On a day less than ideal for golf, Olivia Braun found the conditions to suit her game just fine.
The recent Aberdeen Central golfer shot a blistering round of 67 on Tuesday at Lee Park Golf Course to win the girls’ division of the South Dakota Golf Association/Sanford International Series Northeast. The total was just one stroke off the course record set by Chelsea Gehring on Aug. 4, 2003.
“I played really well today,” Braun said. “Everything was kind of on. I had some bad shots, but I recovered nicely.”
Braun finished with a 36-hole total of 141 to win the two-day tournament by five strokes.
The golfers were called in off the course about midway through their rounds because of lightning in the area. They went back out after about an hour delay and then played in a steady rain for a few holes before things cleared up.
“It was difficult, especially when I went back out,” Braun said. “I had a couple bumpy holes until I actually, finally played a lot better. It was tough, because you’re waiting.”
The two-time Class AA state champion said the weather definitely was a factor. However, her final total did not reflect it.
“I just kept playing to my game, but the weather did change a lot,” Braun said. “It was pouring and then it just stopped, and then there was a lot of wind on some holes, so you had to think about that on every shot. You just have to think about the weather.”
The tourney marked the final appearance for Aberdeen’s Claire Crawford on her home course. The former Roncalli standout described a unique round of golf following her 12th place finish with a score of 166.
“I played the front nine pretty good and then we made the turn and they blew the siren, I think,” Crawford said. “We were delayed about an hour-ish maybe. And then we got to (hole) 10, and it was just hold onto the club as best as you can.”
Golfers had to contend with a variety of elements as they navigated the course the rest of the way.
“The rain made it hard to grip the club and then the wind made it hard to hit the ball anywhere,” Crawford said. “Then about five holes in on the back the rain quit and it got hot.”
Crawford, who was runner-up at the Class A State Tournament in 2005, tried not to focus on a loaded field of competitors, which featured multiple state champions.
“I try not to think about it too much. I mean going into the tournament, I see big names,” Crawford said. “I’m like OK, I can compete with them, but once I’m on the course, I just gotta stay in my lane and not worry about them, because I can’t change their scores, they’re not going to change mine, so straight and narrow path.”
Watertown’s Brynn Roehrich, who golfs for Clark-Willow Lake in high school, finished fifth in the girls’ division with a total of 150. Sisseton’s Kenzley Heath was 11th with a 165, and Selby’s Taryn Hettick was 13th at 167.
Drew Velasquez of Sioux Falls won the boys’ championship with a 36-hole total of 147. Jonathan DeBoer of Twin Brooks found himself tied for first with a handful of holes remaining before finishing fourth.
“I was there,” DeBoer said, “but I had quite a few silly bogies I could have avoided.”
DeBoer, who competed for Milbank in high school and will golf at Northwestern in college, said he knew he was in the hunt for a potential championship, but tried to block it out down the stretch.
“You can’t let affect you,” DeBoer said. “You just have to play your game and stick to your routine, and hope it works out in your favor.”
DeBoer finished with a 36-hole score of 151.
While the conditions were difficult to deal with, DeBoer noted that it was the same for all of the participants.
“It’s unfortunate, but everyone else has to play in it,” he said, “so it’s just have a good attitude going into it, and you’ll make the best of it.”
Harper Schnabel who golfs for Aberdeen Roncalli tied for eighth with a 154, and Doland’s Kaiden Weinreis tied for 12th with a 156.
Roscoe’s Seth Hettick tied for 14th with a score of 157. The senior to be at Edmunds Central talked about the field of golfers in the event.
“There’s definitely a little bit more competition with all the AA kids and A kids,” Hettick said, “but I think that’s good for me and the other Class B golfers that play, because we get to get more competition and experience.”
Hettick talked about facing opponents from much bigger schools than his.
“Sometimes it’s a little bit intimidating,” Hettick said, “but once you get settled into your round, and you kind of visit with the guys you’re playing with, it’s not too bad.”
Golf can be a challenging sport under normal conditions, but is even tougher with rain, delays, wind and heat.
“It’s definitely tricky,” Hettick said. “I kind of just gotta stay strong mentally, and battle the delay, and then when you go back out, just battle that rain.”
To see complete tournament results, click on the following link:
