Conference, state tourneys all that remain for Watertown, Aberdeen Central boys golf teams

The thirteen teams and more than 40 golfers that competed in the Watertown Boys Golf Invitational at Cattail Crossing Golf Course couldn't have asked for a better day to play.

A sunny day with temperatures in the high 70s and little wind greeted a large group of Class AA and A high school boys golfers nearing the finish line of their 2025 seasons.

In the end, Harrisburg's Charlie Swift and teammate Riley Christensen finished first and second, respectively, and led the Class AA Tigers to a six-shot win over fellow Eastern South Dakota Conference foe Mitchell in a tourney played on the Yellow and Red nine courses at CCCG on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Harrisburg finished with a 7-over par 295 score and Mitchell shot 301 to hold off two-time defending state Class AA champion Watertown by two shots for second place. The Arrows were making their only home appearance of the season.

"Today was a little bit of a struggle. We started off great but had a tough finish," Watertown coach Corey Neale said. "Still, finishing third when you have some of the top (state) contenders at the meet is never bad."

What's happened so far in 2025?

The event win was the fifth so far this fall for a Harrisburg team, which could be considered the Class AA favorite along with O'Gorman. The Knights have also won five events this fall. Harrisburg finished third and O'Gorman fifth in last year's state Class AA tourney.

Watertown's invite included all 10 schools (including Huron, which did not field a complete team) that will compete Sept. 29 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference tournament at Brandon. It's the final tourney for the ESD schools before the state Class AA tournament Oct. 6-7 at the Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City.

Watertown has won the past two state Class AA tournaments and still has remained very competitive this fall. With a good showing, the Arrows are capable of competing favorable in both the ESD and state.

"All year, it's been close when it comes down to who wins and who finishes fifth or sixth. It's only 5-6 shots that separates those teams and a couple of holes is where that happens," Neale said. "ESD will be a tough title to bring home for any team as the teams are so tight, but we have a squad that can do that."

Area Class A teams Aberdeen Roncalli, Milbank and Sioux Valley also competed at CCGC along with a group of Watertown's junior varsity players. Area Class A teams have the Sisseton Invite on Sept. 25 before competing in the Region 1A tourney Sept. 29 at the Madison Country Club, followed by the state Class A tourney Oct. 6-7 at the Madison Country Club.

Roncalli finished third at state last year and has enjoyed a solid season this fall.

Watertown & Other Area Golfers

Three seniors (Carter Buisker, Jerome Zebroski and Ashton Rabine) made their final home appearances as Arrows in the home tourney and barring injury or illness, will be in the team's lineup down the stretch along with juniors Johnathan Lake, Gavin Neyens and Max Stewmwedel.

It seems like just about every one of those six players have taking their turn leading the squad in events this fall. That honor belonged to Lake, a two-time state medalist, in the home tourney. He shot a 1-over 73 and finished third. Zebroski also shot a 73 (seventh), followed by Rabine at 78 (24th), Stemwedel at 79 (28th) and Buisker 85 (52nd).

"Johnathan Lake and Jerome Zebroski had pretty good days shooting 73s," Neale said.

Roncalli's Harper Schnabel (16th,77), Milbank's Jonathan DeBoer (19th, 78) and Sioux Valley's Trentyn Schmit (25th, 78) led area Class A golfers at CCGC. Roncalli's Finn Anderson was 27th with a 79.

OTHER SPORTS: Top high school sports performers in the Watertown, Aberdeen areas from Sept. 12-18

Class AA Aberdeen Central was led by Cole Brust, who shot an 80 and tied for 34th. Tyson Lawrence also shot an 80 and took 33rd to lead Watertown's JV.

The focus now turns to bigger events over the final two weeks of the season including an opportunity for Watertown to shoot for a third-straight state title.

"State (AA) will be an extremely competitive two days. There are six to eight teams that could win the title. A couple of holes through those two days could mean you go home state champions or in seventh place. That's how close this will be," Neale said.

"We have the talent and group of guys that can do it. We just have to lock in throughout the rounds and not let a couple of bad swings ruin our day."

Tourney Results

• Team Scores — 1. Harrisburg, 295 (7-over); 2. Mitchell, 303; 3. Watertown, 303; 4. Brandon Valley, 305; 5. Yankton, 311; 6. Brookings, 313; 7. Tea Area, 317 and Aberdeen Central, 317; 9. Aberdeen Roncalli, 325; 10. Pierre, 336; 11. Watertown JV, 342; 12. Sioux Valley, 346; 13. Milbank, 371.
• Top 25 Individuals — 1. Charlie Swift, Harrisburg, 69 (3-under par); 2. Riley Christensen, Harrisburg, 72; 3. Johnathan Lake, Watertown, 73; 4. Landon Baker, Tea Area, 73; 5. Quentin Maag, Tea Area, 73; 6. Asher Dannenbring, Mitchell, 73; 7. Jerome Zebroski, 73; 8. Kalen Larson, Aberdeen Central, 73; 9. Connor Tank, Harrisburg, 74; 10. Jordan Meyerink, Mitchell, 74; 11. Carter Peterson, Brandon Valley, 75; 12. Jackson Burns, Brandon Valley, 75; 13. Elijah Larson, Yankton, 75; 14. Everett Morrison, Mitchell, 76; 15. Kalen Pudwill, Brandon Valley, 77; 16. Harper Schnabel, Roncalli, 77; 17. Tyson Lunn, Brookings, 77; 18. Gus Sprakel, Yankton, 78; 19. Jonathan DeBoer, Milbank, 78; 20. Carter McCormick, Mitchell, 78; 21. Andrew Heinze, Brookings, 78; 22. Cooper Shuman, Brandon Valley, 78; 23. Rhys Heiberger, Brookings, 78; 24. Ashton Rabine, Watertown, 78; 25. Trentyn Schmit, Sioux Valley, 78.

2025 STATE AA BOYS GOLF: Watertown repeats as state Class AA boys golf champion behind senior medalist Ty Lenards

• Other Area Golfers — 27. Finn Anderson, Roncalli, 79; 28. Max Stemwedel, Watertown, 79; 33. Tyson Lawrence, Watertown JV, 80; 34. Cole Brust, Aberdeen Central, 80; 38. Jesse Hernandez, Roncalli, 81; 40. Damon Uecker, Sioux Valley, 82; 41. Jackson Ravellette, Aberdeen Central, 82; 45. Easton Kludt, Aberdeen Central, 82; 46. Riley Randall, Watertown JV, 83; 52. Carter Buisker, Watertown, 85; 54. Maddox Dinger, Aberdeen Central, 86; 56. Landon Struckman, Watertown JV, 86; 59. Blaze Mathern, Sioux Valley, 88; 60. Mathew Gerlach, Roncalli, 88; 62. Ridgly Wasem, Aberdeen Central, 88; 65. Jesus Padilla, Milbank, 92; 69. Greyson Zebroski, Watertown JV, 93; 70. Owen Vogel, Roncalli, 93; 73. Jackson Ahmann, Watertown, 96; 75. Mason Maag, Watertown JV, 96; 76. Thomas Bass, Milbank, 98; 77. McCade Nelson, Sioux Valley, 98; 78. Landon Hanssen, Sioux Valley, 78; 79. Pierce Mathiason Milbank, 103; 80. Seth VanHoorn, Milbank, 103; 81. Nate Larson, Sioux Valley, 109.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown hosts invitational boys golf tournament at Cattail Crossing