MITCHELL — Rylan Moran had waited all season for the moment.
After 36 holes of golf, the Vermillion senior found himself standing on the first tee at Lakeview Golf Course with his sophomore teammate, Jeran Carr, as the two prepared to settle the Class A boys individual state championship in a playoff.
One hole later, Moran had a state title.
“This was such a surreal moment for me,” Moran said. “I was just telling myself to stay calm and act like you’re playing a relaxed round with your friends. And to share that moment with my family and support group, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”
Vermillion’s Rylan Moran gets emotional following his victory at the Class A boys golf state championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell.
Trey Houchin / Mitchell Republic
Moran entered Tuesday’s final round in second place after carding a 2-under-par 70 during Monday’s opening round at Lakeview. Parkston’s Landon Weber held the first-round lead after firing a 3-under 69, putting Moran in position to chase down the tournament leader over the final 18 holes.
Instead, the championship came down to a dramatic finish involving four players. Moran, Carr, Weber and Chamberlain’s Chase McQuirk were all tied heading into the 18th hole, setting up a four-player race for the individual crown.
Moran had a chance to end it in regulation. Standing roughly 5 feet from the hole with a birdie opportunity, Moran narrowly missed a putt. Carr also recorded a par, while Weber and McQuirk both carded bogeys, eliminating themselves from individual title contention.
That left an all-Vermillion playoff. Moran and Carr headed back to Hole No. 1, where two teammates who had spent the summer preparing together were suddenly competing for the biggest individual prize of their high school careers.
“It meant everything to share that playoff hole with Jeran,” Moran said. “We’ve played every single day this summer. We’ve worked so hard to get to this tournament, and you can’t dream of a better finish than that.”
Vermillion’s Rylan Moran hugs his teammate Jeran Carr after the playoff hole on Hole No. 1 following the Class A boys golf state championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell.
Trey Houchin / Mitchell Republic
Moran wasted little time seizing control. He unleashed a towering drive that came just shy of the green, putting himself in prime position. Carr, meanwhile, found himself in a difficult spot behind the trees but managed to work his way onto the green and keep the playoff within reach.
Then Moran delivered the shot that sealed the championship. His chip from just off the green rolled toward the cup and nearly dropped for an eagle before settling close enough to leave him with a simple tap-in for birdie. Carr finished with a par, sealing a Moran victory.
Moran finished with a two-day total of 142 strokes after rounds of 70 and 72. Carr also finished with 142, shooting a 1-over 73 Monday before posting the best round of the tournament Tuesday with a 3-under 69 to force a playoff alongside his teammate.
The victory marked the first time in 25 years that a Class A boys golf state champion was crowned in Mitchell and continued a streak of individual champions in the division, with Moran becoming the 15th consecutive different Class A boys individual state champion.
Parkston’s Landon Weber hits a chip shot out of the sand on Hole No. 17 during the Class A boys golf state championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell.
Trey Houchin / Mitchell Republic
While Moran and Carr battled for first, Weber (69-74—143), McQuirk (71-72—143) and Rapid City Christian’s Jaxon Remington (71-72—143) shared third place. Vermillion’s Jack Johnson finished sixth with a 144 after rounds of 74 and 70. Elk Point-Jefferson’s Ben Akin and St. Thomas More’s Brady Sage tied for seventh at 145, while Aberdeen Roncalli’s Harper Schnabel finished ninth at 147.
Dakota Valley teammates Cash Slater and Tate Cornelsen tied with West Central’s Connor Mebius for 10th place at 148 to round out the top-10 individuals.
The Tanagers captured the Class A team state championship with 582 strokes (293-289), finishing 19 strokes ahead of runner-up Dakota Valley, which posted a 601 (302-299). Aberdeen Roncalli finished third (304-302—606) followed by West Central (320-308—628) and St. Thomas More (317-316—633) to round out the top five.
The title was Vermillion’s third in the past five seasons. The Tanagers previously won championships in 2022 and 2023 before Dakota Valley claimed back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.
“In my senior year, for us as a team to come out on top after falling short the last few years means everything to us,” Moran said. “We have all worked so hard this season for this, and I can’t wait to celebrate.”
Parkston finished sixth (322-312—634), just one stroke behind St. Thomas More, while Elk Point-Jefferson finished seventh (322-320—642). Winner climbed from 12th after Monday’s opening round to finish eighth (339-311—650).
Among other area golfers, Winner’s Carter Craven tied for 21st with 154 strokes after rounds of 79 and 75. Winner’s Brody Calhoon tied for 26th at 158 after shooting an 84 Monday and a 2-over 74 Tuesday. Parkston’s Cohen Bowar tied for 35th at 161 (85-76), while teammate Kelby Neugebauer tied for 40th (83-80—163).
Chamberlain’s Chase McQuirk hits a chip shot onto the green on Hole No. 18 during the Class A boys golf state championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell.
Trey Houchin / Mitchell Republic
Class A state golf tournament
Monday-Tuesday at Lakeview Golf Course, Mitchell (par 72)
Team scores
1. Vermillion, 293-289—592
2. Dakota Valley, 302-299—601
3. Aberdeen Roncalli, 304-302—606
4. West Central, 320-308—628
5. St. Thomas More, 317-316—633
6. Parkston, 322-312—634
7. Elk-Point Jefferson, 322-320—642
8. Winner, 339-311—650
9. Belle Fourche, 341-312—653
10. Tri-Valley, 333-325—658
11. Rapid City Christian, 336-328—664
12. Dell Rapids, 337-333—670
13. Sioux Valley, 336-336—672
14. Madison, 354-344—698
Top-25 finishers:
1. Rylan Moran, Vermillion, 70-72—142 (Won first playoff hole with a birdie on Hole No. 1)
2. Jeran Carr, Vermillion, 73-69—142
T3. Landon Weber, Parkston, 69-74—143
T3. Jaxon Remington, Rapid City Christian, 71-72—143
T3. Chase McQuirk, Chamberlain, 71-72—143
6. Jack Johnson, Vermillion, 74-70—144
T7. Ben Akin, Elk-Point Jefferson, 73-72—145
T7. Brady Sage, St. Thomas More, 72-73—145
9. Harper Schnabel, Aberdeen Roncalli, 72-75—147
T10. Cash Slater, Dakota Valley, 76-72—148
T10. Tate Cornelsen, Dakota Valley, 75-73—148
T10. Connor Mebius, West Central, 74-74—148
13. Lucas Daggett, Aberdeen Roncalli, 74-75—149
T14. Andrew Levine, St. Thomas More, 77-73—150
T14. Finn Anderson, Aberdeen Roncalli, 73-77—150
16. Logan Brandon, Dakota Valley, 76-75—151
17. Marcus Peterson, West Central, 75-77—152
T18. Braylon Oftedal, Madison, 80-73—153
T18. Luke Nielsen, Sisseton, 77-76—153
T18. Damon Uecker, Sioux Valley, 73-80—153
T21. Noah Mailloux, Belle Fourche, 81-73—154
T21. Carter Craven, Winner, 79-75—154
23. Tysen Hovden, Vermillion, 76-79—155
24. Jaxson Rise, Tri-Valley, 79-77—156
25. Reid Reuvers, Vermillion, 79-78—157