BROOKINGS – Maci Colberg led four Dolphins in the top five as Deubrook Area won the Region 2B Girls’ Golf Tournament by 21 strokes on a gorgeous Tuesday at Edgebrook.

“Well, honestly, I was pretty pumped,” said the junior, who shot 82 “I wasn’t getting too excited yet, because I still had a lot of holes to play, but I was happy with it. I think it went well for me.”

Colberg got her round underway with a 42 on the front nine and followed with a 40 on the back.

“Very surprising – she shot two 90s and an 88 coming in. She just found the magic today,” noted Deubrook coach Mike Buseth.

Senior Shelby Andrews was runner-up following a round of 85 (44-41) and junior Courtni Frank was third at 86 (44-42). Junior Mattie Nepodal (50-42—92) placed fifth.

“I think we work really hard individually and as a team,” Colberg said when asked about putting four players in the top five. “I know that, for me, I really wanted to do well for my team so I think we work together but individually so we’re strong that way.”

Added Buseth: “They play each other; they don’t even worry about who else is out here, they try to beat each other all the time.”

The Dolphins had a team score of 253. Howard (274) also qualified for state by taking second.

“They were better than what I expected, actually,” Buseth said about his players’ scores. “They played three practice rounds in the last five days, and today was their best team total of all of them.”

Flandreau (292) ended up third but had three individuals – sophomores Grace Johanson and Alaina Cloud and eighth-grader Keva Burshiem – advance and will be eligible for the state title.

The top 15 girls qualified for state.

The Tigers’ Maddie Palmquist (90) took fourth.

Johanson (95) ended up ninth, Burshiem (97) 10th and Cloud (100) 13th.

Deubrook is the four-time defending Class B state champion. The Dolphins also prevailed in 2011 and added runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2013.

As for Deubrook’s confidence level entering the 2018 event, “I think it’s quite high right now,” said Buseth. “It will be us and Burke/South Central again I’m sure. It’s been an annual dual for about five years now.”

The Cougars have taken second each of the past four years.

Added Colberg, who tied for 14th last season, “We don’t want to get overconfident where we expect something, but we want to do well and try our hardest like any other (tournament).”

Frank is the defending individual champion. She tied for 30th in 2015.

Nepodal tied for 36th in 2017 and tied for 33rd in 2016. Andrews will be making her debut in the state tourney.

Three Dolphins have combined to earn medalist honors four times at state since 2010 – Kelsey Goens won back-to-back crowns in 2010 and 2011, while Kayla Ovall prevailed in 2015. Caitlyn Christianson was runner-up in 2016.

The Fliers qualified for state as a team for the first time since 2000 last season, placing sixth, and are now back in it this year. Johanson tied for 28th, Burshiem tied for 31st and Cloud tied for 38th in 2017.

The Class B State Girls’ Golf Tournament is Monday, June 4-Tuesday, June 5 at Prairie Winds in Watertown.

Team scores

State qualifiers – Deubrook Area 253, Howard 274. Others – *Flandreau 292, De Smet 322, Wessington Springs 350, Chester Area 355. Incomplete – Colman-Egan, James Valley Christian.

Individual top 15 (state qualifiers)

1, Maci Colberg, DA, 82; 2, Shelby Andrews, DA, 85; 3, Courtni Frank, DA, 86; 4, Maddie Palmquist, H, 90; 5, Mattie Nepodal, 92; 6, Abby Rose Miller, JVC, 92; 7, Kennedy Koepsell, H, 92; 8, Jordan Glanzer, H, 92; 9, Grace Johanson, F, 95; 10, Keva Burshiem, F, 97; 11, Cassidy Gossmire, H, 98; 12, Savannah Vincent, DS, 98; 13, Chloe Munsen, WS, 109; 15, Skylar Maier, DS, 109.

Others

Ali Vacanti, CA, 114; Keah Munsen, WS, 114; Kennedy Ruml, DS, 115; Hailey Ewoldt, CA, 118; Gianna Janssen, DS, 119; Berkley Groos, CE, 120; Allison VanEgdom, CA, 123; Sierra Burg, WS, 127; Carly Becker, CA, 134; Emma Lammey, WS, 140; Marley Barboza, F, 141.

Register photos:

Above: Deubrook Area junior Maci Colberg pitches onto the third green during her round of 82 in the Region 2B Girls’ Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Edgebrook. She was medalist and the Dolphins took the team title.

Below 1: Deubrook’s Shelby Andrews rolls a putt on No. 9. She was runner-up following a round of 85.

Below 2: The Dolphins’ Mattie Nepodal chips onto the green on the third hole as she shot 92 to place fifth.

Below 3: Defending state champion and Deubrook junior Courtni Frank putts for birdie on No. 11. She placed third at 86.