Vermillion runs away with Class A boys golf title, Roncalli finishes second

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·3 min read
Tea Area's Brady Sabers chips out of the bunker Tuesday during the final round of the Class A boys golf state tournament Tuesday in Aberdeen.
Tea Area's Brady Sabers chips out of the bunker Tuesday during the final round of the Class A boys golf state tournament Tuesday in Aberdeen.

ABERDEEN — The races for the individual and team championships couldn't have been any different Tuesday during the final day of the 2022 state Class A high school boys golf tournament at the Moccasin Creek Country Club.

Tea Area junior Keeton Newborg, one of four players tied for the lead after the first 18 holes of play on Monday, fired a 1-under par 71 to record a three-shot victory for medalist honors. Eighteen golfers opened the day within five shots of the lead.

Newborg prevailed by shooting the best round of the day along with Tea Area senior Trey Even and finished at with a 36-hole total of 1-over 145. Even tied for second with Chamberlain junior Dakota Munger, each at 148. Munger shared the first -day lead with Newborg and Vermillion freshmen Trey Hansen and Cooper Girard.

Cooper Girard of Vermillion tees off at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen Tuesday during the Class A boys golf state tournament. Girard finished tied for ninth.
Cooper Girard of Vermillion tees off at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen Tuesday during the Class A boys golf state tournament. Girard finished tied for ninth.

Hansen ended up fourth with a two-day total of 149 and Sioux Falls Christian teammates Eli Anema and Kaleb Jost each tied for fifth at 150. Jost was the defending champion.

Girard shot a 7-over 79 on Tuesday and slipped into a tie for ninth, but that didn't stop the Tanagers from running away with their first state golf title since 2007. They opened the day with a 16-shot advantage and ended up winning by 24 shots with a two-day total of 614 (304-310). Sophomores Carter Hansen (tied for 12th, 155) and Karson Preister (tied for 24th, 161) also medaled for coach Kirk Hogan's squad.

Aberdeen Roncalli, essentially the home team for the tourney, capped a solid tournament by finishing second with a 638 score after rounds of 320 and 18. Dakota Valley and Sioux Valley each tied for third at 345, followed by West Central (646) and St. Thomas More (667).

West Central's Kamden Zomer watches his putt drop in the hole Tuesday during the Class A boys golf state tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen.
West Central's Kamden Zomer watches his putt drop in the hole Tuesday during the Class A boys golf state tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen.

The top six teams and 25 individuals received awards.

Final Results

At Moccasin Creek Country Club, Aberdeen (Par 72)

Team Scores — 1. Vermillion 304-310—614; 2. Aberdeen Roncalli 320-318—638; 3. (Tie) Dakota Valley 326-319—345 and Sioux Valley 328-317—345; 5. West Central 329-317—646; 6. St. Thomas More 348-319—667; 7. Groton Area 347-331—678; 8. Chamberlain 345-335—680; 9. Winner Area 356-347—703; 10. Belle Fourche 363-362—725; 11. Parkston 368-374—742; 12. Rapid City Christian 408-390—798.

Finn Anderson of Aberdeen Roncalli watches his putt roll towards the hole from the fringe Tuesday during the final round of the Class A boys golf state tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen. Anderson finished in eighth place.
Finn Anderson of Aberdeen Roncalli watches his putt roll towards the hole from the fringe Tuesday during the final round of the Class A boys golf state tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen. Anderson finished in eighth place.

Top 25 Individuals — 1. Keeton Newborg, Tea Area, 74-71—145; 2. (Tie) Trey Even, West Central, 77-71—148 and Dakota Munger Chamberlain, 74-74—148; 4. Trey Hansen, Vermillion, 74-75—149; 5. (Tie) Eli Anema, SF Christian, 77-73—150 and Kaleb Jost, SF Christian, 75-75—150; 7. Derek Anderson, Tea Area, 79-72—151; 8. Finn Anderson, Aberdeen Roncalli, 75-77—152; 9. (Tie) Vincent VanLiere, St. Thomas More, 80-73—153 and Cooper Girard, Vermillion, 74-79—153; 11. Payton Koehn, Parkston, 78-76—154; 12. (Tie) Brevin Fliehs, Groton Area, 81-74—155, and Carter Hansen, Vermillion, 79-76—155.

14. (Tie) Dylan Luken, Dakota Valley, 79-77—156; Carter Langle, Elk Point-Jefferson, 80-76—156; Logan Collette, Dakota Valley, 78-78—156; and Tate Steffensen, Sioux Valley, 78-78—156; 18. Kamden Zomer, West Central, 78-79—177; 19. (Tie) Dustin Maas, Beresford, 83-75—158; Sawyer Henrich, Aberdeen Roncalli, 81-77—158; Kyan Overbo, Sioux Valley, 79-79—158; Carson Steffensen, Canton, 78-80—158; 23. Kyler Bezdichek, Sioux Valley, 83-76—159; 24. (Tie) Jonathan DeBoer, Milbank, 84-77—161; and Karston Preister, Vermillion, 77-84—161.

Kaleb Jost of Sioux Falls Christian chips onto the green Tuesday while playing in the second round of the Class A boys state golf tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen. Jost finished tied for fifth place.
Kaleb Jost of Sioux Falls Christian chips onto the green Tuesday while playing in the second round of the Class A boys state golf tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen. Jost finished tied for fifth place.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Tea Area's Keeton Newberg wins individual title by three shots.