The South Dakota high school spring golf season has begun.
As a refresher, Class AA and A girls golf is played in the spring along with Class B boys and girls golf.
Watertown and Aberdeen Central are two teams expected to challenge for the state Class AA title this year and each shot 328 scores to lead the field Thursday in the Harrisburg Invitational. Watertown won a tie breaker, based on the lowest score for each team's respective fifth golfer.
Here's a list of 21 area high school golfers to watch this spring.
Brynn Roehrich, Clark-Willow Lake
The freshman was the state Class B runner-up last June and has already won medalist honors in two tourneys this season. She shot a 46 to win medalist honors in the Hamlin Early Bird tournament on Thursday at the Lake Region Golf Course. The Cyclones also won the team title with a 156.
Roehrich also tied for eighth at state as a seventh-grader in 2022.
Lane and Larz Tvedt, Castlewood
Lane Tvedt played quarterback in football and earned All-State honors while helping Castlewood boys basketball teams qualify for state B tournaments each of the past two years. He also was listed as one of the area high school boys track and field athletes to watch this spring.
And, oh yes, he also plays baseball and golf. The senior tied for fifth in the State B tournament last June. On Thursday, Tvedt won medalist honors in the Hamlin Early Bird tournament by recording a birdie on the fourth-hole of a playoff.
We can't forget about younger brother Larz, a freshman, who tied for 25th in the state B tourney last summer. He shot a 42 and placed seventh on Thursday in the Hamlin Early Bird.
Shelby and Natalie Pearson, Watertown
The Arrow sisters are daughters of Cattail Crossing Golf Course Golf Operations Supervisor and PGA Professional Levi Pearson and returning state medalists for the Arrows. Shelby, a senior, tied for 18th, and Natalie, a junior, tied for 22nd in the state Class AA tourney last year.
Shelby shot an 84 and placed 11th Thursday at Harrisburg. Natalie opened with a 97 and took 36th.
Olivia Braun and Emma Dohrer, Aberdeen Central
The two sophomores are the leaders of the talented Golden Eagles' squad. Braun is already a three-time state Class AA medalist, finishing third in 2023, tying for ninth in 2022 and placing 18th in 2021. Dorher tied for ninth in 2023 and took eighth in 2022.
Braun took fourth with a 77 and Dohrer seventh with an 81 in Thursday's opening tourney at Harrisburg.
Jace Konsor and Chet Peterson, Ipswich
The Tigers took fifth in the state Class B boys tournament last June and could challenge again with the return of senior state medalists Konsor and Peterson.
Konsor tied for ninth and Peterson tied for 22nd in last year's state tourney. Peterson also medled in 2022 (tying for 14th) and 2021 (25th).
Claire Crawford, Aberdeen Roncalli
There's only six area schools (Roncalli, Sisseton, Milbank, Groton Area, Tiospa Zina and Sioux Valley) that compete in Class A girls' golf and only two returning area golfers returning who medaled in the state meet last June.
Crawford is one of the two. The junior has placed sixth in each of the past two state Class A tourneys.
2023 Golfers to Watch:Spring golf in the state includes Class AA, A and B girls and Class B boys
Avery Palmquist and Gabi Olson, Watertown
Palmquist, a senior, and Olson, a freshman, are two other key returnees for the Arrows. They just missed out medaling in last year's state Class AA tourney by tying for 28th (the top 25 medal).
Olson is the younger sister of Watertown senior and two-time state Class AA boys champion Jake Olson, a South Dakota State recruit, and led the Arrows on Thursday at Harrisburg by taking third with a 6-over 77. Palmquist was next for the winning Arrows, taking fifth with a 78.
Olivia and Neva Mikkelsen, Potter County
The two senior sisters have combined to medal five times in state Class B girls tournaments.
They each tied for 17th in 2023. Neva also was 11t hin 2022 and tied for 21st in 2021. Olivia took 10th in 2022.
Blaize Amdahl, Webster Area
The Bearcat junior tied for 15th in the state Class B boys tournament last June and is ready for more this spring.
On Thursday, he shot a 3-over 38 and forced the playoff with Tvedt in the Hamlin Early Bird tournament.
Morgan Jones, Aberdeen Central
Jones is the senior leader for the Golden Eagles and is coming off a 12th-place finish in the state Class AA girls tournament last June.
Eva Koisti, Hamlin
Koisti is another senior and a returning state Class B medal winner. She tied for 19th in last June's state tournament.
Logan Vavruska, Florence-Henry
Varuska, who is also senior, returns this spring after tying for 18th in the state Class B boys tournament last June.
Carly Guthmiller, Groton Area
The Tiger senior is back after tying for 12th in the state Class A girls tournament last June.
Briggs LaBrie and Kaden Weinreis, Doland
You don't hear a lot about Doland athletes anymore but here's two freshmen golfers who are making their mark for the Wheelers.
Weinreis medaled in the state B boys tournament as a seventh-grader in 2022 and LaBrie just missed medaling by placing 26th as a eighth-grader last June. Weinreis slipped into a tie for 44th in 2023.
Ayla Texley, Estelline-Hendricks
The Redhawks' junior nearly medaled in the state Class B girls tournament last spring. She finished 27th.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
Most Popular
Comments / 0