Brandon Valley girls snag ninth at state golf meet

The Lady Lynx capped off their much-improved season with a ninth-place team finish at the Class AA State Girls Golf Meet on June 2-3 a Prairie Green Golf Course in Sioux Falls.

And while the team scores list just 10 schools, Brandon Valley’s ninth-place effort places them in the middle of the 20 teams represented. Lynx head coach Craig Nelson explained 10 teams didn’t qualify enough players to qualify a full team for the tournament.

BV was represented by five players from its 2025 roster, and were led on the links by an underclassman. Elle Valle saved one of her best performances for last. The sophomore carded five pars and a birdie over 18 holes on day one, posting a 90. She fired a 44 on the front nine and wrapped up with a 46 on the back nine. 

The next day, Valle’s scores inched up a by a few strokes, despite penciling five pars. She shot a 47 on the first nine and followed up with a 48 for her two-day 185 total. In the end, she tied for 37th place.

Senior Sasha VanVelhuizen finished with a two-day total of 187, which landed her in 40th place in the individual ranks. VanVeldhuizen also carded five birdies on day one, which aided her 94 total. A birdie on No. 11 and three pars led her to lead the team on Tuesday. She posted a 93.

Sage Gustafson proved to be one of BV’s leaders this season, and at the state meet, she landed in 44th place behind her meet total 190. Gustafson recorded a par and three birdies on Monday, matching VanVeldhuizen’s 94 first-day effort. Her day two score was two strokes more, despite carding four birdies.

Junior Sylvia Baumgartner’s 200 total accounted for BV’s fourth score. Baumgartner ended day one at 102, which included one birdie, and boosted her play on day two by shaving off four strokes, in which the four birdies she recorded were likely key to the lower score.

Also representing the Lynx was junior Danni Toates. Her 214 total was a result of Monday’s 111 and Tuesday’s 103 rounds.

Camlyn Cotton, Denay Reid and McKenzie Riley also competed for the Lynx this season, but did not qualify for state.

Aberdeen Central’s Olivia Braun won the individual title. She recorded a 4-under-par 140 to earn medalist honors.

Class AA Girls’ State Meet

June 2-3  • Prairie Green G.C.

Team scores: 1.) Aberdeen Central, 625; 2.) Mitchell, 643; 3.) Rapid City Stevens, 674; 4.) O’Gorman, 696; 5.) Sioux Falls Jefferson, 704; 6.) Sioux Falls Lincoln, 705; 7.) Brookings, 731; 8.) Yankton, 746; 9.) Brandon Valley, 762; 10.) Pierre, 803.

Lady Lynx scores: T37.) Ella Valle, 185; 40.) Sasha VanVeldhuizen, 187; 44.) Sage Gustafson, 190; 60.) Sylvia Baumgartner, 200; T66.) Danni Toates, 214.