BROOKINGS — JD Thompson shot a 1-over-par 73 to tie for second place after the first round of the South Dakota Class B state high school boys golf tournament at Brookings Country Club. Gavin Colson holds the first-round lead with a 1-under-71, two strokes ahead of Thompson.
Thompson opened his round with a strong front nine, carding two birdies for a 2-under-34. His performance on the back nine proved more challenging, as he recorded bogeys on four of his first six holes before closing with a birdie on Hole No. 18.
Thompson shares second place with Wiley Cronin of Gettysburg and Larz Tvedt of Wolsey-Wessington. All four top individual performers—Colson, Thompson, Cronin, and Tvedt—are scheduled to tee off together in the final group at 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday from Hole No. 1. Four players finished the opening round tied for fifth place at 2-over-par 74: Madden Merkwan of Bon Homme, Drew Knobloch of Sioux Falls Lutheran, Shay Weber of Philip, and Bryson One Star of White River.
In the team standings, Philip leads after the first round with a score of 229. Wessington Springs sits in second place at 232, followed by Bon Homme in third with a 234. Clark/Willow Lake and Hill City are tied for fourth at 239.
Wessington Springs’ Luke Larson shot a 77 and is tied for 16th place individually, while his teammate Tucker Thompson carded an 82 and is tied for 46th. Bon Homme’s Michael Branaugh posted a 78 to tie for 20th, and teammate Kashius Tucker also shot 82, tying for 46th. Liam Rayman of McCook Central/Montrose finished with a 79, tied for 25th, and Canyon Garnos of Lyman posted an 80, tied for 33rd. Gavin Colson had his only par on Hole No. 10 and recorded four bogeys and four birdies in his last eight holes.