October 23, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — The 1977 Dakota State College men's golf team made history by capturing the first South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) men's golf championship in program history, establishing itself as one of the finest golf teams ever assembled at Dakota State.
The Trojans delivered an outstanding performance at the SDIC Tournament, led by Doug Richards, who claimed individual medalist honors with a two-round total of 147. Richards set the pace for a Trojan lineup that placed four golfers among the top six individual finishers and earning SDIC All-Conference honor.
Dennis Rolfes finished third individually with a two-round score of 152, while Jody Boline placed fifth at 154 strokes. Mark Buddahl followed in sixth place with 155 strokes, giving Dakota State exceptional depth near the top of the tournament leaderboard. Jim Wilson added 160 strokes.
Buddahl helped set the tone early in the championship, firing a 32 on the front nine of the opening rounds. The Trojans continued to build momentum and produced a second-round team score of 299, believed at the time to be the best single-round team score ever recorded at an SDIC Tournament.
Dakota State's championship roster also included Mike Meile and Tim Begeman, providing the Trojans with the depth that helped make the 1977 squad a historic one. The 1977 DSC men's golf coach was coached by Ed Harter, who was named to the original Dakota State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.
The championship represented the culmination of a strong era for Dakota State golf. The accompanying 1977 team account described the Trojans as one of the better teams the school had produced and noted that Richards and Boline had previously earned All-Conference recognition. The team pictured included Buddahl, Wilson, Boline, Meile, Richards and Rolfes.
More importantly, the 1977 Trojans accomplished something no Dakota State men's golf team had done before. Their SDIC Tournament championship became the first conference golf title in school history, establishing a benchmark for every Dakota State golf team that followed.
THROUGH THE YEARS…
TIM BEGEMAN: In 1989, Begeman began coaching Dakota State's men's and women's golf programs when they operated as club sports, helping guide their transition to NAIA-recognized varsity programs the following year. His coaching career was highlighted in 1998, when the Trojan men captured the SDIC championship and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament at PGA National in West Palm Beach, Fla. Begeman was named the SDIC Men's Golf Coach of the Year that season.
Begeman also enjoyed considerable success as a competitive golfer. He won the South Dakota Golf Association Pre-Senior State Stroke Play championship in 2001 and the SDGA Senior State Stroke Play title in 2011. After finishing as the playoff runner-up in the senior stroke play championship in 2012, he was named the 2012 SDGA Senior Male Golfer of the Year.
Begeman added another state title in 2014, teaming with Dick Fawbush to win the SDGA Senior Two-Man championship.
JODY BOLINE: Tim Begeman, Doug Richards, and Jody Boline played high school golf together at Parker High School. Jody came to Dakota State College (DSC) on a football scholarship. Tim encouraged Jody to join the DSC golf team during his sophomore or junior season. One of the highlights of our collegiate golf careers was winning the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) championship and watching Doug earn medalist honors in a playoff.
Jody moved to Idaho Fals, Idaho, in 1982, where I continued my passion for golf. During the early 1990s, Jody won five or six club championships and captured the Idaho Tournament of Champions title.
Jody was also fortunate that his career provided opportunities to take customers golfing at courses throughout the United States. Among the most memorable experiences were playing at the renowned Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Now retired, Jody continues to enjoy the game of golf, playing three to four times a week.
MARK BUDAHL (Deceased): Mark Budahl was a four-year member of the Dakota State golf program from 1973-77 and earned a varsity letter during his Trojan career. His family recalled that being part of the golf program, its competitive atmosphere and winning Dakota State's first conference golf championship were among his favorite memories from his college years.
Budahl graduated from Dakota State in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education and later earned a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of South Dakota. He spent 35 years teaching mathematics in Chamberlain and Mitchell, S.D., earning Mitchell School District Teacher of the Year honors three times and receiving the Carl Springer Outstanding Educator award in 2006.
Golf remained an important part of Budahl's life. He coached at Mitchell High School and was named South Dakota Golf Coaches Association Class 'A' Golf Coach of the Year in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. He and his wife, Kathy, whom he met while attending Dakota State, had two daughters, Katie and Andee. Budahl passed away on Nov. 14, 2019.
MIKE MEILE: Mike Meile, a native of Hartford, S.D., was a two-sport student-athlete at Dakota State, earning four varsity letters in both basketball and golf before graduating in 1977. Following graduation, Meile built a successful professional career with Shaw Floors, spending 42 years with the company. He began as a territory manager and eventually advanced to regional vice president before retiring in 2025.
Meile has three children, Jennifer, Adam and Andrew, and four grandchildren, Elliott, Nora, Archer and Rory.
DOUG RICHARDS: Doug Richards, a native of Parker, S.D., attended Dakota State for two years, but a medical condition limited him to competing only during his sophomore season. Despite the challenge, he made that season memorable. Richards' success on the golf course began well before his collegiate career. At Parker High School, he qualified for the South Dakota Class B Boys' State Golf Tournament in four consecutive years from 1972 through 1975.
He also compiled an impressive record in amateur competition. At Par Mar Country Club in Parker, Richards won the 1975 Men's Stroke Play Championship, the Men's Member/Guest Calcutta championship and a Men's Match Play title. He was also a four-time men's league champion and established the course record with rounds of 31 and 33 for a 6-under-par 64, a record he still holds.
Richards continued competing successfully after his Dakota State career. At Glenridge Golf Course in Irene, S.D., he won the 1983 Arneson Day championship and a men's league championship. At Central Valley Golf Course in Hartford, S.D., he captured the 1985 Men's Match Play Championship and was a three-time men's league champion.
DENNIS ROLFES: Rolfes did not begin playing golf until 1972, between his junior and senior years at Alcester High School. After graduating in 1973, he attended Dakota State and continued developing his game with assistance from teammate Jim Wilson. His improvement earned him a spot on the Trojan golf team during his senior year. He graduated from Dakota State that year with a degree in business administration.
His success in golf continued after college. Rolfes won four Mitchell city stroke play championships in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991, along with three club match play titles—one in Madison and two in Mitchell. He reached the final four of the 1999 South Dakota Golf Association State Match Play Championship and teamed with Mike Stephens to win the 2001 SDGA State Two-Man Championship Net Division in Brookings.
Professionally, Rolfes spent 34 years as an accountant with Central Electric before retiring in 2015. His journey from taking up golf late in high school to placing third in the SDIC and helping Dakota State capture its first conference golf championship made him an important member of the historic 1977 Trojan squad.
JIM WILSON:
