A look at some of best northeastern South Dakota golfers since the spring of 1985

Editor's Note: Sports writer Roger Merriam is compiling a "20 Favorites" series highlighting some of his favorite athletes in a variety of high school/other sports since he started working at the Watertown Public Opinion in December 1984. The series is about northeastern South Dakota athletes, but some played at colleges all over the state and others have moved to other areas.

We released the "20 Favorites' story on area Class A-B girls golfers earlier this week and now it's the time for the Class A-B boys .

The first state high school boys golf tournament was held in 1928 and the one class system continued through 1973 when a two-class system was adopted. The three class system, with Class AA and A boys golf in the fall began in 2001 and continues to this day. The Class B boys golf tournament is in the spring.

Again, the order isn't that big of a deal until you get down the final 3-4 spots.

Up next in the series will be a look at the some of the top Watertown High School girls golfers.

20. Others

There's just no way to list every state medalist (or top 25 finisher) for area Class A and B boys through this period, but I am listing the two-time place winners (those who didn't make the cut) here.

The group includes Kevin Potas, Blake Wilkinson and Blaize Amdahl of Webster/Webster Area; Trent Johnson, Riley Hanson, Taylor Rymerson and Shawn Hogue of Deubrook Area; Tanner Bortnem, J.F. Jensen and Nate Algood of Sioux Valley; Lane Tvedt of Castlewood; Sean Zimny, Brian Rademacher and Tim Karels of Milbank; Aiden Holien, Noach Fick and Ethan Jaeger of Great Plains Lutheran.

Tim Purintun and Jordan and Justin Docter of Britton; Rett Osthus, Todd Skyberg and Derek Helms of De Smet; Carsten Archer and Mitch Lohre of Sisseton; Eric Cyre, Travis Nelson and Carson Pedersen of Hamlin; Kaiden Weinreis of Doland; Caleb Barse of Tiospa Zina; Colin LaBrie and Michael Brown of Clark/Clark-WillowLake; and Trevor Cramer, Jason VanLiere, Tanner Preheim, Tyson Ronne, Brock Hanten and Drew Trautman of Deuel. My apologies if there's somebody I've missed.

Special mention goes to Eric Stevens and Levi Pearson of Watertown. Stevens, who tied for 10th in the state B tourney while playing for Clark in 2010, is the coach at the Vitality Golf Academy in Watertown. Pearson, who placed 18th on Britton's state B championship team in 1993, is the Golf Operations Manager at Cattail Crossing Golf Course. They've certainly played a role in helping a number of area golfers through the years, many who have made or will make these "20 Favorites" lists.

20 Favorites: Links to the stories highlighting the best northeastern South Dakota athletes since 1984

19. Jeremy Goodroad & other Deuel/Clear Lake golfers

A number of good golfers have played for Deuel or Clear Lake through these past 40 years, some that have already been mentioned and others to come.

If I figured it out right, Goodroad technically only medaled three times from 1993-97. He added two other top-25 finishes, which would earn medals now. Five-time medalists are rare.

Lincoln Swenson (2010-12) and Nathan Cramer (1988-90) each medaled three times. I know Trevor Cramer, who medaled in 1985 and 1986, and I'm guessing he's a brother or at least a relative of Nathan.

18. The Lux family of Webster

Brian Lux spent many years as the head golf coach of the Bearcats and even led Webster's boys to a state runner-up finish in 2012.

Brian's sons Spencer and Tanner were state medalists for Webster. Spencer placed 11th to lead the state runner-up team and also medaled two other years.

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17. Dillon and Damian Freudenthal, Estelline

I'm pretty certain these two guys are brothers and the most amazing thing about their accomplishments is that if my research is correct, they are the only Estelline boys golfers to ever medal in the state tourney.

The Freudenthals each medaled three times from 2008-2010, highlighted by top-10 finishes from Dillonin 2011 (fifth) and 2012 (third).

16. The Sipes, Erik Lambrechts and Tyler Wolff of Milbank

The Bulldogs won state A titles in 2002 and 2005 and also added a runner-up finish in 2003 in the three-class system and the Sipe brothers, Lambrechts and Wolff were all members of the 2005 championship team.

Lambrechts and Wolff each medaled four times and the Sipe bothers three times apiece during their high school careers.

15. Brad Penney & other De Smet golfers

Penney medaled four times in state Class B tournaments from 2009-12, twice each for De Smet and De Smet/Lake Preston squads.

The Bulldogs were pretty solid in the 1990s and notched runner-up finishes in 1995, 1997 and 1998. Brothers Mark (three-time state medalist) and Mike Burgers (two-time medalists) along with another three-time medalist Matt Kees.

Matt Burgers golfed at NCAA Division I Creighton.

14. Ben Koisti & Tadd Biederstedt, Hamlin

Hamlin's boys and girls golf programs each have enjoyed their fair share of succcess and the Charger boys did win the 2015 state B title with Koisti leading the way.

The son of Hamlin golf coach Tim Koisti, Ben was a four-year state medalist before continuing his career at Minnesota Crookston.

Biederstedt medaled three times at state (2002-04).

13. Clay & Brandon Bak, Castlewood

The Bak brothers powered the Warriors to a runner-up finish in the 2006 state B tourney with senior Clay tying for fourth to lead the way. He also medaled in 2005 (12th) and 2004 (sixth).

Younger brother Brandon was only a freshman that year when he took 16th. He also finished 16th in 2007 and 20th in 2009.

12. Nick & Sam Hansen, Great Plains Lutheran

The brothers were members of GPL's state B championship team in 2018, the only state championship sports team in school history. The team was coached by their father Tony.

Nick led the title team by placing third. He also finished fourth in 2016.

Younger brother Sam medaled three times, takinig sixth in 2019, tying for third in 2021 and placing ninth in 2022. He, like every Class B boys' golfer, didn't compete in 2020 due to the COVID-19 high school sports shutdown.

11. Greg Lindholm, Milbank

Lindholm cracks the list despite being only a two-time state place winner, but there's a couple of good reasons for that. As a freshman and sophomore, Milbank was in the highest class of golf (Class A) in the two-class system.

When the three-class system started in the fall of 2001, Lindholm placed fourth in Class A and returned the following year to record a runner-up finish for the state champion Bulldogs.

10. Ryan Patnoe, Milbank

Patnoe's father owned the Pine Hills Golf Club in Milbank for many years and also coached the Bulldogs' golf teams and his sister Rachel made the "20 Favorites' story on area Class A and B girls golfers that ran earlier this week.

Ryan Patnoe played in six state Class A tournaments from 2006-2011 and medaled four times. He later golfed at Northern State University and then coach Aberdeen Roncalli's boys to the state Class A title in 2015 in his first year as coach.

Patnoe finished second in the state A tourney in 2011, third in 2010 and tied for sixth in 2009.

9. Jared & Jason Baszler, De Smet

The two brothers were key players for the Bulldogs in the 1990s. Jason medaled in both 1993 and 1994. He was fifth in 1993.

Jared medaled four times from 1995-98 and helped lead the Bulldogs to state Class B runner-up finishes in 1995, 1997 and 1998. He took second in 1996, sixth in 1997 and fifth in 1998.

Later, Jared Baszler golfed at Grinnell College in Iowa and served as the head coach for South Dakota State University's golf teams from 2003-2014.

8. The Nielsens & Jordan Rolstad, Sisseton

I again believe that Nate and Blake Nielsen, who each medaled at least a combined seven times in state Class A tournaments for the Redmen, are brothers or at least related in some way. They helped Sisseton take second in the 2018 state tourney.

Nate recorded top-15 placings in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (finishing as the state runner-up that year). Blake medaled in 2018 2019 and 2020.

Rolstad topped that, earning medals for taking 24th in 2008, 19th in 2009, 17th in 2010 and sixth in 2011. He just missed medaling as a senior in 2012.

7. Devan & Dyllan Weelborg, Hamlin

Older brother Dyllan medaled three times in state B tournaments from 2014-2016, including ninth in 2016, and younger brother Devan medled in six state tournaments for the Chargers (19th in 2014, eighth in 2015, fifth in 2016, third in 2017, fourth in 2018 and second in 2019.

Dyllan later played at Evangel (Mo.) University and Devan at Dakota Wesleyan University.

6. Steve Bull, Clear Lake

Bull is one of the first really good golfers during this 40-year span, placing 13th in the state B tournament in 1985 and third in 1986 before winning the 1987 state tournament.

He helped lead Clear Lake to state B titles in 1986 and 1987.

5. Jeff Hilgenberg, Milbank

Hilgenberg helped guide Milbank to back-to-back state Class A titles in 1991 and 1992, competing in the two-class system against what are mostly now Class AA programs.

He finished second in the state tourney as a sophomore in 1991 and then won it all in 1992. He closed his career by taking sixth in 1993.

4. Brad Jacobson, Hamlin

Jacobson could certainly be higher and he's certainly right up there with any of the best area high school golfers these past 40 years.

He medaled five times in state Class B tourneys by placing 22nd in 1998, third in 1997, fifth in 1996 and first in both 1999 and 2000.

After a successful college career at NCAA Division I Texas Tech, Jacobson has continued to golf in South Dakota. He has won a SDGA Mid-Amateur Championship and two Mid-Amateur Two-Man Championships.

3. Ryan Medhaug, Sisseton

If I went with the two players I interviewed the most and technically got to know better than others, Jacobson and Medhaug would be at the top of the list.

Medhaug won state Class A championships in 2010 and 2011 before finishing second as a senior in 2012. He later played at NCAA Division 1 New Mexico.

He helped Sisseton take second as a team in the 2010 state Class A tourney.

2. Darin & Dean Miller, Hamlin

Here's two other golfers who shined early during my tenure at the Public Opinion and I believe there are brothers.

Darin took sixth in thre 1985 state B tournament and third in 1988. Dean won state B titles in 1989 and 1991 and medled three others timtes (taking sixth in 1989 and seventh in both 1988 and 1990.

Hamlin finished second in 1987 and won in 1991.

1. Brett & Bart Sime, Britton

Britton High School's boys golf teams won state Class B titles in 1989, 1990 and 1993 and also placed second in 1991 with the help of the Sime brothers.

Brett placed 10th in the state B boys tourney in the spring of 1988 and then played in Class A golf with Watertown in the fall of 1998. The Simes then moved back to Britton where he took fifth in 1989 before winning a state B championship in 1990.

Younger brother Bart medaled all six years in Class B, taking 12th in 1988 and fifth in 1989 and 1990 before closing out his career with a runner-up finish in 1991 and state titles in 1992 and 1993.

Brett Sime has been Yankton's goal coach since the late 1990s.

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: A look at some of best northeastern South Dakota golfers since the spring of 1985