There was plenty of late tournament drama during the Class AA State Golf Tournament at Lee Park Golf Course on Tuesday afternoon.
The individual championship and the team title came down to the final two holes.
Sioux Falls Lincoln secured the team crown on hole 18, while the individual championship went to a one-hole playoff where Drew Simon of O’Gorman edged Tyler Blom of Lincoln.
Both golfers had to make clutch shots in front of a gallery that included more than 100 spectators.
“It’s really just nerves for putting, just every shot,” Simon said. “You’ve just got to try to calm yourself down and one shot at a time, just go through your routine.”
Simon, who either led or shared the lead for the majority for the final round, said he had no idea where he was at in the field.
“I haven’t looked once in these last two days,” Simon said. “To be honest, I didn’t even know I was still in it for first place.”
Blom ended up making a birdie on the 18th which not only tied Simon, it secured the team title for the Patriots
“It was really cool. I honestly had no idea that was to get in the playoff for individual,” Blom said. “I knew it meant something for our team and that was big. It was big for our team and it was big for me. I was really happy with that.”
However, those positive emotions were replaced with frustration when Blom’s short putt missed the cup on the playoff hole.
“I hit a really good shot to the green, had like a 9-footer and I gave it a really good run, just a little bit too aggressive for the line, just didn’t break,” Blom said. “I don’t really know what to say about the second putt, just not a good putt.”
The state tournament marked the final high school event for a trio of Aberdeen Central seniors who have left their mark on the program.
“Cole (Brust), and Eli (Schauer) and Ridgly (Wasem) are all done,” said Golden Eagles coach Matt Brust. “That’s a big chunk.”
Brust said it’s difficult losing seniors.
“It’s always hard to replace players,” he said, “but it also provides opportunity for our younger kids.”
Wasem experienced a variety of shots during the two-day tournament.
“(Monday) didn’t really go how I wanted it to. I had a couple tough breaks. I had 13 holes that were really good, five that were really bad, but today I came back and had a lot better of a day,” Wasem said. “I had five bad holes to end it. Made a nice eagle on two. Overall, not a bad tournament.”
He said he enjoyed playing at home in the state tourney.
“Definitely gives you an advantage. You know the course well,” Wasem said. “You also get to sleep in your own bed at the end of the night. … You know all the places to miss, or not to miss. Just gives you that edge, I guess.”
The state tournament provided a large gallery, which Wasem said can be a negative and a positive.
“It definitely feels a lot different having all the eyes on you,” Wasem said. “It can be nerve-wrecking, but you make a birdie or eagle on a hole to give you that adrenaline rush, having everyone watching, knowing that they saw that, too.”
The final day of the tourney produced plenty of emotions for the players, some like Cole Brust who competed in their last ever high school event.
“Very emotional. It was tough,” Brust said of walking off the course for the final time as a member of the Golden Eagles. “Six pretty good years of the thing I love the most, and it’s just over now.”
Brust ended up with many memories through the years, perhaps none better on the course than his runner-up finish at the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament last season.
“That’s definitely the best golf tournament I’ve ever had,” Brust said.
To see complete state tournament results, click on the following link:
