#SDSportsAwards, girls golf: Parkston's Sydney Bormann was historically good

Sydney Bormann is the girls golfer of the year. Really, though, she might be the state’s golfer of the last half-decade.

The Parkston senior dominated Class A golf for pretty much the entirety of her career, picking up enough titles and trophies to fill up an empty golf bag. Bormann won individual state titles in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015, is a two-time S.D. Junior Female Golfer of the Year, the 2015 SDGA women’s amateur championship runner-up and a two-time Midwest Junior Championship medalist. That kind of decorated career has observers setting Bormann’s potential awfully high.

“I think Sydney’s ceiling is as high as she wants it to be,” said Bormann’s swing coach, Todd Kolb, who also is the swing coach of Clark native and LPGA talent Kim Kaufman. “I think she could play the game for a living someday.”

MORE: See other winners of the S.D. Sports Awards

But that someday can wait. Bormann will play Division I college golf at SDSU starting next year. Jackrabbits coach Casey VanDamme is stoked to have a player of Bormann’s caliber joining the Jacks.

“She’s one of the most impressive recruits I’ve ever met. Her commitment to comprehensive excellence is exactly what we are looking for,” SDSU coach Casey VanDamme said. “She’s one of the most impressive recruits I’ve ever met. Her commitment to comprehensive excellence is exactly what we are looking for.”

Growing up in Parkston Bormann and her sister, Jordan, were fixtures on the 9-hole course at the Parkston Country Club, which is where they honed their skills. Sydney struggled early as she wasn’t necessarily blessed with natural ability. But her determination and focus was such that she soon overcame any physical shortcomings. She developed an excellent short game as she began to come into her own, then took the next step when strength training helped her add distance off the tee.