MITCHELL — Two big tournaments for South Dakota junior golfers were held Sunday through Wednesday, July 20-23, 2025, at the Lakeview Municipal Golf Club.
Play started on Sunday with the South Dakota Golf Association Adult-Junior Championships and continued Monday through Wednesday with the SDGA Junior Championship.
The only remaining junior golf event on the SDGA schedule is the SDGA Junior Cup that is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 4, at the Hillsview Golf Club in Pierre. The SDGA Junior Tour Cup brings together the top point leaders (ages 10 & up) from each region to compete for individual and region titles.
Adult-Junior Championship
A record field of 306 players competed in the tourney. Tori Peterson of Flandreau and Jon Sorensen of Beresford (16-18 division) combined to win the overall title in a one-hole playoff win over Allsion and Jeff Meyerink of Mitchell. Both teams shot a 3-under 69.
Two daughter-father teams from northeastern South Dakota captured division championships. Paisley and Ryan Neale of Watertown won the 10-11 girls division in a one-hole playoff. They shot a 6-over par 42 for nine holes. Genevieve and Nathan Golz of Aberdeen won the 12-13 girls division, also after a one-hole playoffs. They shot a 9-over par 80 for 18 holes.
Kenzley and Eric Heath of Sisseton lost a playoff on the third hole and took second in the 14-15 girls division. They fired a 7-over par 78.
Other area golfers with top finishes included Lydia Schafer and Jim Chesley of Watertown, sixth in 10-11 girls (47); Madden and Stuart Stein of Watertown, fourth in 10-11 boys (3-over 38); Faith and Jason Roehrich of Watertown, fifth in 12-13 girls (16-over 87); Jackson and Nic Ahmann of Watertown, sixth in 14-15 boys (10-over 81); and Harper Schnabel of Aberdeen and Jared Schabel of Sioux Falls, sixth in 16-18 (2-over 73).
Aubrey and Jill Mollner of Sioux Falls (9-and-under girls), Miles and Mitch Lunning of Brandon (9-and-under boys), Hank and Tom Carlson of Sioux Falls (10-11 boys), Lincoln and Ryan Trasamar of Sioux Falls (12-13 boys), Katie and Stu Betsworth of Dakota Dunes (14-15 girls) and Jack and Alec Johnson of Vermillion (14-15 boys) also won division titles.
Junior Championship
Golfers in the 9-and-under and 10-11 divisions played only nine holes on Monday. Division champions were Miles Lanning of Brandon (9-and-under boys), Nora Pfost of Rapid City (9-and-under girls), Teddy Krivarchka of Brandon (10-11 boys) and Karsyn Kopp of Sturgis (10-11 girls). Krivarchka and Kopp won playoffs over Keeton Rachetto of Rapid City and Allyson Sinksen of Sioux Falls, respectively.
The 12-13 and 14-15 divisions played 36 holes on Monday and Tuesday. Division champions included Lincoln Trasmar of Sioux Falls (12-13 boys), Stella Smith of Sioux Falls (12-13 girls), Braxton Hollan of Sioux Falls (14-15 boys) and Kaitlin Strain of Rapid City (14-15 girls).
The 16-18 divisions played 54 holes (18 each on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). Division champions were Rylan Horning of Rapid City (girls) and Charlie Swift of Harrisburg (boys). Horning finished at 9-over 222 (76-74-72) and Swift at 10-under 203 (72-64-67). Horning wonby three shots and Swift two.
Area golfers with top 5 finishes included: Paisley Neale of Watertown (fourth in 10-11 girls), Faith Roehrich of Watertown (second in 12-13 girls), Genevieve Golz of Aberdeen (third in 12-13 girls), Kenzley Heath of Sisseton (fifth in 14-15 girls), Olivia Brtaun of Aberdeen (second in 16-18 girls, 225), Brynn Roehrich of Watertown (third in 16-18 girls, 226) and Gabi Olson of Watertown (fourth in 16-18 girls, 228).
Horning (1-over 72) and Asher Dannenbring of Mitchell (6-under 65) each won final day shootouts.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
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