Kernel girls golf take second at home invitational

May 15—MITCHELL — The Mitchell High School girls golf team turned in a strong showing on its home course Friday, placing second out of 14 Class AA programs at the annual Mitchell Invitational behind four Kernel golfers finishing inside the top 15 individually at Lakeview Golf Course.

Mitchell posted a team score of 307, finishing 10 shots behind team champion Aberdeen Central, which claimed the top spot with a 297. Brandon Valley placed third at 319, while O'Gorman took fourth with a 329 and Yankton rounded out the top five teams at 341.

The Kernels were led by Londyn Hajek, who carded a 3-over-par 75 to tie for seventh place individually alongside O'Gorman's Ari Jacobs. Hajek opened her round with a 3-over-par 39 on the front nine and capped the opening stretch with a birdie on the par-5 No. 9 hole. She settled in on the back nine, shooting an even-par 36 to close out her round.

Anna Eliason also secured a top-10 finish for MHS, tying for ninth place with Yankton's Ellia Homstad after firing a 4-over-par 76. Eliason recorded matching 2-over-par 38s on both the front and back nines. Her round included a birdie on the par-5 No. 15 hole.

Just one shot behind Eliason was teammate Maddie Childs, who finished 11th overall with a 5-over-par 77. Childs shot a 4-over-par 40 on the front nine, highlighted by a birdie on Hole No. 5. She responded with a cleaner back-nine performance, carding a 1-over-par 37 that featured birdies on holes 15 and 17 to finish just outside the top 10.

Brynlee Sabers rounded out Kernels' team scoring, tying for 14th place with Aberdeen Central's Carli Withers after shooting a 7-over-par 79. Sabers was one of the tournament's top performers on the front nine, firing a 1-under-par 35 with birdies on Holes No. 3 and 9.

Aberdeen Central's Emma Dohrer claimed medalist honors with an even-par 72. The Golden Eagles also had Olivia Braun finish in a four-way tie for second place at 1-over-par 73 alongside Brandon Valley's Vanessa Smith, O'Gorman's Erin Hurd and Watertown's Gabi Olson to round out the top-five individual scorers.

Mitchell's Mia Larson and Elliot Smith also competed for the team. Larson tied for 28th place with an 87, while Smith finished tied for 68th after shooting a 101.

The Kernels' junior varsity squad also competed at the invite. Kate Schutz led the JV group with an 86, tying for 25th place individually. Emma Reinesch shot a 90 to tie for 39th, while Presley Meyerink posted a 101 to finish tied for 68th alongside Smith in the 93-golfer field.

Mitchell will compete next in the Watertown Invite at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, at the Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown. Teams competing with the Kernels include Aberdeen Central, Brookings, Harrisburg, Huron, O'Gorman, Pierre, Tea Area and host Watertown.