MILBANK - Chamberlain, Belle Fourche, Hot Springs and Custer each recorded solid qualifying scores and could be in contention at this year's Class A state high school boys golf tournament, which begins today at the par-72 Pine Hills Golf Course.

The Cubs carded a 342 in winning the Region 3A tourney. Seventh-grader Coleman Caldwell was the medalist after a 75.

"He's had some good meets and others where he played like a seventh grader, but he's the real deal," Chamberlain head coach Rick Hargens said about Caldwell. "He's been our leading scorer in about six of our 10 meets."

The Region 4A tourney was also a shootout, with the Broncs taking top honors at 343. Hot Springs (344) was a close second and Custer (348) was third.

"We've been an up and down team," Belle Fourche head coach Clark Gusso said. "(But) we've had a successful season. We won the region of course, by a stroke, but then (on Sept. 24) we got third in the (Black Hills Conference).

"I'm still waiting for us all to put 18 holes together at the same time, and maybe we can do it at state."

Hot Springs, led by Region 4A medalist Kyle Lewis (80), is playing some quality golf.

"We've never seen the course, but I think we have a good chance," Bison head coach Dave Merrill said. "I think the kids are capable of being in it; I think they've got all their bad rounds out of the way for a while."

Belle Fourche had three golfers shoot in the 80s at the Region 4A meet - eighth-grader Tyler Burr (81), and seniors Michael Mednansky (83) and Sam Pehl (86). Black Hills Conference champion Custer is led by Chad Bryant (86) and Johnny Couch (87).

The word around the state is that Vermillion, the top qualifier with a score of 324, is the team to beat. The Tanagers led after the first round at state last year before finishing runner-up to Lead-Deadwood, and they return their entire varsity roster.

"I've been picking Vermillion all season," Gusso noted.

"They look to be the team to beat."

The senior-oriented Vermillion squad had two individuals break 80 in the Region 2A tournament - Alex Schaack (76) and Jordan Boots (78).

Aberdeen Roncalli, which took third in 2006, won the Region 1A title with a 330 total. The Cavaliers had a couple sub-80 rounds from Ben Heller (76) and Max Pfeiffer (79).

Three-time defending Class B champion Sioux Falls Christian made a jump to the Class A ranks this season, and head coach Mike Schoten said the transition has gone quite smoothly.

"It's been good," he said. "We've had a good fall - a good season so far - and we've seen some good competition. We got to play against some new teams; it's been exciting and fun, a good move for us."

The Chargers finished second in Region 3A with a team total of 337. They also have the low qualifier heading into the tournament: junior Rainey Reynolds (73).

"Yeah, I think Rainey will definitely be in the running for the individual title," Schouten said. "He's had a good year and he's playing really well right now."

Christian took a big hit a couple weeks ago when one of its top golfers, Brett Rozenboom, broke his arm.

"That really hurts the chances of winning it," Schouten added. "I think right now, Vermillion is the clear favorite."

Harrisburg's Nolan Meyer (74), who is seeded No. 2, led the Tigers to a regional score of 346. Tea Area does not have a team competing, but Richard Dunlap qualified as an individual with a score of 78 at the Region 2A meet.

Milbank (347) also carded a sub-350 score at the regional tournament, plus the Bulldogs get to play on their home course. Senior Nick Sipe is the team's leading player after a 78 at the regional. He took 11th and the team finished sixth at state last season.

Lead-Deadwood did not qualify as a team for the event.

Notes: Four players are back from last year's top-10 - Meyer (third), Schaack (tie-fourth), Pfeiffer (tie-sixth) and Boots (10th). Defending champion Nate Barbee (Dakota Valley) graduated.