Junior Golf Scholarships

MATTIE WEIDENBACH – Mattie Weidenbach, of Sioux Falls, will be attending Augustana University in Sioux Falls and playing on the Women’s Golf Team. Mattie’s intended area of study is Business. Mattie is an ACE First Tee – South Dakota participant and First Tee coach. Mattie said “Golf has taught me to become more confident in myself and anything I put my mind to. I find myself more outgoing due to the core values that I was taught from golf”.   

LUKE MARTIN – Luke, who grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Lincoln High School, will be continuing his studies at Northern Michigan University located in Marquette, MI. Luke will be studying Physics and Anatomy with a major in Sports Science + Athletic Training. Luke is an ACE First Tee – South Dakota participant and  First Tee coach. Luke credits First Tee in teaching him to have a positive attitude in moments where others may freak out, to start problem solving and keep moving forward. It’s not about how good of a shot you hit, but rather how you recover from it.

RILEY ZEBROSKI – Riley will be continuing her academic and golf career at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN. Riley graduated from Watertown HS and plans to focus on Biology in college with a dream of becoming a Family Medicine Doctor. Riley said that playing golf helped her succeed in school. She learned to be effective with her time in order to be able to practice in the evenings.

OLIVIA SORLIE – Olivia grew up playing at Hiawatha Golf Club in Canton, South Dakota. Olivia will be continuing her education and golf career at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA. Olivia’s intended major is Pre-Physical Therapy. Olivia won the 2022 SD Class A Individual Title. Through family fun nights, she learned honesty and etiquette and the standard in which to hold herself in big competitions.

MAIYA MULLER – Maiya, a lifelong SDGA Jr Tour Player, grew up playing at The Bridges at Beresford. Maiya will continue her golf and academic career at Morningside University in Sioux City, IA.  Her intended major is Bio- Psychology with an emphasis in forensics and a minor in Criminal Justice. Her years on the course taught Maiya patience. She said “I step back and think about what is going to happen next in my life, just like golf. You can’t worry about the past, or the shot, you just hit, because you can’t go back and change it”.

TANNA PHARES – Tanna is a graduate of Stevens High School and plays out of Hart Ranch Golf Course in Rapid City. Tanna will be coming across the state to continue her golf career and academics at University of Sioux Falls. Tanna’s major will be Radiologic Technology. Tanna said that her dad introduced her and all of her siblings to golf at an early age, he signed them up for golf lessons at Hart Ranch and it quickly became a home away from home. During the summer of 2023, Tanna was an SDGA intern and ran events for the tour out West.

BRYN HUBER – Bryn Huber, from Huron, will be attending the University of Sioux Falls, where she will be playing on the golf team and majoring in Sports Marketing and Media. Bryn credits the game for mental and physical toughness, hard work, and dedication to the sport. She said, “Mental toughness is the biggest challenge I learned to use through the game, like life, golf can be overwhelming and challenging, but you much learn how to push through adversity and grow stronger”.

JACK HILGENBERG – Jack a former First Tee participant and Lincoln High School graduate will be attending University of Lincoln – Nebraska. Jack’s intended major is Business Marketing. Jack said that golf gave him incredible communication skills with both peers and adults. He believes that golf had helped him develop lifelong relationships with teammates, competitors, and coaches. While Jack will not be playing college golf, he does not plan on hanging up the clubs, it will be a life-long sport for him.