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BUFFALO LAKE — For Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg, she’s making a second trip to the Minnesota State High School League Section 3AA second round.
Meanwhile, the Arrows’ Matt DeBates also finally broke through to play on Day Two.
Those were the major highlights last Wednesday and Thursday, May 21-22, from Oakdale Golf Club.
The course measures 5,108 yards from the ladies tees, and the boys’ layout covered 6,374 yards.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg smiles after shooting a round of 88 at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake. This marked the second time Brockberg advanced to the second round. (Contributed photo)
“It means a lot to me to have had a good first day of sections,” DeBates said. “After missing the cut the first four years of my career, it’s rewarding to have all the time and hard work pay off. I’m really looking forward to having a day with nothing to lose. I can go out, fire at some pins, and post the best number I can.”
DeBates posted a seven-over par 79, which included a 37 on the back nine. He birdied three holes: the par-5, 490-yard No. 6, the par-4, 387-yard No. 12 and the finishing hole — a par-5 measuring a lengthy 545 yards.
“Matt has the capability of playing golf to that level,” PAS head coach Craig Boeddeker said. “He played really well, and at one point was one-over par through nine holes.”
Boeddeker said DeBates will have to shoot even lower during his second round in hopes of advancing to the Minnesota State High School League state tournament — which will take place in Jordan (The Ridges at Sand Creek) on June 10-11.
Braxton Thompson was PAS most recent state qualifier (2023). Will DeBates, Matt’s older brother, competed in the second round in 2024.
The cut line was at 83 strokes, which meant Max Taubert finished two strokes short of moving on to Day Two.
“Max has played varsity golf since he was a freshman,” Boeddeker noted. “He’s performed well, and has had some really good rounds these four years.”
Taubert, noted for his resiliency, graduated on Sunday and has enrolled at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., where he’ll be in the business program in some fashion.
Consistency was the name of the game in Taubert’s round, which featured a 42 on the front nine and 43 on the back. He parred seven holes and bogeyed 10 others. His undoing was on the par-3, 195-yard Hole No. 13, with a triple.
The Arrows finished the opening round at 363, which was ahead of both Kimball Area (376) and Fairmont (389).
Other PAS finishers were: Bryer Evans (97), Torin Schroyer (102), Brody Hiniker (102), Carson Van Hoecke (107). All four of these players will form the Arrow nucleus in years to come.
In the team standings, New London-Spicer sits in the catbird seat with a 9-over 297 on Day One, with New Ulm 11 strokes back. New Ulm’s Jaxon Buegler posted a three-under 69 to lead all individuals, with NLS’s Gabe Truscinski and Minnewaska Area’s Zach Gugisberg both two strokes back (71).
Brockberg, who qualified for state in tennis last fall and improved in gymnastics during the winter, is one step from state.
“It’s a course that suits her,” PAS head girls coach Grant Everson noted. “She has played well here in the past, and put together good scores. I think she’s in really good position, with a chance to go to state.”
Everson said Brockberg’s solid iron play helped her post a solid number. Vivian recorded seven pars and eight bogeys, carding a 16-over 88.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg smiles after shooting a round of 88 at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake. This marked the second time Brockberg advanced to the second round. (Contributed photo)
Teammate Olyvia Weber’s season came to an end, but not before she carded a 114, with six bogeys.
Powerhouse Minnewaska Area has the team lead on the girls side by a whopping 50 strokes (321) over New London-Spicer. Lakers’ Arivia DeBoer and Annika DeBoer are tied on the individual ladder; both golfers produced 6-over par 78s, four strokes ahead of Ava Kollman.
From the clubhouse
The Section 3A tournament’s first round originally scheduled for last Wednesday was moved to Wednesday, May 28 (first round) and Friday, May 30 (second round) at GreatLIFE Golf and Fitness Club in Worthington.
Grounds at the facility were too saturated from last week’s rains.
High school golf. (Contributed graphic from Vector Stock)
Both Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton would be in action. Three Knights girls qualified for state last year in since-graduated Shae O’Leary plus Teigyn O’Leary and Jenna Gossen.
Elkton-Lake Benton’s Tanner Drietz and Malyha Slegers both qualified for the South Dakota High School Activities Association Class B state meet based on their performances at Broadland Creek in Huron, S.D., last Friday.
Drietz fired a six-over 78, finishing fourth overall, and 11 strokes behind Larz Tvedt’s outstanding five-under par 67. Tvedt is an outstanding multiple-sport athlete from Wolsey-Wessington. The Region 2B team champion was Wessington Springs (237) with Elkton-Lake Benton ninth.
Slegers finished 11th among individual girls, carding a 33-over 105. Howard’s Halle Schulz was the overall medalist with an 86 and Deubrook Area copped the team title (284).
Qualifying for state tournaments as an individual is much easier in South Dakota, with the top 40 percent and ties advancing.
The South Dakota Class B girls state tournament will take place at Prairie Winds while the boys play at Cattail Crossing in Watertown on Monday and Tuesday, June 2-3.