WATERTOWN — Even a double bogey on the final hole of regulation just added to what turned out to be the perfect final script Tuesday for Ty Lenards and the senior-laden Watertown High School boys’ golf team.
Lenards, one of four senior regulars playing for the final time in their high school golf careers, not only helped Watertown repeat as the team champion but also won a one-hole playoff over Tea Area senior Derek Andersen to help the Arrows sweep titles in the state Class AA tourney on their home course (Cattail Crossing).
Watertown won its first state title since 1971 last fall with senior standout Jake Olson (now playing at NCAA Division I South Dakota State) winning the individual title. Lenards and his teammates — classmates Kaden Rylance, Jaden Solheim and Gabe Norberg and sophomores Johnathan Lake and Max Stemwedel — certainly had plans to keep the streak going.
“It was nice to have him (Jake) with a consistent low score and we knew as seniors that we had to step up without him,” Lenards said. “We just wanted to prove we could win without him.”
OPENING DAY OF STATE BOYS GOLF: Watertown senior Ty Lenards grabs individual lead in state Class AA boys golf tournament
Watertown did that with the help of 6-under 282 on Monday that gave the Arrows a five-shot lead. The lead didn’t last long thanks to a strong charge by fellow Eastern South Dakota Conference foes Pierre and Harrisburg. All three teams were tied at one point on Tuesday and Pierre even gained a four-shot lead at another point.
“I couldn’t be more happy for a group of guys than I am for these six. They have put so much work in and have had this goal since the end of last year,” Watertown head coach Corey Neale said. “We knew the last two days were going to be battle. Piere is such a talented team, and Harrisburg too, and it was going to take our best golf to come out on top.”
A chance at redemption for Lenards
Lenards has been a four-year regular on some really good golf teams for Watertown. He’s a four-time state medalist, but one who lived in the shadow of Olson and even Rylance, a former state runner-up and multi-time top-10 finisher. He won his first high school tournament this fall by taking the Yankton Invite. His second tourney win should only help his plans to keep playing golf in college.
Lenards’ tune up for state didn’t go well. Watertown was seeking a fourth-straight ESD title in the conference tourney last week at Moccasin Creek Country Club in Aberdeen and instead took fourth. The tourney was held in heavy wind conditions and Lenards admitted it got the best of him. He shot a 90, his worst score in years and the Arrows finished 20 shots behind Pierre.
Back on his home course, he opened the tourney Monday with a 6-under 66 and a three-shot lead. Even though Andersen had pulled even before the turn (from Yellow to Red on Tuesday), Lenards saved a par with by sinking a 20-foot putt on the par-3 No. 8 Red and headed into the final hole knowing that both he and the Arrows had two-shot leads in the individual and team standings.
After hitting his tee shot left near the trees, Lenards centered his next shot and knew he just needed to land on the green and two-putt for the win. A bogey by Pierre’s golfer on the final hole added a shot to Watertown’s team advantage but Lenards ended up recording his first double-bogey and his three-putt of the two-day, 36-hole tourney.
“Maybe my nerves got to me. I didn’t think about that, my focus on 18 was on the team title,” said Lenards.
Let’s keep playing
Lenards and Andersen, playing in his first state AA tourney after Tea Area joined the ESD and moved up to Class AA this fall, headed to Red No. 1 to begin the individual playoff.
Both golfers had short approach shots to the par-5 hole. Andersen rolled by the hole and left a lengthy birdie putt. Lenards left his shot only about 3 1/2 feet from the hole. After Andersen missed, Lenards closed out his high school career by sinking the putt for the win.
Winning wasn’t at all a surprise to him.
“100 percent,” Lenards said when asked if he felt he had the chance to be the individual champion. “I got a lot better this year, with the all the work I put in during the offseason, and I don’t think you should go into a tournament without thinking you can win the individual title.
“What’s cool about the Watertown golf culture right now is we do think about it as a team sport. We’re always helping each other out in practice, checking each other’s swings and doing what we can to help boost each other’s confidence.”
After receiving a congratulatory handshake from Andersen and other pats on the back from his teammates and coaches, Lenards walked about the green to share a hug with his parents Jason and Steph and his sisters Aidynn and Avery.
“I’m so happy for Ty to finish his senior year with an individual state championship and a team championship, but the part that will stick was me was when he walked off the green on No. 18 and hugged his teammates on the team title even though he had to get ready for an individual playoff,” Neale said. “His first thought was his teammates and how they won a championship together. That’s the type of teammate he is. Team first, himself second.”
The rest of the Arrows
Lenards had help, no doubt. Rylance, who tied for seventh only six shots behind Lenards and Andersen; Norberg, who tied for 14th with a 147; and Lake, whose late surge helped erase Pierre’s lead and led him to a tie for 17th at 148, each also medaled. Solheim, who took 26th with a 151 and Stemwedel, who tied for 27th with a 152, just missed earning medals for finishing in the top 25.
All of the Arrows had key moments during the season and state tournament.
“We definitely have the deepest team in the state,” Lenards said. “We can go down to eight or nine olayers who can consistently shoot in the 70s.”
Neale offered his comments on the rest of the Arrows:
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Kaden Rylance — “Kaden has been a big part of this team since his eighth-grade year. He’s been a leader and a great teammate. He was a bit run down from a sickness this past week but he was determinedto be out there with his teammates. He put great rounds together and was a big reason why we finished with a state title.”
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Jaden Solheim — “Jaden had another great year, four straight years of being a main contributor for the team. He helped us get off to a great start on Day 1. He’s always team first, works hard at improving his game and I’m very happy for him to go out with another championship with his teammates.”
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Gabe Norberg — “Gabe did what he did last year again this year. He had a great Day 1 and was a main factor in helping us get the five-shot lead. He stepped up big time and helped lead us these past two days. I’m very happy for him to finish off his high school career with another team title but also to finish in the top 15 individually.”
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Johnathan Lake — “What can I say? Two years in a row he comes up big time down the stretch. He made a big birdie on 18 last year and this year went 5-under on his last seven holes. We don’t end up on top without him. I’m glad we have Johnathan and Max for two more years.”
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Max Stemwedel — “Max stepped into a varsity role for the first time this year and he ran with it. He’s got so much game. He helped us win events throughout the year and did so again here at state. He’s going to be a factor for the next two years, not just for the team but as an individual as well.”
Final Results
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Team Scores — 1. Watertown, 569; 2. Pierre, 570; 3. Harrisburg, 571; 4. Brandon Valley, 586; 5. O’Gorman, 589; 6. Tea Area, 614; 7. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 619; 8. Mitchell, 624; 9. (Tie) Spearfish and Sioux Falls Jefferson, 633; 11. Yankton, 634; 12. Aberdeen Central, 639; 13. Rapid City Stevens, 641; 14. Brookings, 655; 15. Rapid City Central, 660; 16. Sturgis, 669; 17. Sioux Falls Washington, 671; 18. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 690.
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State Medalists (Top 25) — 1. Ty Lenards, Watertown, 8-under par 136 (won first-hole playoff with birdie; 2. Derek Andersen, Tea Area, 136; 3. Charlie Swift, Harrisburg, 139; 4. Riley Christensen, Harrisburg; Taten Mauney, O’Gorman; and Nicklaus Bothun, Pierre, 141; 7. (Tie) Kaden Rylance, Watertown and Luke Olson, Pierre, 142; 10. (Tie) Lincoln Houska, Pierre, and Drew Simon, O’Gorman, 144; 12. (Tie) Sawyer Sonnenschein, Pierre and Gavin Weir, Harrisburg, 145; 14. (Tie) Will Peterson, Brandon Valley and Gabe Norberg, Watertown, 147; 17. Johnathan Lake, Watertown and Hayden Scott, Harrisburg, 148; 20. (Tie) Asher Dannenbring, Mitchell; Connor Tank, Harrisburg and Jack Bartlett, Pierre, 149;23. (Tie) Carter Peterson, Brandon Valley: Benjamin Gibson, Rapid City Central and Tyson Blom, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 150.
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Other Area Golfers — 26. Jaden Solheim, Watertown, 171; 27. (Tie) Max Stemwedel, Watertown, 152; 37. (Tie) Carter Blanchard, Aberdeen Central, 157; 41. (Tie) Cole Brust and Jackson Ravellette, Aberdeen Central, 158; 72. (Tie) Kalen Larson, Aberdeen Central, 168; 85. (Tie) Ben Phillips, Aberdeen Central, 172; 92. (Tie) Kyler Senger, Aberdeen Central, 175.
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: Coverage of final day of state Class AA boys golf tourney in Watertown
