MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — A Mitchell golfer stands alone as junior state champion, in what he hopes is a preview of the upcoming high school season.

Asher Dannenbring was agonizingly close to being one of South Dakota’s best last fall. He was the top Kernel finisher in the 2025 SDHSAA boys individual championship. He wrapped up the tournament at +8 in a tie for 15th place. Dannenbring’s star has only risen since then. On Wednesday, he completed a historic rally to come from behind and win the South Dakota Golf Association’s Junior state title in the 16- to 18-year-old age group.

Held in Rapid City at The Golf Club at Red Rock, Dannenbring would have liked a mulligan on Monday as he was tied for 22nd after Round One, shooting a 79 (+7). Dannenbring grinded to an even-par 72 in Round Two, but still had ground to gain. The final round saw him shoot a tournament-low 68 (-4). Wednesday’s round consisted of seven birdies and it moved Dannenbring into a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes at 219 (+3 overall).

Dannenbring, Carter Peterson of Sioux Falls, and Vermillion’s Rylan Moran had to stay on the course, locked in a historic sudden-death playoff that lasted 10 tense holes. Dannenbring secured the win in what had begun as a 55-person field.