State Champions: Titans bring home first golf title in school history

Capping off a widely successful season, the Tea Area High School golf team made history on Tuesday claiming the 2016 State A Golf Championship title. The Titans shot 94 over par as a team finishing with a two day total of 670, bettering Spearfish and St. Thomas More by two strokes, 672, to claim the school’s first golf State Championship. Chamberlain took fourth (674), Aberdeen Roncalli fifth (680), Sisseton (686), Sioux Falls Christian seventh (687), Canton eighth (697), Custer ninth (703), Parkston tenth (709), Madison 11th (721), Dakota Valley 12th (728), Sioux Valley 13th (733), Mobridge-Pollock 14th (795), and Belle Fourche 15th (845).

Individually, the Titans had three golfers finish in the top ten—Brian Finn, Kolby Newborg, and Brock Murphy.

Brian Finn had a monstrous second round on Tuesday, Oct. 4 shooting a 75 on the day. Finn had birdies on holes three, nine, ten and 18 to lead the Titans the second day. On the first day, Oct. 3, in round one, Finn shot an 81 on the day. Finn’s two-day combined total of 156, earned him third place at the State Tournament.

Newborg, who was dealing with a splint on a broken finger, managed to put together a great game, finish with a two day total

That total placed him fifth among the top golfers in the State. Newborg shot on 81 in the first round, recording a birdie on hole 14. In round two, Newborg shot another birdie on hole 9 to finish with a 79 on the day.

Murphy had a fantastic first round, finishing just four strokes over par with a 76 on the day. Murphy recorded a birdie on hole six and hole 11. In round two, Murphy shot another birdie on hole six but suffered a triple bogie on hole 11, finishing the second day with an 86. His two day total of 162 placed him eighth at the State Tournament.

Other members of the State Championship team were Cody Peterson and Cooper Leslie. Peterson finished with a two day total of 192 (98, 94) finishing 72nd at State and Leslie shot a two day total of 241 (122, 119) to finish in 103rd place.

Honors continued for the Titans as the 2016 Class A Boys All Tournament Team was announced. Named from Tea Area were Newborg and Finn.