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BUFFALO LAKE — Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg said she first began golfing five years ago when she was in seventh grade.
Fast forward to last Wednesday, May 28.
Brockberg, a junior, can call herself a state qualifier after another 16-over par 88 during the second round of the Section 3AA tournament at Oakdale Golf Club.
“It’s an honor to represent Pipestone, and the golf community here, at state,” Brockberg said. “I hope it reminds the young girls (in town) to try something new because you never know what you will enjoy, or might find a hidden talent you never knew you had.”
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg has improved on her short game, as illustrated by this fairway chip from less than 100 yards out at Oakdale Golf Club during the Minnesota State High School League Section 3AA Tournament on Wednesday, May 28. (Contributed photo from Craig Boeddeker)
Brockberg is involved in pretty much anything and everything.
• Vivian qualified for the Class A state girls tennis tournament last fall with partner Alicia Haack.
• In gymnastics this past winter, Vivian earned all-state honorable mention on vault for the second straight year, one-tenth of a point away from reaching state. Head coach Stacie Wallace said Brockberg excels in the uneven bars and floor exercise as well.
• This past Sunday, she participated in the Dance Spotlight spring recital in Luverne. And that’s just her athletics acumen.
Both PAS head girls golf coach Grant Everson and Brockberg agreed that she has improved most with her short game.
Everson said Brockberg’s chipping has helped her eliminate scoring big numbers on a single hole.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg is all smiles after qualifying for state, shown here with Arrow coach Grant Everson. (Contributed photo from Craig Boeddeker)
“My short game has improved the most,” Brockberg explained. “Even since the beginning of the season, I have shaved many strokes off from 100 yards on in.”
As a two-sport qualifier during the same academic calendar year, Brockberg is proud of her accomplishments.
“Tennis and golf are both very difficult to qualify individually for,” she said. “It has shown me if you are determined, work hard, and believe in yourself, you can do anything you dream of.”
Brockberg’s second round was highlighted by a six-hole stretch of pars from Holes No. 12-17. She finished with eight pars and six bogeys at Oakdale, which measures 5,108 from the ladies tees — placing ninth overall in a field that featured talented golfers from Minnewaska Area and New London-Spicer.
“It was validation she could make it to the highest level,” Everson added. “It’s really cool. I’m proud of her, and excited to see how she does at the state tournament.”
The Minnesota State High School League Class AA state tournament will emanate from The Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, southwest of Minneapolis, on Tuesday-Wednesday, June 10-11. It was unclear as of press time which tees would be used for girls. Gold tees measure 5,778 yards, and Green 5,136 yards.
Fellow Big South Conference golfer Dayton Webskowski, a junior from Marshall, also qualified for state with a two-day 170. Webskowski improved by 10 strokes from her first round to her second, an 80 with a birdie on the par-4, 270-yard Hole No. 2 plus 11 pars and five bogeys.
On the boys’ side, PAS first-time second-round qualifier Matt DeBates wasn’t as fortunate. DeBates, in a competitive field, was 16th overall with a two-round 13-over par 157.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Matt DeBates tees off during the second round of the Section 3AA boys golf tournament at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake on Wednesday, May 28. (Contributed photo from Craig Boeddeker)
“Qualifying for state would be something special for Matt,” PAS outgoing head coach Craig Boeddeker said, “and I hope it’s next year.”
DeBates improved in his hole-by-hole course management during his junior year, the coach noted. Matt was one stroke better during his second round (78), with three birdies on the 8th, 9th and 16th holes at Oakdale (which measures 6,374 yards for the boys). He also recorded seven pars.
The tournament was bittersweet for Boeddeker, who coached his final tournament for PAS after eight years. He had been employed by the school district for the past 14 years in various capacities, including the Heartland Academy and online programs.
Braxton Thompson was the lone Arrow state boys qualifier during Boeddeker’s tenure as coach.
Look for PAS boys golf team awards in a future edition of the Pipestone County Star.
Section 3A Meet
WORTHINGTON — Three more golfers from the region advanced to state by virtue of performances at the Section 3A meet Friday at GreatLIFE Golf and Fitness Club.
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Teigyn O’Leary carded a two-day 39-over 181 for fourth place, and teammate Jenna Gossen posted a 51-over 193 in eighth place. Both girls are now three-time state qualifiers.
The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton girls golf team with (from left) coach Tim O’Leary, Izzy Thomas, O’Leary, Kyah Christianson, Gossen, Leah Norgaard, Brianna Pattison and coach Rick Gossen, finished second at the Section 3A meet on Friday, May 30, in Worthington. Teigyn O’Leary and Gossen have qualified for state. (Contributed photo)
Murray County Central’s fabulous Ava Johnson took medalist honors (176), three strokes better than Maddison Richter of Canby. The Rebels also took the team title (748) and RTR was second (797).
As for the boys, Pipestone Country Club member and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton golfer Gavin Rieck qualified with a two-day 17-over 159, which included a first-round 77 on Wednesday, May 28.
Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Gavin Rieck, a member of Pipestone Country Club, is a first-time state qualifier. (Contributed photo)
Lakeview’s Carson Boe earned medalist honors with a 146, nine strokes better than teammate Lane Arends. The Lakers took the team championship (651) while SWC/E was second (685).
The Class A state tournament will be Tuesday-Wednesday, June 10-11, at Pebble Creek in Becker.
The South Dakota High School Activities Association crowned three state champions in volleyball on Saturday, Nov. 23. (Contributed graphic from the SDHSAA)
South Dakota
HURON, S.D. — Elkton-Lake Benton’s Tanner Drietz and Malyha Slegers both qualified for the South Dakota High School Activities Association state meet based on their performances at the Region 2B meet.
Drietz was fourth overall with a single-round six-over par 78. Tanner was consistent with 39s on both the front and back-nines, and finished with 11 pars.
Slegers was 11th overall, carding a 33-over par 105, with seven bogeys.
Larz Tvedt of Wolsey-Wessington was the boys medalist, firing a scorching five-under par 67. Howard’s Halle Schulz was girls medalist (14-over 86).
The Class B state boys and girls meets were conducted in Watertown, S.D., Monday and Tuesday at Cattail Crossing and Prairie Winds — respectively.
Look for a recap from the South Dakota state meet in Thursday, June 12, edition of the Star.