This time, one shot provides winning difference for Hanson to claim Class B boys golf title – Mitchell Republic

WATERTOWN, S.D. — Well aware of what the difference a single stroke in team golf can mean, the Hanson boys golf team went to the wire once again on Tuesday at the Class B state championships.

This time, the Beavers were on the winning side by a stroke, claiming the school’s first state golf championship at Cattail Crossing Golf Course. Hanson shot 459 as a team, one shot better than second-place Wall, which finished at 460.

It was a tense finish for the Beavers, who saw standouts Will Jarding and Ben Wilber make big shots late in their rounds. Wilber, after a double bogey at the par-4 14th and a bogey at the par-3 15th, answered back with an eagle at the par-5 16th for the second day in a row. He then closed with two pars, finishing with a 4-over-par 76 but stabilizing Hanson’s team score with Wall in close proximity.

Jarding did the same, draining three straight pars on his final three holes, including in the tournament’s final group at Hole No. 18 with a one-shot team lead to secure the title. Jarding shot 37 on the final nine holes and 4-over-par 76 on Tuesday to cap the day, good for third place individually with a gross score of 149.

Ben Wilber finished 75-76 for the two days and in a tie for sixth place at 151 total strokes. AJ Wilber shot 82 for Hanson’s third score and finished tied for 20th (159) and Nate Wilber shot 91 for the Beavers, holding on after carrying a six-shot team lead off the course on Monday.

Hanson’s winning score was 20 shots better than what they shot in the 2024 two-day state tournament in Brookings. In that tournament, the Beavers finished one shot behind Wessington Springs for the team title.

Individual medalist honors went to Wall’s Trevor Schulz, who shot a 1-under-71 on Tuesday to finish with a two-day score of 1-over-145 and win by three strokes. Schulz had three birdies in his first seven holes on Tuesday and was 3-under for the day through 15 holes before giving back bogeys on Holes No. 16 and 18. Gavin Colson, of Sully Buttes, was second with a two-day score of 148, followed by Will Jarding for Hanson (149).

Wolsey-Wessington’s Larz Tvedt and McIntosh’s Wyatt Larson finished tied for fourth (150). First-round leader Alfie Henderson, of Flandreau, shot 71-81 for a total of 152 and finished tied for eighth place. Freeman’s Tannen Auch also finished tied for eighth (72-80—152).

The rest of the team leaders after Hanson and Wall included Clark/Willow Lake in third (474) and Hill City and Sully Buttes tying for fourth place (485). Other Mitchell-area top-25 finishers included Ethan’s Aiden Riggs with a total of 158 and a tie for 18th, while Luke Stukel, of Gregory, shot 159 over two days and tied for 20th.

WATERTOWN, S.D. — Three area girls golfers finished inside the top-15 in the individual standings after the final round of the Class B girls golf championship at Prairie Winds Golf Course in Watertown.

Platte-Geddes’ Mallory Grant finished 11th after a two-day total of 174. Only three strokes behind was Corsica-Stickney’s Claire Gerlach (177), who tied for 13th. Ethan’s Belle Guthrie finished with a two-day total of 178, putting her in 15th.

Howard’s Halle Schultz finished just outside the top 15 with a two-day score of 179, putting her in a tie for 16th. Freeman Academy/Marion’s Jade Buyse (184) finished in 21st while Burke’s Olivia Bull (185) finished in a tie for 22nd.

Burke’s Paige Beckers (192), Scotland/Menno’s Evie Foss (197), Platte-Geddes’ Randi Oberbroekling and Wessington Springs’ Taylor Braun (205) all finished inside the top 50.

Clark/Willow Lake’s Brynn Roehrich finished with another even-par round for day two, giving her an even 144 to claim the individual title. Chester’s Jadyn McDonald was four strokes behind after shooting her second-straight 74, giving her a two-day total of 148.

Platte-Geddes’ sixth-place finish was the best among area squads in the team standings. The Black Panthers shot 10 strokes better than their day one total with a second round score of 286, giving them a two-day total of 582. That was only a stroke better than seventh-place Deubrook Area (583), who was followed by Burke in eighth (602) and Howard in ninth (605).

Dell Rapids St. Mary took the team title with a two-day score of 501, eight strokes better than second-place Miller (509).

MADISON, S.D. — The Winner girls golf team finished in eighth place, the highest of three area teams, at the Class A girls golf championship at Madison Golf and Country Club.

The Warriors shot 396 on day two of the competition, a 23-stroke improvement from their day-one score of 419, giving them a combined two-day total of 815. Chamberlain was behind in ninth place, shooting a day two score of 406 to give the Cubs a combined 830. Mount Vernon/Plankinton finished in 13th (952) with a day two performance of 459.

St. Thomas More ended atop the leaderboard with a round two 335, giving the Cavaliers a two-day total of 680. That was two strokes ahead of second-place Sioux Falls Christian (685) and 20 ahead of Aberdeen Roncalli (700).

Chamberlain’s Trey Speer finished the highest among all area participants, shooting 90 for the second straight day to give her a final 38-over 180, good enough for 20th place. Winner’s Gracie Root was the next-highest, ending day two with an 87, 11 strokes better than her round one score. She finished with a combined 185, placing her in a tie for 25th.

Three other area golfers finished inside the top 50. Winner’s Ava Craven shot a day-two score of 94, giving her a two-day total of 191 and a share of 32nd place. Chamberlain’s Natalie Nelson and MVP’s Abby Davis finished in a tie for 49th place with combined scores of 207.

St. Thomas More’s Rylan Horning finished atop the individual standings after a five-stroke improvement from day one. She shot the lowest day-two round at 76, giving her a two-day score of 157. That was three strokes better than Aberdeen Roncalli’s Claire Crawford, who finished six strokes behind with a two-day total of 160.

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