Asher Dannenbring Named to Team South Dakota 2027
Mitchell High School senior earns spot on the state's junior golf roster following a standout 2026 performance.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Golf
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Asher Dannenbring, a senior at Mitchell High School, has been selected for the Team South Dakota 2027 roster. This announcement highlights his success after he won the SDGA Junior Championship and earned SDGA junior male golfer of the year honors in 2026.
Why it matters
The team is part of the USGA National Development Program, which aims to strengthen and diversify the American junior golf pipeline. Selected athletes gain access to professional development resources, including tournament exemptions and in-person training.
The roster features four boys and four girls selected based on performance metrics from the 2026 season. This group represents a subset of the USGA's development initiative, which is currently operating in 30 states across the country.
The players
Asher Dannenbring
A senior at Mitchell High School who was named the SDGA junior male golfer of the year.
Jim Entwisle
He will serve as the team captain for the newly announced Team South Dakota.
Dean Zahn
He is appointed to serve as the team coach for the South Dakota roster.
The details
The selection committee, composed of representatives from the South Dakota Golf Association, the PGA of America, the First Tee of South Dakota, and local golf leaders, finalized the roster. In addition to Dannenbring, the team includes Drew Velasquez, Harper Schnabel, Ben Akin, Kaitlin Strain, Katie Betsworth, Vanessa Smith, and Brynn Roehrich.
Timeline
June 2026: Asher Dannenbring won the SDGA Junior Championship.
2026 season: The performance period used for roster selection.
October 26, 2026: The Team South Dakota roster was officially announced.
2028: The year the USGA plans to have the program operational in all 50 states.
Season Trajectory
This roster selection strengthens South Dakota's standing within the United States Golf Association National Development Program as it pushes toward a national footprint. The program's growth directly impacts the state's pipeline for competitive junior talent moving into regional and national play.
The eight selected athletes will receive at least two days of professional in-person development per year as part of their status. Additionally, the players gain consideration for tournament exemptions, impacting their ability to qualify for future high-level amateur competitions.
The takeaway
The USGA initiative provides a structured pathway for junior athletes to access resources previously unavailable to many state-level players. Aspiring golfers should track the expansion of this program to see when more development opportunities may become available in their region.
Further reading
For more information on the state's golfing landscape, see South Dakota Golf.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mitchell Republic.
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