Kevin Gillick and Reese Jansa win South Dakota State Amateur Championships

August 11, 2024 | by Cameron Spraggins of AmateurGolf.com

Reese Jansa (left) and Kevin Gillick (SDGA Photo)

The former division I standouts win top amateur title in South Dakota

The South Dakota Golf Association hosted the 2024 South Dakota State Amateur Championship at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City, South Dakota.

In the men's division, Rapid City’s Kevin Gillick delivered a standout performance, finishing 5-under-par to claim the championship. Gillick, a former University of Nebraska golfer, opened with a 69, followed up by a 74 on Saturday, and closed strong with a Sunday 68 for a final score of 211. He finished three shots clear of Sioux Falls' Brock Murphy, who finished 2-under-par with a total of 214. Colman's Kaden Groos also broke par for the weekend, concluding with a 1-under 215 after a final round 70.

Gillick entered the final round one shot behind Murphy but stole the show with 5 birdies and just 1 bogey. Murphy matched his 5 birdies but added 5 bogeys to finish even par for the final round.

In the women's division, Reese Jansa, a Sioux Falls native and current golfer at South Dakota State, secured her second SDGA Amateur title, adding to her 2022 victory. This win marked Jansa's impressive 11th all-time SDGA championship.

Her consistent play across the weekend—shooting 73 on Friday, 75 on Saturday, and closing with another 73—earned her the title. Her closest competitor, Olivia Braun of Aberdeen, finished with a total score of 223 after rounds of 73-78-72. Allison Meyerink, a Mitchell native, claimed third place, tallying a final score of 230, with rounds of 75 on both Friday and Saturday before a final-round 80.

Braun made a great effort at the title, shooting an even-par 72, the only round of par or better in the tournament. Jansa capped off her final round 73 with a birdie on her 18th hole to finish two shots clear of Braun.

Thanks to new exemption criteria for Allied Golf Association (AGA) amateur championships, Gillick’s victory earns him a coveted spot at the 2025 U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Club in Oregon.

As per the new exemption criteria, AGA amateur championships that conclude before August 4th, 2024 will grant an exemption to the 2024 U.S. Amateur, while those finishing after that date will offer an exemption to the 2025 U.S. Amateur.

Gillick won't be teeing it up at Hazeltine on Monday morning, but he has a tee time at Bandon Dunes next summer.

Results: South Dakota Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Kevin Gillick	Rapid City, SD	200	69-74-68=211
2	Brock Murphy	Sioux Falls, SD	100	74-68-72=214
3	Kaden Groos	Colman, SD	50	71-74-70=215
4	Hayden Scott	Sioux Falls, SD	50	73-71-73=217
5	Radley Mauney	Hartford, SD	50	76-72-70=218