Aberdeen Central Leads AA Girls Golf Tournament in Watertown

WATERTOWN — The South Dakota State Class AA High School Girls Golf Tournament kicked off at Cattail Crossing Golf Course, with defending champions Aberdeen Central establishing a significant nine-shot advantage in the team standings after the first round. The tournament began on June 1, 2026, with the second round scheduled for June 2.

Aberdeen Central, favored to win, posted a score of 7-over par 295, placing them ahead of O'Gorman at 304 and Mitchell at 308. Senior Olivia Braun, last year's state champion, led her team with a solid even-par 72, placing her tied for second overall. O'Gorman freshman Ari Jacobs, a seasoned competitor from previous state Class A tournaments, holds the top position after finishing the day with a score of 71.

In the individual standings, Sioux Falls Lincoln’s senior Abbigail Westra is in third place with a score of 73. A group of four golfers, including Aberdeen Central’s Emma Dohrer and Kyley Wirebaugh, O'Gorman’s Erin Hurd, and Brandon Valley’s Vanessa Smith, are tied for fourth with scores of 74. Meanwhile, Watertown’s Gabi Olson, along with Aberdeen Central’s Chloe Vikander and Mitchell’s Maddie Childs, are tied for eighth at 75.

The tournament continues with final-round play commencing at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, except for the Class A girls, which will start an hour later. The top six teams and 25 individual players will receive awards, and results can be tracked at https://sdhsaa.com/activity/golf-championships/.