VERMILLION — Hayden Heig made school history on Tuesday.

The St. Thomas More High School senior won the Class A boys golf state championship, becoming the first Cavalier to accomplish the feat. Two former Cavaliers — Nick Lust (2016) and Vincent VanLiere (2023) — were both state runner-ups in recent years. 

Heig etched his name in Cavalier golf history, and also proudly represented his side of the state. 

“It’s real special to be the first of anything, and especially for such a small school and coming East River,” Heig said. “A lot of people feel like West River isn’t a factor in this. So it’s really nice to kind of show up for West River.”

Heig showed up in a big way. Heig fired a 6-under-par 138, shooting 69s on both days at The Bluffs Golf Course. In total, Heig carded 11 birdies and finished eight shots better than second-place finisher Matt DeBeer of Dakota Valley. 

Heig was dialed in leading up to the tournament and on the putting greens, leading to his convincing victory. 

“My preparation I feel like, and really rolling the rock,” Heig said about factors leading to his win. “I feel like my putter really carried me all week.”

Heig began Tuesday with a two-shot lead over DeBeer and Landon Weber of Parkston. Heig fired a 33 on the front nine, while DeBeer’s 37 on the front and Weber’s 39 allowed Heig to stretch his lead.

But Heig wasn’t focused on his lead, instead he continued to play his game. 

“To be honest I wasn’t really thinking about it,” Heig said. “I was just trying to play my same game and trying to go as low as possible.”

Heig parred the last two holes, including the par-5 18th hole. On the 18th, Heig nearly capped off the title with a bang. Heig’s third shot landed in a bunker, and he almost holed out for a birdie. But it settled just by the hole for a tap-in par.  

“I thought it was going to be pretty good,” Heig said. “I didn’t think it was going to be that good. But I am glad because I hit a pretty bad one before that.” 

Heig tapped in the par, gave a slight fist pump and celebrated the state championship. 

“It was relief, honestly,” Heig said. “Because I felt like I had a really good chance going in and just to be able to get it done feels real good.”

Especially considering Heig placed 27th last season, but he responded with a state championship in his final high school meet for the Cavaliers.  

“In the past I haven’t really been able to play well at state at all,” Heig said. “To be able to put everything together over the two days feels real good.”

Heig hopes to play college golf, but is undecided on his preferred destination. He helped the Cavaliers earn a third-place finish on Tuesday, shooting a 634. 

Dakota Valley won its second straight Class A state championship, holding off conference foe Vermillion. The Panthers shot a 599, while the Tanagers scored a 603. 

Team scores: 1. Dakota Valley, 599; 2. Vermillion, 603; 3. St. Thomas More, 634; 4. Aberdeen Roncalli, 642; 5. Sioux Falls Christian, 655; 6. West Central, 663; 7. Parkston, 686; 8. Tri-Valley, 687; 9. Chamberlain, 700; 10. Winner, 713; 11. Madison, 716; 12. Sioux Valley, 718; 13. Hot Springs, 719; 14. Rapid City Christian, 721; 15. Custer, 738; 16. Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 748; 17. Belle Fourche, 749.

Top-25 individual results: 1. Hayden Heig, St. Thomas More, 138; 2. Matt DeBeer, Dakota Valley, 145; 3. Jack Johnson, Vermillion, 148; T-4. Cooper Girard, Vermillion, 150; T-4. Carson Steffensen, Canton, 150; T-4. Landon Weber, Parkston, 150; 7. Tate Cornelsen, Dakota Valley, 151; 8. Jeran Carr, Vermillion, 153; T-9. Jonathan DeBoer, Milbank, 154; T-9. Cash Slater, Dakota Valley, 154; T-9. Sean Meiske, Dakota Valley, 154; T-9. Rylan Moran, Vermillion, 154; T-9. Finn Anderson, Aberdeen Roncalli, 154; 15. Ben Akin, Elk Point-Jefferson, 155; 16. Atticus Slater, Dakota Valley, 156; 17. Damon Uecker, Sioux Valley, 157; 18. Aiden Lanham, West Central, 158; T-19. Harper Schnabel, Aberdeen Roncalli, 159; T-21. Curtis Sorenson, Custer, 160; T-21. Vander Von Eye, Rapid City Christian, 160; T-21. Lucas Daggett, Aberdeen Roncalli, 160; 24. Gabe Schock, Sioux Falls Christian, 161; 25. Trey Boyd, Sioux Falls Christian, 162.