Asher Dannenbring Named to First USGA Team South Dakota Roster

Mitchell High School senior Asher Dannenbring has been selected to join the Team South Dakota 2027 developmental roster, placing him among a select group of young golfers chosen to represent the state through an expanding national pipeline, mitchellrepublic.com reported on Monday.

Selection and Selection Committee Make-Up

The statewide roster features four boys and four girls, chosen based on athletic performance across the 2026 season. Dannenbring earned his spot following a standout year that included winning the South Dakota Golf Association Junior Championship tournament in June and capturing the organization’s junior male golfer of the year honors.

Composed of officials from the local golf network, the First Tee of South Dakota, the PGA of America, and the South Dakota Golf Association, the panel determines who makes the final team lineup.

Joining Dannenbring on the boys roster are:

Drew Velasquez of Sioux Falls
Harper Schnabel of Aberdeen
Ben Akin of Elk Point

Kaitlin Strain of Rapid City, Katie Betsworth of Dakota Dunes, Vanessa Smith of Brandon, and Brynn Roehrich of Clark make up the girls side of the roster.

National Program Expansion and Athlete Development

Team South Dakota operates as one of 30 states participating in the United States Golf Association’s National Development Program State Junior Team initiative. The program was created to broaden, strengthen, and diversify the developmental pipeline for junior golf across the United States, with the USGA targeting a full rollout across all 50 states by 2028.

Athletes named to state rosters gain access to specific developmental advantages. Participants receive a minimum of two days of in-person athlete development annually, webinars directed by the USNDP coaching and athlete development team, and consideration for USNDP-sponsored tournament exemptions.

Coaching Leadership and Hall of Fame Guidance

The leadership team for Team South Dakota includes two members of the South Dakota Golf Hall of Fame. Jim Entwisle, a Huron native living in Sioux Falls and a decorated SDGA Champion, serves as team captain. Dean Zahn of Aberdeen, a lifelong PGA member and the SDGA Director of Rules and Competitions, acts as team coach. Assistant support comes from player development professionals across South Dakota.