SPEARFISH – Sisseton’s Kelsey Heath is tied for first and the Redmen are second in team points following the opening day of the Class A State Girls’ Golf Tournament on Monday.

Heath fired a 75 and is tied for first along with Maiya Muller of Beresford. Heath’s teammate Kierra Silk is tied for fifth with Callie Weisbeck of Mobridge-Pollock after both fired an 84.

Sioux Falls Christian leads the team points by 23 strokes over Sisseton.

Aberdeen Roncalli seventh-grader Claire Crawford had a big day, shooting a 97 and is tied for 24th.

“Claire and I had a long talk. We had made a goal obviously to have fun and her goal was to officially break 100 in a varsity meet this year,” said Roncalli coach Kerry Brandenburger. “We weren’t thinking podium or we weren’t thinking hardware or a medal or anything like that. We’re just keeping it simple.”

Goal officially accomplished.

“I am blown away by her composure today,” Brandenburger said. “She did have a few rough holes. I also know if she did get in trouble she did work very hard to pull herself up out of it.”

Now, Crawford has a chance to cap a memorable first season with one final round at the state meet when action resumes today.

“I think I’m going to tell her to have fun, enjoy the ride, do your best and I will not be disappointed no matter what you do,” Brandenburger said. “I really don’t want her to try to put any pressure on herself. She is so calm, and so cool, and so level-headed. You wonder if her heart’s beating sometimes.”

To view complete first day results click on the following link:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/7471024862979446591