers," Roehrich said. "I hope I can win again, but if I don't, I'm just going to go out and play my best. I could shoot my best score ever and it still might not be good enough to win."

Chester Area repeated as the team champion with a two-day total of 514, 13 shots better than Miller (527) and 31 ahead of Roehrich's Cyclones (545). Estelline-Hendricks took fourth at 556.

Roehrich was one of eight area golfers who recorded top-25 finishes in the tourney.

State Golf Preview: Watertown and Aberdeen Central's teams, Clark-Willow Lake's Roehrich among title hopefuls

State B Girls

Final Team Scores — 1. Chester 514 (254-250); 2. Miller 527 (270-257); 3. Clark-Willow Lake 545 (270-275); 4. Estelline-Hendricks 556 (275-281); 5. Jones County 562 (285-277); 6. Burke 565 (286-277); 7. Selby Area 565 (271-294); 8. Platte-Geddes 571 (284-287); 9. Dell Rapids St. Mary 574 (282-292); 10. Philip 585 (291-294); 11. Webster Area 592 (294-298); 12. Baltic 615 (307-308); 13. McCook Central-Montrose 617 (312-305); 14. Garretson 644 (326-318) and 15. Bennett County 655 (329-326).

State Medalists (Top 25) — 1. Brynn Roehrich, Clark-Willow Lake, 12-over-par 152 (79-73); 2. Jayce Pugh, Miller, 158 (77-81); 3. Jadyn McDonald, Chester, 159 (76-83); 4. Taryn Hettick, Selby Area, 172 (86-86); 5. (Tie) Annika Kriz, Deuel, 173 (87-86); Olivia Olson, Sully Buttes, 173 (83-90); Maddy Lauck, McCook Central-Montrose, 173 (85-88) and Olivia Mikkelsen, Potter County, 183 (81-92); 9. Kami Kittelson, Jones County, 174 (83-91); 10. Kaihlyn Anderberg, Miller, 175 (85-90); 11. Cadence Oliver, Chester, 176 (87-89); 12. Abigal Svatos, Andes Central-Dakota Christian, 177 (87-90); 13. (Tie) Ayla Texley, Estelline-Hendricks, 180 (93-87); Eva Koisti, Hamlin, 180 (86-94); and Lauren Roberts, Chester, 180 (87-93).

16. (Tie) McKenna Kocmich, Avon, 181 (93-88); Claire Berg, Baltic, 181 (88-93) and Addy Miller, Philip, 191 (90-91); 19. (Tie) Maize Baumann, Selby Area, 184 (97-87); Olivia Bull, Burke, 184 (93-91) and Calli Davis, Burke, 184 (92-92); 22. (Tie) Leah Schuman, Platte-Geddes, 185 (97-88) and Jada Buse, Freeman Academy-Marion, 185 (91-94); and 24. (Tie) Sadie Johnson, Estelline-Hendricks, 186 (97-89); Allie Hansen, Dell Rapids St. Mary, 186 (98-88) and Mallory Grant, Platte-Geddes, 186 (94-92).

Other Area Golfers — 31. (Tie) Bailee Ninke, Webster Area, 189 (94-95) and Victoria Preheim, Deuel, 189 (94-95); 35. Brooklyn Gladis, Deubrook Area, 190 (99-91); 37. (Tie) Olivia Knox, Doland, 192 (99-93) and Brynlee Hanson, Deubrook Area 192 (92-100); 40. Aedyn Raethz, Faulkton Area, 193 (100-93); 44. Brooke Jennings, De Smet, 195 (104-91); 48. (Tie) Joslyn Haugen, Webster Area, 196 (99-97) and Mallory Nelson, Clark-Willow Lake, 196 (97-99); 50. (Tie) Jalen Holm, Clark-Willow Lake, 197 (99-98); Katelyn Engelhart, Eureka, 197 (98-99) and Lita Fryer, Estelline-Hendricks, 197 (91-106).

56. Mollie Simon, Ipswich, 200 (103-97); 61. Rachel Hexum, Estelline-Hendricks, 203 (104-99); 62. Annika Mueller, Faulkton Area, 204 (98-106); 64. Olivia Karst, Castlewood, 206 (107-99); 65. Baylie Somsen, Webster Area, 207 (105-102); 67. Braylen Baumann, Selby Area, 209 (111-98); 72. Harper Anderson, De Smet, 213 (103-110); 76. Addison Walkins, Great Plains Lutheran, 215 (110-105); 85. Sage Gaikowski, Waubay-Summit, 222 (112-110); 86. Peyton Lee, Clark-Willow Lake, 223 (114-109); and 91. Mia Coester, Webster Area, 235 (118-117).

State Golf Opening Day: Area Class B girls & boys, Class A girls begin play in state high school golf tournaments

State B Boys

BROOKINGS — Sully Buttes sophomore Gavin Colson took individual honors and Wessington Springs won the team title in the state Class B high school boys golf tourney that wrapped up Tuesday at the Brookings Country Club.

Colson matched his opening-day 75 and finished with a 6-over par 150 to earn medalist honors by two shots over Chet Peterson of Ipswich and Taylor Kriech of Colman-Egan.

Logan Vavruska of Florence-Henry, who tied for sixth, was one of 14 area golfers who medaled for top-25 performances. The group included three golfers from Hamlin, which finished third in the team standings at 481. Ipswich was fourth at 494.

Final Team Scores — 1. Wessington Springs 478 (237-241); 2. Hanson 479 (246-233); 3. Hamlin 481 (246-235); 4. Ipswich 494 (254-240); 5. Chester 496 (247-240); 6. Hill City 499 (249-250); 7. Wall 500 (255-245); 8. Sully Buttes 502 (251-251); 9. Edmunds Central 503 (249-254); 10. Philip 508 (255-253); 11. Castlewood 510 (259-251); 12. (Tie) Miller 511 (252-259) and De Smet 511 (252-259).

14. Webster Area 515 (259-256); 15. (Tie) Bon Homme 516 (252-264) and Clark-Willow Lake 516 (248-268); 17. Deuel 519 (262-257); 18. Viborg-Hurley 523 (261-262); 19. Freeman 537 (268-269); 20. Mount Vernon-Plankinton 549 (279-270); 21. Centerville 553 (280-273); 22. Faulkton Area 556 (265-291) and Potter County 581 (297-284).

State Medalists (Top 25) — 1. Gavin Colson, Sully Buttes, 6-over-par 150 (75-75); 2. (Tie) Chet Peterson, Ipswich, 152 (79-73) and Taylor Kriech, Colman-Egan, 152 (76-76); 4. (Tie) Wyatt Larson, McIntosh, 154 (79-75) and Blake Larson, Wessington Springs, 154 (74-80); 6. (Tie) Logan Vavruska, Florence-Henry, 156 (83-73) and Derek Brueggeman, Miller, 156 (75-81)l; 8. (Tie) Ben Wilber, Hanson, 157 (83-74); Wesley Wittier, Sully Buttes, 157 (82-75); AJ Wilber, Hanson, 157 (81-76) and Trevor Schulz, Wall, 157 (78-79); 12. (Tie) Jackson Wadsworth, Hamlin, 159 (81-78) and Seth Hettick, Edmunds Central, 159 (81-78); 14. Luke Fraser, Hamlin, 160 (85-75).

15. (Tie) Alfred Frankenhoff, Chester, 161 (81-80); Ryan Gerlach, Ethan, 161 (77-84) and Drake Mueller, Faulkton Area, 161 (76-85); 18. (Tie) Zane Messick, Hill City, 162 (84-78); Blaize Amdahl, Webster Area, 162 (84-78); Luke Larson, Wessington Springs, 162 (83-79); Trevon Beckman, Dell Rapids St. Mary, 162 (80-82); Harrison Beyers, Edmunds Central, 162 (81-81); Gavin Landmark, Deubrook Area, 162 (80-82); and Aiden Abraham, Hamlin, 162 (80-82); and 25. (Tie) Kaiden Weinreis, Doland, 163 (86-77) and Lane Tvedt, Castlewood, 163 (84-79).

Other Area Golfers — 29. Jared Hotzler, Deuel, 165 (82-83); 36. Cade Gaikowski, Clark-Willow Lake, 167 (79-88); 42. (Tie) Tucker Kadlec, Ipswich, 168 (86-82) and Ryker Warrington, Hamlin, 168 (86-82); 44. (Tie) Tom Aughenbaugh, De Smet, 169 (86-83) and Larz Tvedt, Castlewood, 169 (85-84); 48. (Tie) Trey Maaland, Deuel, 170 (87-83), Briggs LaBrie, Doland, 170 (83-87) and Kaden Wookey, Clark-Willow Lake, 170 (82-88); 52. (Tie) Danny Sudenga, De Smet, 171 (84-87) and Max Kees, De Smet, 171 (82-89); 56. Ty Bergh, Florence-Henry 172 (81-91).

60. Carson Meadors, Waverly-South Shore, 173 (85-88); 65. Jace Konsor, Ipswich, 174 (89-85); 70, Michael Dorsett, Webster Area, 175 (86-89); 73. Tanner Drietz, Elkton-Lake Benton, 176 (83-93); 78. Davis Gales, Castlewood, 178 (90-88); 82. (Tie) Maverick Clausen, Clark-Willow Lake, 179 (87-92) and Seth Lesnar, Webster Area, 179 (89-90); 86. Thoams Kuecker, Webster Area, 180 (91-89); 91. Trent Beyers, Edmunds Central, 182 (87-95); 95. Spencer Heflin, Arlington, 183 (95-88); 97. Emmett Schwiesow, Deuel, 184 (93-91); 100. Wiley Cronin, Potter County, 196 (94-92).

103. (Tie) Kadyn Fast, De Smet, 187 (96-91) and Adam Heyn, Castlweood, 187 (97-90); 108. Jaxon Kraue, Potter County, 190 (95-95); 111. Charlie Deiter, Faulkton Area, 192 (89-103); 117. Cade Hexum, Estelline-Hendricks, 196 (102-94); 120. Joshua Fargher, Eureka, 200 (97-103); 122. Nate Bass, Ipswich, 201 (103-98); 125. Braxton Yackley, Selby Area, 203 (101-102); 126. Cade Beitelspacher, Bowdle, 204 (105-99); 127. Brenden Bieber, Potter County, 205 (108-97); and 131. Trey Machtemes, Faulkton Area, 210 (107-103).

State A Girls

SIOUX FALLS — St. Thomas More eighth-grader Kaitlyn Strain broke away from a three-way tie for the lead to notch a two-shot win in the state Class A high school girls golf tournament that concluded Tuesday at Bakker Crossing Golf Course.

Strain finished the 36 holes with a 10-over par 152, two shots better than Tori Peterson of Sioux Falls Christian and Ari Jacobs of West Central.

Sioux Falls Christian repeated as the team champion with a 32-shot win (634-666) over runner-up Vermillion. Aberdeen Roncalli placed sixth at 739.

Groton Area senior Carly Guthmiller, who shot a 6-over 77 on Tuesday to lead area golfers with an eighth-place finish (161), provided one of the big highlights of the day when she aced the par-3, No. 11 hole at Edgebrook.

Final Team Scores — 1. Sioux Falls Christian 634 (315-319); 2. Vermillion 666 (326-340); 3. West Central 694 (354-340); 4. Madison 696 (349-347); 5. St. Thomas More 729 (359-370); 6. Aberdeen Roncalli 739 (367-372); 7. Chamberlain 762 (381-381); 8. Winner Area 779 (376-403); 9. Groton Area 788 (383-405); 10. Belle Fourche 816 (401-415); 11. Custer 823 (411-412); 13. Mobridge-Pollock 896 (448-448).

State Medalists (Top 25) — 1. Kaitlin Strain, St. Thomas More, 10-over-par 152 (77-75); 2. (Tie) Tori Peterson, Sioux Falls Christian, 154 (77-77) and Ari Jacobs, West Central, 154 (78-76); 4. Cecelia VanDenTop, Sioux Falls Christian, 158 (79-79); 5. (Tie) Ronnie Wilharm, Vermillion, 159 (78-81) and Ashlee Sweeter, Lennox, 159 (79-80); 7. Katie Betsworth, Dakota Valley, 160 (78-82); 8. Carly Guthmiller, Groton Area, 161 (84-77); 9. (Tie) Madison Bushkofsky, Flandreau, 162 (80-82) and Chloe Attema, Sioux Falls Christian, 162 (83-79); 11. Hayden Thorton, Rapid City Christian, 163 (77-86); 12. (Tie) Taylor Reuvers, Vermillion, 165 (82-83) and Isabella McNaughton, Tea Area, 165 (79-86); 14. Madison Rummel, Madison, 166 (79-87).

15. Aubrie Van Beek, Sioux Falls Christian, 167 (87-80); 16. (Tie) Dakotah Larson, West Central, 168 (78-90) and Stephanie Carr, Vermillion, 168 (89-79); 18. (Tie) Claire Crawford, Aberdeen Roncalli, 171 (87-84); Delilah Maxwell, Madison, 171 (88-83); and Alexis Cronk, Chamberlain, 171 (85-86); 21. Jaida Jacobs, Little Wound, 172 (85-87); 22. (Tie) Madison Buenger, Elk Point-Jefferson, 173 (90-83); and Ellery Jansen, Canton, 173 (89-84); 24. (Tie) Gracie Root, Winner Area, 174 (88-86); Elliot Hortness, Sisseton, 174 (83-91); Georgia Johnson, Vermillion, 174 (91-83); Finley Young, St. Thomas More, 174 (82-92); Kaia Bear, Beresford, 174 (84-90) and Sienna Maxwell, Madison, 174 (87-87).

Other Area Golfers — 34. Caitlyn Cradduck, Sioux Valley, 178 (88-91); 40. Carlee Johnson, Groton Area, 185 (93-92); 41. Gracie Seyer, Aberdeen Roncalli, 186 (94-92); 49. (Tie) Mackenzie Wegehaupt, Aberdeen Roncalli 191 (96-95) and Morgan Helms, Aberdeen Roncalli, 191 (95-96); 55. Kenzley Heath, Sisseton, 203 (98-105); 56. Claire Heil, Mobridge-Pollock, 205 (98-107); 63. Ava Danielson, Aberdeen Roncalli, 208 (103-105); 68. Shaylee Shuchard, Milbank, 212 (107-105); 71. Brooke Schlomer, Mobridge-Pollock, 217 (112-105); 72. Claire Schuelke, Groton Area, 218 (112-106); 74. Addisyn Evans, Redfield, 220 (115-105); 76. Mia Crank, Groton Area, 224 (116-108); 81. Becca Cox, Mobridge-Pollock, 234 (120-114); 84. Arie Mound, Mobridge-Pollock, 240 (118-122); 87. Skighe McCann, Mobridge-Pollock 255 (125-130). Carly Gilbert of Groton Area withdrew after shooting a 128 in the first round.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Clark-Willow Lake golfer Roehrich wins state title, gets text from LPGA pro Kim Kaufman