Titans earn runner-up honors at StateSabers leads team with sixth place finish

Pictured above are members of the Tea Area High School boys’ golf team that secured State A runner-up honors at the State Tournament held Monday, Oct. 2 and Tuesday, Oct. 3 at Hart Ranch in Rapid City. Members include, from left to right, Head Coach Brock Murphy, Quentin Maag, Brady Sabers, Derek Anderson, Keeton Newborg, CJ Slack, and Harper Schnabel.

The 2023 Boys Class A State Golf Tournament was held at the Hart Ranch Golf Club on Monday, Oct. 2 and Tuesday, Oct. 3 featuring 28 schools and 107 participants. Among those was the team from Tea Area High School.

The Titans had their sights set upon the State A team title but after a slow first day, Tea Area had ground to make up. The Titans stayed focused and all members had a great day of golf to pull them within one stroke on winning the title, giving them the 2023 State Runner-up honors with a two day total of 643. Vermillion won the team title, finishing with a two-day total of 642. Dakota Valley claimed second with 652, St. Thomas More fourth with 664, and Chamberlain rounded out the top five with 679.

“The experience was so much fun. This was by far my far my favorite part of the season with the guys, said Titan head coach Brock Murphy.

During the opening day of State, Tea Area’s Harper Schnabel led the Titans shooting a 77 on the day. Schnabel shot a 38 on the front nine and a 39 on the back. Brady Sabers finished day one with a 79, shooting a 41 on the front nine and a 38 on the back. He had one birdie on the day. Keeton Newborg finished day one with an 83 (40, 43). His day was highlighted with two birdies. Derek Andersen shot an 85 on day one (40, 45), recording one birdie on the course. Quentin Maag shot an 87 on day one with one birdie on the day.

During day two action, Sabers led the way for Tea Area with a 77, shooting a 41 on the front nine and a 36 on the back. He had one birdie on the day. Newborg finished day two with a 79 (36, 43). He also recorded a birdie on the day. Andersen shot an 81 on day two with a 42 and a 39. He had two birdies. Maag finished with an 82 (41, 41) and Schnabel an 85 (42, 43).

The two-day totals determined individual placement. Sabers two day total of 156 tied him for sixth in the State event and earned him All-Tournament Team honors. Newborg’s two-day total of 162 tied him for 18th. Schnabel also had a two-day total of 162 to tie for 18th. Andersen’s two-day total of 166, tied him for 24th and Maag’s two-day total of 169 tied him for 32nd.

“The guys played really well, we had some guys really step up when they needed to. Brady Sabers was one that I was extremely proud of. He grinded so hard to be able to keep us in the golf tournament. We only lost by one shot over two days and honestly we were a little heartbroken,” said Murphy. “We left so many shots out there but that is what we call GOLF. It’s a hard and cruel game sometimes and we found out the hard way. Either way, I love my team, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way they handled themselves after losing and I am proud of the people they are. This loss will only make us better for next year.”

Winning the State A Individual title was Anthony Lanham of West Central who shot a 68 on day one and a 75 on day two for a two-day total of 142. St. Thomas More’s Vincent VanLiere took second with two-day total of 145 (75, 70), Dakota Munger from Chamberlain took third with a 151 (73, 78), Cooper Girard of Vermillion took fourth with a 154 (73, 81), and Elk Point Jefferson’s Carter Langle rounded out the top five with a 155 (75, 80).