An early look at the 2023 Watertown and Aberdeen Central high school girls golf teams

No one would have blamed Watertown and Aberdeen Central's high school girls golf teams if they had performed poorly in the season-opening Harrisburg Invitational on Thursday.

The Arrows and the Golden Eagles didn't get any chances to play outdoors before playing 18 holes at the Spring Creek Golf Course.

Still, both teams had solid showings. Watertown shot 357 and finished sixth in the 12-team meet. Aberdeen Central, the defending Eastern South Dakota Conference champions, did even better by taking second with a 329 score.

"The wind was really strong today and that made for some challenging conditions," said Watertown head coach Tommy Mattingly. "Overall, our girls came away from the meet with a lot of positives and showed they are capable of hitting some great golf shots.

"When we finally have the chance to be outside, we'll gain our feel and touch around the greens. That is the area we need to improve most from today's meet."

Mitchell, another ESD school, led the way with a 26-over 310 and won by 19 shots. Other teams and their scores included Sioux Falls O'Gorman (341), Sioux Falls Lincoln (351), Sioux Falls Washington (352), defending state champion Harrisburg (358), Yankton (369), Pierre (372), Sioux Falls Roosevelt (393), Sioux Falls Jefferson (400) and Brandon Valley (417).

Aberdeen Central freshman Olivia Braun and Mitchell's Allison Meyerink each shot 2-over 73s and shared medalist honors in the invite.

Here's a closer look at both the Arrows and the Golden Eagles:

Who's back and who's new for Watertown?

Mattingly takes over as the head coach of the program for Zach Wevik, who guided the Arrows to a sixth-place finish in the ESD. Watertown, missing a couple of regulars, took 11th out of 14 teams in last year's state meet.

The program hasn't won a state championship since capturing back-to-back state titles in 1978 and 1979, but does return a strong cast of golfers from last spring.

That group includes senior Riley Zebroski, a two-time All-ESD performer and two-time top-10 finisher in the state Class AA tournament (7th in 2022 and 9th in 2021). She signed earlier this year to play golf at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

Zebroski led the Arrows on Thursday with an 82 (10th place). Sophomore Natalie Pearson tied for 23rd with an 88. Other Arrows included Shelby Pearson, tied for 30th (90); junior Aspen Reynolds and senior Maia VanLaecken (each shot 97s and tied for 46th). Junior Avery Palmquist also played Thursday but wasn't able to complete her round.

Other returnees with varsity experience include juniors Rylie Redlin, Hannah Loehrer and Aspen Reynolds and sophomore Ellie Zink, among others.

"We have 28 girls out in grades 7-12, so we have plenty of girls and lots of options to compete for all the spots," said Mattingly, who'll be assisted this spring by Corey Neale. "We have some girls with experience but what I'm excited most about is that a lot girls put in the time over the summer. Even in the fall and winter, we've had a lot of girls working with coaches to get better. All that time could pay off when we get to the regular season."

Watertown's main golf work before Thursday was playing on the indoor simulators at Glacial Lakes Powersports with Dan Thorson and Taylor Rymerson and at the Vitality Golf Academy with Eric Stevens. Mattingly was thankful for their cooperation.

Who's back and who's new for Aberdeen Central?

There's not much new for Aberdeen Central and head coach Kim Zimmerman and that's a good thing. The Golden Eagles return five of their top six players from last spring.

That group had the Golden Eagles only one stroke back after the opening day of the state Class AA tourney. They finished fifth, but still only six shots behind state champion Harrisburg.

Braun took second in the ESD and tied for ninth in the state tourney last spring. Senior Leah Gough (sixth), freshman Emma Dohrer (eighth) and eighth-grader Kyley Wirebaugh (11th) each earned All-ESD honors last spring. Dohrer also led the team at state by placing eighth. The other returnee is junior Morgan Jones.

Other scores on Thursday included Wirebaugh (tied for 8th, 80), Gough (tied for 17th, 86), Dohrer and freshman Chloe Vikander (tied for 30th with scores of 90) and Jones (tied for 34th, 91).

Senior Grace Schwan is another returnee with experience for Zimmerman, who is being assisted by Sarah Brust.

What to expect from both teams this spring

The Golden Eagles proved Thursday they're capable of being a top contender in both the ESD and state Class AA this spring. Aberdeen Central has never won a state title, but did record three consecutive runner-up finishes from 2017-2019.

"Aberdeen Central returns a solid group and is one of top returning teams from last season," said Mattingly. "As for us, we'd certainly like to match or exceed where we've been the last couple of years."

It's really hard to tell how thing will all shape up during a season that is scheduled to conclude June 5-6 with the state Class AA tournament at the Hillsview Golf Club in Pierre. The weather in June is likely to be closer to Thursday rather than what the Arrows and Golden Eagles have had to deal with so far this season.

Aberdeen Central is scheduled to host the Hub City Invite on April 27, but it has either already been called off or won't likely be held.

Important dates include the Watertown Invite on May 16 and the ESD tourney on May 23, both at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown.

"We feel we can be one the top teams in the ESD by the end of the year and that should bode well when we get into the state tournament," said Mattingly. "One of goals will certainly be to strive to be playing our best golf by the team ESD and state comes around."

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Watertown, Aberdeen Central girls golfers open season at Harrisburg Invite