Asher Dannenbring Secures Victory with Late Eagle at Sanford Series in Yankton

YANKTON, S.D. — In a thrilling finish, Asher Dannenbring from Mitchell clinched victory at the season-opening Sanford International Series event on Tuesday, finishing with an eagle on the 18th hole and a final round score of 69. His overall score of 1-over-par 145 across 36 holes put him two strokes ahead of the competition.

Dannenbring, a rising senior at Mitchell High School, began the tournament with a 76 at Dakota Dunes Country Club on Monday, but bounced back with an impressive 3-under-par performance at Hillcrest Golf and Country Club on Tuesday. He started strong with birdies on the first two holes and another on the par-4 fifth, finishing the front nine with a score of 35. On the back nine, he maintained his momentum, carding par or better on the final seven holes, including a birdie on the 14th and an eagle at the 284-yard par-4 18th.

This stellar round was one of only two under-par scores recorded on Tuesday among a field of 76 players. After the first day, Dannenbring was in seventh place but surged to the top with his strong performance.

Tied for second place were Sioux Falls' Carter Peterson and first-round leader Charlie Swift from Harrisburg, both finishing with scores of 3-over-par 147. Swift posted a 70 on Monday but struggled on Tuesday with a 77, while Peterson had scores of 73 and 74. Drew Simon from Crooks took fourth place with a total of 149, and Jayden Antonen of Sioux Falls and Jack Schettler of Sioux City tied for fifth at 150.

The Sanford International Series is designed for aspiring collegiate golfers aged 16 to 19, helping them prepare for high school competition and the collegiate level through multi-day, 36-hole stroke play events. In the girls' division, Rapid City's Kaitlin Strain emerged victorious with a score of 1-under-par 144, comfortably ahead of Brandon's Vanessa Smith, who finished second at 152.

This event was the first of five regular-season tournaments scheduled for the Sanford Series, running through mid-July. The top-10 finishers from both boys and girls will earn points towards the series championship set for July 20 at Sutton Bay Golf Course in Agar. The next event is slated for June 15-16 at Hart Ranch Golf Course and Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City.