Characteristic story/highlights from Area 1B boys & ladies golf tourney

[ad_1] WATERTOWN — These individuals who imagine within the idiom that "lightning by no means strikes the identical place twice" most likely do not know the historical past of the Clark and Clark-Willow Excessive College ladies golf program.

A great reminder was on full show on Thursday, Could 22, 2025, through the Area 1B golf match on the Prairie Winds Golf Membership.

Precisely 21 years to the date that Roger Merriam's story on two younger Clark sisters (freshman Ashley and seventh-grader Kimmy) was revealed within the Public Opinion in 2004, Clark-Willow Lake sisters Brynn (a sophomore) and Religion (a seventh-grader) completed 1-2 within the ladies division to assist lead the Cyclones to the area staff title.

How do the 2 units of sisters examine?

"That is a troublesome query as a result of each golfer is totally different," Clark-Willow Lake coach John Brown mentioned. "Brynn might be a lot stronger and hits the ball additional as a sophomore than the Kaufman sisters did, however they have been persistently within the fairway. Now the youngest one right here (Religion), she's persistently down the center similar to Kimmy was when she first began. That'd be the one comparability."

Brown ought to know, as he guided the Clark golf program for a few years and has continued after Clark and Willow Lake shaped a co-op previous to the 2009 spring season.

The Kaufmans mixed to win six particular person state B championships (two by Ashley and 4 by Kimmy) and led the Clark/CWL squads to a state report seven-consecutive staff titles from 2004-2010. Kimmy or Kim, as she is understood now, went on to play at NCAA Division I Texas Tech College and joined the LPGA in 2014 (compiling profession earnings of $1.5 million).

That is notable particularly when you think about that the 2 Clark County communities have a mixed inhabitants of properly below 2,000 individuals.

New siblings arrive to finish drought After Kim Kaufman graduated in 2010, ladies golf success on the state degree slowed for Clark-Willow Lake. Solely 3 times from 2011 although 2021, did the Cylones qualify for state and solely as soon as (fourth in 2012) did they end within the prime 10 till Brynn Roehrich joined the varsity as a seventh-grader in 2022. They've positioned ninth, eighth and third, respectively, the previous three years.

Now with youthful sister Religion additionally round, the Cyclones may problem for the state title when the state Class B ladies tourney is held on Monday and Tuesday, June 2-3 on the Prairie Winds Golf Membership.

"I obviouly knew the Kimmy and Ashley have been actually good however after they left, this system went on a downfall," Brynn Roehrich mentioned. "We took second in areas my first 12 months and have stored getting higher and now I am comfortable to get to play with my sister."]

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Brynn Roehrich mentioned she took her first golf lesson from Coach Brown at age 4 and continues to heed his recommendation through the spring highschool golf seasons. She additionally works closely with Eric Stevens, one other former Clark golfer who owns the Vitality Golf Academy in Watertown.

Success has been a relentless from the beginning for Brynn on the golf course and she or he's carried that into her highschool profession, the place she's gained four-straight Area 1B titles. After tying for eighth at state in 2022, she took second in 2023 earlier than profitable the state title final June. She'll actually is without doubt one of the favorites, if not the primary one, within the 2025 state tourney.

"Enjoying golf is simply one thing that I knew I may do for the remainder of my life," Brynn mentioned when requested about how she received began within the sport. "My coaches advised me I had swing and I've caught with it ever since."

Altering the path of a household Religion Roehrich has actually adopted a golf path began by her sister. She additionally started taking classes from Coach Brown at age 4 and has made her approach to the Clark-Willow Lake varsity as a seventh-grader.

The daughters of Jason and Val Roehrich are a part of household that has a brand new favourite sport.

"My dad useed to be a fisherman and about seven years in the past, he bought his fishing boat and began to golf as a result of Religion and I golfed a lot," Brynn Roehrich mentioned. "Now, he golfs just about each day with us."

Different family members have additionally adopted swimsuit. Youthful sister Religion seems keen to comply with Brynn's lead, reasonably than overtake her.

"I fairly excessive aim for me this 12 months at state is to attempt to end within the prime 5," Religion mentioned. "I undoubtedly assume that is potential."

The youthful Roehrich is content material to play second fiddle for awhile to her older sister, however will certainly intention greater after Brynn graduates. Within the the Cyclones' golf occasions this spring, Religion has completed second behind Brynn in all however three tourneys.

"If I do lastly occur to beat her, she mentioned she'd be comfortable for me but additionally disenchanted with herself for understanding she did not play her greatest spherical," Religion mentioned.

The longer term is certainly vivid Each Roehrichs will inform you they're simply having fun with enjoying the sport they love and it would not harm when the success they've achieved fuels the hearth.

Brynn mentioned she is aware of some faculties have contacted Coach Stevens however she's nonetheless an extended methods away from having to make her school selections. She's competed favorably in summer season occasions with a few of state's prime Class AA and A golfers and definitely has the makings of any person whose golf success may attain the nationwide and/or skilled degree.

It is not onerous to scan forward and see a vivid future additionally for Religion.

"Proper now, the primary distinction between them is the age distinction, and the scale and power," Coach Brown mentioned. "Brynn's a robust lady. She's received membership head pace and Religion's received a methods to go together with that. She does have good management of her golf ball although."

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The Roehrichs are members on the Prairie Winds Golf Membership, which not solely performed host to the area tourney but additionally would be the host website for the upcoming State B ladies tourney. They know displaying by every of them will definitely result in displaying the Cyclones within the staff battle.

And there is nonetheless time to proceed blazing a lot the identical path that the Kaufman sisters did greater than two decade in the past.

"Each units of sisters have been actually devoted," Brown mentioned. "They performed a whole lot of golf, particularly in the summertime. They're on the golf course on a regular basis and it reveals."

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Area 1B Ladies Crew Scores — 1. Clark-Willow Lake 277; 2. Faulkton Space 313; 3. Webster Space 353; 4. Frederick Space 366; 5. Britton-Hecla 383; 6. Waverly-South Shore 406; 7. Leola 412; 8. Wilmot 418. Prime three groups qualify for state.Particular person State Qualifiers — 1. Brynn Roehrich, Clark-Willow Lake, 76 (+4); 2. Religion Roehrich, Clark-Willow Lake, 81; 3. Olivia Knox, Doland, 84; 4. Mollie Simon, Ipswich, 91; 5. Brooklyn Kast, Faulkton Space, 94; 6. Bailee Ninke, Webster Space, 99; 7. (Tie) Anika Mueller, Faulkton Space, and Sage Gaikowski, Waubay-Summit, 102; 9. Ruby Dallman, Frederick Space, 104; 10. Ellis Johnson, Warner, 111; 11. Mia Coester, Webster Space, 115; 12. (Tie) Clara Heuer, Waverly-South Shore, and Sage Ford, Britton-Hecla, 118; 14. Raegan Geditz, Faulkton Space, 119. Area 1B Boys Crew Scores — 1. (Tie) Clark-Willow Lake and Edmunds Central 248 (+32).; 3. Webster Space 250; 4. Doland 265; 5. Florence-Henry 283; 6. Faulkton Space 295; 7. Ipswich 307; 8. Britton-Hecla 308; 9. Warner 313; 10. Nice Plains Lutheran 321; 11. Wilmot 366; 12. Langford Space 368; 13. Waubay-Summit 373; 14. Waverly-South Shore 377; 15. Leola 414. Prime three groups qualify for state.Particular person State Qualifiers — 1. Blaize Amdahl, Webster Space, 76 (+4); 2. (Tie) Kaden Wookey, Clark-Willow Lake, and Harrison Beyers, Edmunds Central, 78' 4. (Tie) Seth Lesnar, Webster Space, and Seth Hettick, Edmunds Central, 81; 6. Kaiden Weinreis, Doland, 82; 7. Kooper Wookey, Clark-Willow Lake, 84; 8. (Tie) Briggs LaBrie, Doland, and Drake Mueller, Faulkton Space, 85; 10. (Tie) Cade Gaikowski, Clark-Willow Lake, and Ty Bergh, Florence-Henry, 86; 12. Barrett Pommer, Nice Plains Lutheran, 88; 13. (Tie) Trent Beyers, Edmunds Central, and Tucker Kadlec, Ipswich, 89; 15. (Tie) Wyatt Schlagel, Clark-Willow Lake, and Hayden Liebl, Warner, 91; 17. Carson Vavruska, Florence-Henry, 92; 18. Thomas Kuecker, Webster Space, 93; 19. Jace Rein, Britton-Hecla, 94; 20. (Tie) Nate Bass, Ipswich; Henry Bossley, Faulkton Space and Michael Dorsette, Webster Space, 96; 3. Matthew Hofer, Doland, 98.Be aware: The State B boys tourney June 2-3 in Watertown. The boys, nevertheless, are slated to play at Cattail Crossing Golf Course. Observe Watertown Public Opinion sports activities reporter Roger Merriam on X (previously generally known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or e-mail: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com