MITCHELL — It was a good day to be a Harrisburg Tiger. 

The Tigers captured their first-ever boys state golf championship and freshman Riley Christensen earned individual medalist honors at the Class AA tourney at Lakeview Golf Course.

Christensen is Harrisburg’s first boys individual state champion since Nolan Meyer in the 2005 Class B state tournament. Harrisburg’s previous best team finishes were runner-up placings in 2011 and ‘12 in Class A. 

“It means a lot to bring one home for the Tigers,” Christensen said. “To win individually and as a team — it’s amazing.”

Christensen played beyond his years to earn the individual state championship. Christensen fired a 4-under-par 140 and finished five strokes ahead of Watertown’s Jake Olson, last year’s Class AA state champ. 

Christensen carded a 68 on Monday and 72 on Tuesday to earn the state championship.  

“I can’t even process it yet,” Christensen said. “You are not really supposed to win as a freshman and I have had a lot of people doubt me before and it feels so good to actually prove them wrong and prove that I can contend.”

Harrisburg’s Riley Christensen is mobbed by his teammates after finishing up his round on Hole 18 during play of the Class AA State Boys Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Christensen held a two-shot lead over teammate Hayden Scott and Pierre’s Nicklaus Bothun entering the final round. On Tuesday, Christensen shot a 38 on the front nine and a 34 on the back nine. 

“He doesn’t lack confidence,” Harrisburg coach Mark Beckstrand said about the freshman golfer. “He might start off with a bogey and it doesn’t get him down. He can turn it around and make some birdies or a bunch of pars in a row and he just doesn’t lack confidence.”

Christensen admitted afterward he felt nervous to start the round armed with a two-shot lead as everybody was chasing him. 

“I was really nervous,” Christensen said. “That first tee shot was really nerve wracking, but I started off pretty slow and got it going on the back nine.”

Christensen’s steady round included 12 pars and two birdies on the back nine, including one on the par-4 18th hole to wrap up the championship. 

“It was a little right to left and it was about a ball outside right,” Christensen said. “I hit it pretty firm and it went right in the hole and it felt really good.”