Senior standout Jake Olson tops individuals, carries Arrows to first team title since 1971
BRANDON — Senior standout Jake Olson didn't seem to be bothered much by Watertown's roller-coaster ride to its first state boys golf championship in 52 years on Tuesday.
Olson capped a stellar career with a second state Class AA championship and led the Arrows to their first team title since 1971 during the final round of play at the Brandon Golf Course.
The left-handed hitting Olson turned a one-shot lead after Monday's 18 holes into a six-shot win. The Arrows also had a one-shot lead after the opening round in the team standings, but weren't able to hit cruise control like their team leader. Eventually, the Arrows took over at the end to record a five-shot win over O'Gorman.
"Today was a roller coaster of emotions for everyone. It was a tough battle with O'Gorman, but the guys kept grinding through the round and came out on top," said Watertown head coach Corey Neale. "To be able to end a 52-year drought for a state championship is a great accomplishment. It could have happened to a better group of guys. They have put in so much work and I am so proud of them."
The Arrows finished with a two-day score of 10-over 578, following a a 286 round on Monday with a 292 round on Tuesday. O'Gorman followed at 583 (287-296). Pierre was third at 600, Harrisburg fourth (6-2), Mitchell fifth (617) and Brandon Valley sixth (623). Aberdeen Central placed 10th out of 15 teams at 650 (335-315).
One of the Arrow best golfers of all-time
Olson won his first state championship as a sophomore in 2021 and a slow start in 2022 led to a runner-up finish. In the process, he became the third Watertown golfer in history to capture two state titles. He joined John Ruhe (1929-30) and George Andree (1949-50).
He stretched his lead right from the start on Tuesday, scoring a eagle on the par-5 No. 1. He added three other birdies on the front nine before closing with a bogey and a 4-under 32, It stretched his lead to four shots over junior teammate Kaden Rylance and O'Gorman's Taten Mauney.
ESD Golf Tourney: Monday's other sports highlights include ESD tennis, Region 1A boys golf and Miller cross country
"I really didn't know what the standings were. I knew where I was compared to Taten (who played in the same final group as Olson) but that was it," said Olson. "I really didn't know anything until I got to hole 12 and I found out the team was leading and I was doing alright individually."
It was probably a good thing that no team leaderboard posted. Olson's good start helped the Arrows stretch their lead to three shots. O'Gorman came back to pull even at one point and then eventually gained a two or three-shot lead over the Arrows. Watertown answered and eventually prevailed.
The focus on winning the team title may have indirectly benefited Olson.
"Winning the individual title was really important to me, but the team was what we were there for," he said. "It's my senior season and we've been trying to get that for the last few years. To be able to get that done is really awesome."
Olson is expected to finish his high school athletic career on the basketball court this winter, but there's likely more to come on the golf course at the next level.
His goal was never to be labeled the best golfer in WHS history, but a good case could be made for him.
"That was never something I thought about. I just went out every time and tried to play my best and I know that's been very good," said Olson. "Every year since my freshman year I had the goal of winning a state title. It was fine to get it twice."
Mauney eventually slipped past Rylance for second place, shooting 141 compared to Rylance's 144. Rylance's third-place finish is up there with his runner-up finish in 2020. Carter Peterson of Brandon Valley finished fourth at 146 and O'Gorman's Jayden Antonen and Mac Drake tied for fifth along with Mitchell's Asher Dannenbring at 147.
More than a two-man show for the Arrows
It certainly hurt Watertown's state title chances that they had two of the top three individuals in the final standings at state, but this was a team with a talented group of golfers. The squad is so gifted that many capable golfers didn't crack the lineup.
The state title capped an incredible year. After finish fourth in the season-opening Warrior-Lynx Invite, the Arrows won their final eight tournaments including a third-straight Eastern South Dakota Conference championship. Olson won five of the nine tourneys and tied for first in another.
"This was a great season," said Neale. "Winning our third straight ESD title was a great accomplishment but beating able to capture the first state championship since 1971 makes it even better."
Three other Arrow golfers medaled (top 25) at state. Junior Jaden Solheim placed 14th, freshman Jonathan Lake tied for 21st and junior Ty Lenards tied for 24th. Junior Gabe Norberg didn't medal, tying for 29th. His opening round score of 73 proved to be a big deal.
What Coach Neale said about his players
Jake Olson — "I’m so happy for Jake. No one puts more time into his game than he does. He’s been the leader of this team for four years and he did it once again this week, he played great. He made some really big putts down the stretch that helped us get back into it and then he finished it off for us. For him to win his second individual title and win a team championship, there couldn’t have been a better way for him to end his Arrow golf career."
Kaden Rylance — "Kaden played great once again, another top-3 finish at the state tournament. He’s got so much talent, he had a couple bad holes in the middle of the round today but the way he bounced back to end it was impressive. He knew what he had to do for his team and got it done."
Jaden Solheim — "Jaden was solid once again. He has a lot of talent and kept his focus. The way he finished on Tuesday was big, gave us the chance to catch O'Gorman."
Jonathan Lake — "It was great seeing Johnny play that well in his first state tournament. He came in late in the season and medaled in every event, earning all-conference and tying for 21st at state."
Ty Lenards— "Ty had a great week. You know you can count on him to go out and put up a good round even when he doesn’t have his best stuff. He kept grinding out his rounds and had a strong finish for us."
Gabe Norberg — "Gabe was a huge part of why we were able to win the state title. Without his 73 on the opening day we aren’t in the position to be able to bring it home."
Watertown Invite: Red-hot Arrows take home invitational for sixth-straight win, with only ESD and state left
Final AA Results
State Medalists (Top 25) — 1. Jake Olson, Watertown, 69-66—135 (7-under par); 2. Taten Mauney, O'Gorman, 70-71—141; 3. Kaden Rylance, Watertown, 70-74—144; 4. Carter Peterson, Brandon Valley, 72-74—166; T5. Jayden Antonen, O'Gorman, 75-72—147; Mac Drake, O'Gorman, 72-75—147; and Asher Dannenbring, Mitchell, 72-75—147; T8. Nicklaus Bothun, Pierre, 79-69—148; and Hayden Scott, Harrisburg, 73-73—148; 10. Luke Olson, Pierre, 79-70—149; T11. Jackson Swartz, RC Stevens, 79-71—150; Lincoln Houska, Pierre, 76-74—150; and Charlie Swift, Harrisburg, 75-75—150.
14. Jaden Solheim, Watertown, 74-77—151; RIley Christensen, Harrisburg, 77-74—151; Noah Larson, Mitchell, 77-74—151; and Parker Reede, Spearfish, 74-77—151; T18. Benjamin Gibson, RC Central, 74-79—153; Sawyer Sonnenschein, Pierre, 77-76—153; and Nolan Cinco, O'Gorman, 70-83—153; T21. Parker Riley, Yankton, 77-77—154; and Jonathan Lake, Watertown, 79-75—154; 23. Gavin Weir, Harrisburg, 80-75—155; T24. Parker Schultz, Harrisburg, 81-75—156; Ty Lenards, Watertown, 77-79—156; and Trevor Rick, SF Jefferson, 82-74—156.
Other Area Golfers — Watertown (T29. Gabe Norberg 73-86—159); and Aberdeen Central (T27. Cole Brust 86-71—157; T34. Carter Blanchard 73-87—150; T44. Peyton Brust 86-77—163; T71. Kyler Senger 91-83—174; T78. Jackson Ravellette 92-84—176; and T81. Quincy Madsen 90-88—178).
Class A Boys
RAPID CITY — Sophomore Jonathan DeBoer of Milbank and freshman Finn Anderson of Aberdeen Roncalli each medaled and Roncalli added a sixth-place finish in the team standings at the close of the state Class A high school boys golf tournament Tuesday at Hart Ranch Golf Course.
DeBoer tied for ninth with a two-day total of 158 and Anderson tied for 16th at 161.
Opening-day leaders Anthony Lanham, a junior from West Central, and Vermillion's teams went on to win championships.
Lanham built a five-shot lead Monday and had to hold off St. Thomas More's Vincent VanLiere to win the title. Lanham finished with a two-day score of 1-under 143, followed by VanLiere at 145. Dakota Munger of Chamberlain was third (151) and Cooper Girard of Vermillion fourth (154).
Vermillion repeated as a team champion but it wasn't easy. The Tanagers took a 16-shot lead into the final round and had to hold off Tea Area for the team title. Vermillion shot 308-334—642 and Tea Area 324-319—643. Dakota Valley followed at 652, St. Thomas More 664, Chamberlain 679, Aberdeen Roncalli 683, Sioux Valley 698, Belle Fourche 700, Groton Area 703, Parkston Area 711, Winner Area 724 and Madison 740.
Top 25 Medalists — 1. Anthony Lanham, West Central, 68-75—143 (1-under); 2. Vincent VanLiere, St. Thomas More, 75-70—145; 3. Dakota Munger, Chamberlain, 73-78—151; 4. Cooper Girard, Vermillion, 73-81—154; 5. Carter Langle, Elk Point-Jefferson, 75-80—155; 6. (Tie) Eli Anema, SF Christian, 82-74—156; Carson Steffensen, Canton, 78-78—156; and Brady Sabers, Tea Area, 79-77—156; 9. (Tie) Payton Koehn, Parkston, 83-75—158; 10. Kaden Burshiem, Flandreau, 83-75—158; Jonathan DeBoer, Milbank, 75-83—158.
12. (Tie) Matt DeBeer, Dakota Valley, 80-79—159 and Aiden Coyles, Belle Fourche, 77-82—159; 14. (Tie) Hayden Heig, St. Thomas More, 83-77—160 and Karson Preister, Vermillion, 77-83—150; 16. (Tie) Finn Anderson, Roncalli, 77-84—161 and Ryan Moran, Vermillion, 78-83—161; 18. (Tie) Logan Collette, Dakota Valley, 83-79—162; Keeton Newborg, Tea Area, 83-79—162; Dylan Lukken, Dakota Valley, 82-80—162; Kaden Zomer, West Central, 76-86—162; and Harper Schnabel, Tea Area, 77-85—162; 23. Sander Wiekamp, Chamberlain, 78-86—164; 24. (Tie) Dustin Maas, Beresford, 88-78166; Braeden Strain, St. Thomas More, 87-79—162; and Derek Anderson, Tea Area, 85-81—166.
Other Area Golfers — T27. Brevin Fliehs, Groton Area, 83-84—167; 31. Jack Opitz, Sioux Valley, 88-80—168; T36. Carter Simon, Groton Area, 91-80—171; T39. Jameson Degen, Sioux Valley, 84-88—172; T44. Tate Steffensen, Sioux Valley, 85-91—176 and Owen Fisher, Milbank, 85-91—176; T54. Jesse Hernandez, Roncalli, 92-88—180; T56. Logan Pearson, Groton Area, 90-91—181 and Lucas Daggett, Roncalli, 95-86—181; T62. Gannon May, Roncalli, 89-95—184 and Jace Johnson, Groton Area, 95-89—184; T65. Maverick Nelson, Sioux Valley, 95-91—186; 67. William Blankart, Mobridge-Pollock, 94-93—187; 68. Boden Schiller, Sioux Valley, 91-97—188; T75. Jacob Zornes, Mobridge-Pollock, 94-99—193; T81. Jaxen Campbell, Redfield, 93-103—196; T84. Tristen O'Daniel, Redfield, 100-99—199; 90. Jayden Schwan, Groton Area, 108-98—206; T91. Seth Domke, Redfield, 101-106—207; 95. Kevin Weller, Redfield, 114-222—236.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown High School's boys golf team caps remarkable season
