The first day of the South Dakota Golf Association/Sanford Series wrapped up at Moccasin Creek Country Club on Monday, with a couple of state champions having big performances.
Brynn Roehrich of Watertown, who golfs for Clark-Willow Lake, finished the opening day in second with a one-over-par score of 73.
“I think I played pretty well,” Roehrich said. “I was pretty happy with myself. I made a few bad swings here and there that led to a few bogeys, but I feel like I played pretty well.”
Even with her performance, Roehrich wasn’t even sure she was going to play.
“I was questioning if I wanted to come up here and play today, because of how hot it was going to be,” she said.
Once Roehrich got out on the course, she said the heat wasn’t so bad.
“It was definitely hot,” Roehrich said. “Playing in a twosome definitely helped, because we played an hour and 30 for our front nine, which we started on the back. Then we waited on the front nine for a little bit, but it wasn’t bad because the clouds came out, so it was definitely better.”
Roehrich is a three-time defending state champion in Class B, and said that helps her confidence when she’s out on the course.
“Having (state titles) and knowing that I’m a good golfer and winning tournaments definitely helps out my confidence a little bit,” Roehrich said. “If you see me out on the course, I’m not going to be a cocky player. I carry myself with confidence, but not overconfidence.”
Roehrich also had fun competing against other state champions and top-tier golfers.
“I know that I can come out here and compete against all these great girls,” Roehrich said. “I mean, you have the A champ, the AA champ and runner-ups. It’s really a great field to compete in.”
One of those state champions that Roehrich competed against was recent Aberdeen Central golfer and two-time AA champion Olivia Braun.
Braun finished the day two strokes above par and in fourth on the leaderboard.
“How I played today wasn’t the greatest,” Braun said. “There were a lot of bad shots in there, but a lot of good shots. I just tried to keep getting par and that ended up getting me a 74.”
Braun also has a certain mindset when it comes to hitting bad shots.
“In golf, it’s the quality of your bad shots and how you recover from them,” Braun said. “And that’s what I tried to do today.”
Golf is a continuous learning experience, according to Braun, and she enjoys being able to take every tournament and learn from it.
“I think every tournament is a learning experience,” Braun said. “Whether you succeed or fail. And I think with every tournament I just become a better and better golfer.”
Braun also likes being able to challenge herself while golfing.
“It’s fun. It’s definitely fun,” Braun said. “I like how it is an individual sport. You’re playing against yourself. Whenever you hit a bad shot that’s on you, and you just have to find a way to pick myself back up and try to do the best I can.”
On the boys’ side, Aberdeen’s Harper Schnabel had a solid day shooting seven above par.
The course wasn’t easy according to Schnabel. The golfer, who competes for Aberdeen Roncalli, talked about the challenges he faced.
“The greens were pretty hard,” Schnabel said. “You just couldn’t really get much spin. Then the wind overall just made it a very difficult challenge.”
Schnabel wasn’t happy with his performance, but he did point out a positive.
“I putted really well, which was nice,” Schnabel said. “That was kind of the first time this year I putted well. I’m going through some swing changes so I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things.”
Those putts fit well into the other parts of Schnabel’s game.
“Overall, I think my ball striking is pretty solid, and my short game is normally better than everything else,” Schnabel said. “But putting today went well. It’s been a struggle this year with the putter so far. It just felt good to make some putts today.”
While Schnabel said it wasn’t his best round, he still gained some confidence after his outing because of that putting.
“It gives me a lot of confidence, especially being able to see a few (putts) drop,” Schnabel said. “Hopefully (Tuesday) I do everything else a little bit better and then make those same putts and give it a run.”
Cole Brust, who competes for Aberdeen Central, finished the day with an 86.
“I didn’t play very well,” Brust said. “Irons haven’t been good lately and my driver was a little off. … I’ve been hitting my driver pretty well lately, but today was just a little off. It puts me in good spots usually.”
Brust talked about the mental side of the game.
“I really have to start telling myself I can do the stuff instead of not believing in myself,” Brust said. “I can go to the range a little bit, get some practice and show myself that I can actually hit the shots.”
When action resumes today at Lee Park Golf Course, Brust has a specific number he wants to hit.
“I want to try to put myself in good positions,” Brust said. “I want shoot better than today, probably break 78, but definitely pop better. Just do everything a little bit better.”
To see complete tournament results, click on the following link:
