Beresford sophomore Maiya Muller edged out a one stroke victory over Kelsey Heath of Sisseton on Tuesday to win the girls ‘A’ individual state golf championship in Spearfish. Muller finished day one at just +3 and then and then day two shot a +8 to give her +11 for the tournament.
At the end of the first day, Muller was actually tied with Heath at +3, but she then shot one stroke better on day two to secure the win.
“It was really fun. I knew coming into it that there was going to be some good competition that I was going to be against,” said Muller. “Props to all the girls that played, it was hot, windy, and it was going to be a long day either way and I was just fortunate enough to come out on top.”
Conditions were hot across the state this week, which made it tough for the golfers at times. For Muller, she took her knowledge of the Spearfish Canyon Country Club and tried to use it to her advantage.
“I’ve played here about five or six times. I think today was my seventh, so it was really nice kind of knowing the course a little bit more,” Muller stated. “It’s a lovely course and it’s fun to play.”
Brad Muller, Maiya’s dad, is the head coach of the Beresford girls golf team, so naturally, golf is a pretty big deal in the Muller family.
“I’ve been playing golf ever since I was little and it kind of stems from my grandpa and then my dad,” the Watchdog sophomore explained. “I just grew up with it, as my atmosphere, and I’ve loved that I’ve been able to grow as a golfer over time.”
Having two years left, Maiya’s goal is to improve and hopefully do it again – but for now it’s all about soaking up the current moment.
“I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everybody who came out to watch,” said Muller. “It was a great day. I loved the girls I play with, and congrats to everybody else that placed.”
Maiya Muller is the first Beresford girls’ golfer to win an individual state championship since Sandra Erickson in 1982. Erickson won four straight state championships with Beresford in Class B during the two-class system era – ‘79, ‘80, ‘81, and ‘82.