WATERTOWN — At least two of the three best teams in South Dakota Class AA high school girls golf went head-to-head again Tuesday in the Watertown Invitational at Cattail Crossing Golf Course.
Host Watertown and Aberdeen Central were two of the five varsity teams that competed in the tourney, which typically also features Mitchell. The defending state champion Kernels opted to not play after competing in the Sioux Falls Washington tourney on Monday.
The three Eastern South Dakota Conference schools, who have led Class AA all season, have already matched up in six events this season with the two most important meetings (ESD and state) upcoming.
"Aberdeen Central and Mitchell have been switching back and forth from first and second. They are both very good teams but we did finish ahead of them in the first meet so we can compete with them," Watertown head coach Corey Neale said.
Who came out on top Tuesday?
Aberdeen Central, led by medalist Olivia Braun, who shot a 3-under 69, and runner-up Emma Dohrer, who was next with a 75, won Tuesday's tournament with 308 score.
Watertown took second at 322, followed by Brookings (348), Harrisburg (356) and Pierre (362). The Arrows also fielded a junior varsity contingent in their only home meet of the season.
"The girls played pretty good today," Neale said. "I know a few wish they had played a little better but that happens from time to time."
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Kyley Wirebaugh tied for third (78) and Chloe Vikander tied for 12th (86) to round out the scoring for coach Kim Zimmerman's Aberdeen Central squad.
Senior Aspen Reynolds (tied for 3rd with a 78), Shelby Pearson (sixth with a 79) and Avery Palmquist (tied for seventh with an 80) led the way for Watertown. Freshman Gabi Olson took 11th with an 85.
Other Arrow golfers and their scores included Carighan Klatt (86), Rylie Redlin (90), Natalie Pearson (92), Kreu Johnson (105), Ally Torgerson (111) and Isabella Horning (121).
Heading down the home stretch
Watertown, Aberdeen Central and Brookings are set to meet again Thursday in the Brookings Invite before heading to the ESD meet on Tuesday at Fox Run Golf Course in Yankton. That happens to be the host course for the state Class AA tourney on June 3-4.
Mitchell and Aberdeen Central have each won three of the six head-to-head meetings. The Arrows won the season-opening Harrisburg Invite on a tiebreaker over Aberdeen Central, but have been third in each of the five other tourneys all three teams have played in.
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Still, all three teams have capable golfers. Mitchell won its first state title last June. Aberdeen Central hasn't won one and Watertown's only state titles came back-to-back in 1978 and 1979.
"It's just fine tuning a few things and playing our best golf here this next week and in the state tournament," Neale said.
Tuesday's Results
Individuals — 1. Olivia Braun, Aberdeen Central, 69; 2. Emma Dohrer, Aberdeen Central, 75; 3. (Tie) Aspen Reynolds, Watertown; Delilah Fuls, Brookings and Kyley Wirebaugh, Aberdeen Central, 78; 6. Shelby Pearson, Watertown, 79; 7. (Tie) Miyah Foerster, Brookings, and Avery Palmquist, Watertown, 80; 9. Brinly Sanderson, Harrisburg, 81; 10. Izzy Werth, Harrisburg, 83; 11. Gabi Olson, Watertown, 85; 12. (Tie) Carighan Klatt, Watertown, and Chloe Vikander, Aberdeen Central, 86; 14. Brooke Helland, Harrisburg, and Morgan Jones, Aberdeen Central, 88; 16. Hadley Hart, Pierre, 89.
17. (Tie) Annie Mosteller, Pierre, and Rylie Redlin, Watertown, 90; 19. (Tie) Aubrey Knutzen, Brookings, and Keira Mertes, Pierre, 91; 21. (Tie) Sittie Kasan, Pierre, and Natalie Pearson, Watertown, 92; 23. Drew Rechtenbaugh, Pierre, 97; 24. (Tie) Josie Bertrand, Brookings, and Kylie Herman, Aberdeen Central, 99; 26. Kamryn Streich, Brookings, 101; 27. Aubrey Ramse, Harrisburg,104; 28. Kreu Johnson, Watertown, 106; 29. (Tie) Ally Torgerson, Watertown, and Addyson Weidenbach, Harrisburg, 111; 31. Alice Geraets, Harrisburg, 113; 32. Isabella Horning, Watertown, 121.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
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