CHAMBERLAIN — Dakota Munger has written his own golf path and there’s another chapter to be authored at state. 

Munger didn’t start playing competitive golf until he was a seventh-grader, doesn’t come from a golfing family and forged his own path in the sport. 

Munger’s dad, Marshall, played college football and baseball at Dakota Wesleyan. Munger’s mother, Vanessa, was an all-state basketball player for Chamberlain High School and played hoops at Black Hills State University.

“My dad does a little bit of golfing now,” Dakota said. “But nothing too much and my mom has never touched a club.”

Munger’s former Chamberlain High School golf coach, Chris Caldwell, was instrumental in his golf development and paved the way for his recent success. But for Munger, it didn’t come without some hooks and slices along the way. 

“It was very frustrating right away because I am a very competitive person,” Munger said. “I didn’t like to lose to my teammates at the time, which were Drayton Priebe and Cameron Caldwell. Those guys pushed me every day and I think that helped me get better at a young age. That competitive fire has stuck with me since then.” 

Chamberlain's Dakota Munger watches a tee shot earlier this season at the Winner Invitational. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The competitive fire didn’t fully ignite until his freshman year. Munger was on varsity as a seventh and eighth-grader, finishing 76th and 56th, respectively at the state tournament.

The fire started to burn in the summer of 2020, and due to all things, the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“COVID hit actually the summer going into my freshman year,” Munger said. “With everything shut down, the only thing that was open was the golf course. So I was out there every day from April to August, just practicing and getting better. That year I saw success at the state tournament.”

In 2020, Munger won the region championship and placed third at the Class A state golf tournament, finishing five shots away from first place. 

“That was kind of a wake up call,” Munger said. “Like ‘Oh I can actually compete with these guys.’ That freshman year definitely changed my outlook on the sport.”

Munger continued to compete for state titles, tying for eighth as a sophomore and second as a junior. He was two shots away from winning last season’s state championship. 

But last year’s finish left him hungry for more.  

“That definitely stung a little bit,” Munger said. “It’s kind of set a little bit of fire in me going into this year, and I also had a pretty successful year winning eight out of nine tournament starts. But at the same time, the one big goal I had going into this year is still left to be claimed. It’s definitely unfinished business.”

Chamberlain's Dakota Munger watches a putt earlier this season at the Winner Invitational. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

This past summer, Munger was a regular on junior golf tour events and also split his time playing amateur baseball (Chamberlain Mallards) and American Legion baseball (Platte/Geddes WhiteCaps).

“It was a golf tournament or baseball game every day all summer,” Munger said. “So it kept me busy, but I was at the course as much as I could be.”

It’s carried over into the season. He recently won his fourth straight region championship and hopes to join Coleman Caldwell as the lone Chamberlain High School boys golfers to win state championships. Coleman, who is Chris Caldwell’s son, won state in 2012 and has also been key in Munger’s golf development.

“He’s been helping me ever since my sophomore year and he helps me about every day,” Munger said. “They will be there for the state tournament and it will be a lot of fun. He will be there supporting and he wants to see me win it just as much as I want to win it.”

Munger, who stands 6-3, also plays basketball for the Cubs. But has his sights set on playing college golf next fall. He’s been in contact with college golf coaches and hopes to make a decision after the state tournament, which is Oct. 2-3 in at Hart Ranch Golf Course in Rapid City. 

But he’s got one more chapter to pen for his high school golf career. 

“I have told all the coaches that have connected with me that my main focus is going to get this title that’s to be desired for four years now,” Munger said.