RAPID CITY – Faulkton’s Bennett Cassens and Miller’s Jayce Pugh won individual state championships during the State B Golf Tournaments in Rapid City. Both ended up in ties for first place.

Cassens ended up as a co-champ with Coy Determan of Gregory after weather wiped out Tuesday’s scheduled second round. Players who were still on the course when rain halted play on Monday were allowed to finish. Cassens and Determan trailed by two strokes at that point, but moved into a tie for first when the leader faltered.

Golfers then started the second round and got half of it in when weather moved in again and canceled the round, making the opening round total the official results.

“It feels pretty good,” said Cassens, who finished runner-up last season. “A lot of hours on the golf course. I spent a lot of time just working at this, especially after getting second last year. It made me stay hungry and really focus on getting it back this year, which I did.”

The senior is the first golfer in Faulkton history to win a state title.

He said it was a strange feeling to be competing for a state championship midway through the second round, and then to come off the course and soon find out he was being awarded the title.

“Right away when I got the medal, I didn’t feel anything. I was confused,” Cassens said.

Reality soon set in though as the night wore on.

“I’m pretty happy now,” Cassens said.

Gregory won the boys’ team title.

Hamlin’s Carson Pedersen tied for ninth, Ipswich’s Luke Peterson tied for 11th and Chet Peterson tied for 14th, and Miller’s Derek Brueggemann and Faulkton’s Parker Geditz tied for 21st.

When asked what he will remember most of about his high school playing days, Cassens did not mention any accomplishments.

“The thing I’m going to remember the most is just meeting new guys from different towns, playing with them at different meets and meeting new kids at this state tournament that I have become good friends with,” Cassens said. “Of course my teammates, which have always been there. Parker Geditz my other senior, my day one, he’s been with me throughout it all. Whenever I want to go to the course, he’s right there with me.”

Cassens also thanked his coaches Brice Cunningham and Kyle Erdahl.

To see meet results, click on the following link:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/8525814627047593625

Pugh, who led the tourney after the opening round, finished in a tie to win her second straight state championship. Pugh and Greta Anderson of Bison-Hettinger-Scranton, both finished with two-day totals of 163 to share the crown.

Brynn Roehrich of Clark-Willow Lake finished ninth, Potter County’s Olivia Mikkelsen and Neva Mikkelsen finished 10th and 11th, respectively, Gabby Kast of Faulkton was 19th, and Olivia Olson of Sully Buttes, Taryn Hettick of Selby Area, and Haley Isler of Webster tied for 24th.

Bison-Hettinger-Scranton won the girls’ team title.

To see complete meet results, click on the following link:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/8523753754065917543