Michael Branaugh Captures SDGA Junior Tour Title

Branaugh’s Victory at Central Valley

Tyndall’s Michael Branaugh posted a 1‑under 71 to claim the South Dakota Golf Association Junior Tour boys championship at Central Valley Golf Course on Tuesday, July 14 in Hartford, S.D. The Bon Homme High School junior finished two strokes ahead of Brandon’s Lincoln McInerney and Cooper Shuman. Branaugh mixed four birdies with three bogeys during his round and held par on his final three holes to secure the win. His performance highlighted a strong showing for the region’s top youth golfers.

Age Group Results and Notable Performances

In the 16‑18 boys division, Parker Rauscher of Mitchell tied for 15th after carding an 82. Meanwhile, Dresyn Bolden from Howard placed fifth in the 14‑15 boys group with an 83. The 14‑15 title went to Brandon’s Teddy Krivarchka, who posted a 75 to edge out the field.

Other Recent Tour Highlights

The tour’s recent events also featured several standout results across multiple age groups.

• Landon Weber (Parkston) won the 16‑18 boys division on July 13 at Worthington, Minn., shooting a 76 and defeating the five‑player field by ten strokes.
• Colby Gerard (Presho) placed third in the 12‑13 boys division with a 92, while his teammate Malachi Moran finished fourth in the 14‑15 group after a 96.
• Layna Rients (Mitchell) was the lone competitor in the girls 12‑13 division at Worthington, posting a 64 over nine holes.
• At River Ridge Golf Course in Garretson on July 14, Marney Heisinger (Salem) finished second to Olivia Schonhardt (Sioux Falls) in the girls 9‑and‑under division, shooting 49 versus Schonhardt’s 46.
• Griffin Lyle (Mitchell) was fourth in the 12‑13 boys division at Rocky Run Golf Course in Dell Rapids on July 8, carding an 81 and finishing seven strokes behind the leader. Fellow Mitchell golfer Jack Gillen placed seventh with an 87.
• On July 13, Tucker Thompson (Wessington Springs) captured fourth place in the 16‑18 boys division at Lake Region Golf Course near Lake Norden. The event was won by Larz Tvedt (Wolsey) with a 72. In other age groups, Lincoln Zeigler (Winner) was second in the 12‑13 boys division after a 89, and Max Shumaker (Howard) took third in the 14‑15 boys division with an 82.

Schedule for Upcoming Events

The SDGA Junior Tour continues with a packed summer schedule, offering young golfers multiple chances to compete.

• Brookings Country Club – Thursday, July 16.
• Hillsview Golf Course in Pierre – Tuesday, July 21.
• Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings – Wednesday, July 22.
• Bakker Crossing Golf Course – Thursday, July 23.
• SDGA boys and girls junior under‑15 championships – July 27‑28 at Hart Ranch Golf Course in Rapid City.

These upcoming tournaments promise to sharpen skills and showcase emerging talent across the state.