MILES LUNNING

A young golfer with a passion for competition and a commitment to getting better!

Some success stories are measured by championships. Others are measured by how far an athlete is willing to go to pursue their potential.

For Miles Lunning, the journey is just beginning.

A Brandon, South Dakota native, Miles has been a student at Iron Range Golf Performance since its inception, working closely with coaches Drew Trautman and Danny Sinksen throughout his development.

At an age when many young golfers are just beginning to discover the game, Miles has already competed throughout the Midwest and across the country—and in 2026, earned the opportunity to compete at one of the most iconic destinations in golf:

Augusta National Golf Club.

Miles' golf journey began playing with his dad, Mitch, and quickly developed into a passion for competition. What started as simply playing the game grew into a commitment to practicing, competing, and finding ways to improve.

By 2025, Miles was already establishing himself as one of South Dakota's standout young junior golfers. At the South Dakota Golf Association Junior Championship, Miles won the Boys 9-and-Under division, shooting a 1-over-par 36 to win by five strokes. Earlier in the season, he had also recorded multiple victories on the SDGA Junior Tour and broke par with a 4-under 32. But Miles wasn't limiting himself to competition in South Dakota. He began testing his game against some of the best junior golfers in the country.

A major part of Miles' development has been his willingness to compete. Rather than waiting until he was older to challenge himself, Miles began playing in older age divisions and traveling to tournaments outside of South Dakota.

That competitive experience has become an important part of his growth. His progression eventually led him to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship at Pinehurst, where Miles finished T-8th in his age division in 2026. For a young golfer from Brandon, competing at Pinehurst against players from across the country provided another opportunity to learn what it takes to perform on a national stage.

Growing up in South Dakota presents a unique challenge for young golfers. The competitive season is limited, and winter weather can make traditional outdoor practice impossible.

For Miles, Iron Range Golf Performance has provided an environment where development doesn't have to stop when the weather changes. At Iron Range, Miles has access to TrackMan technology, a large putting green, short-game space, and year-round opportunities to practice and compete.

In a 2026 interview with Dakota News Now, Miles talked about the importance of being able to practice his putting and short game at Iron Range, while Danny Sinksen highlighted the facility's ability to provide young golfers with multiple avenues for development during the winter months.

In 2025, Miles entered the Drive, Chip & Putt qualifying process. Thousands of young golfers across the country competed for the opportunity to reach the National Finals.

Miles kept advancing: 

-Local competition.

-Subregional competition.

-Regional competition.

And eventually, the field was narrowed to just 80 junior golfers from across the country.

Miles earned his spot. The destination?

Augusta National Golf Club.

The opportunity was more than a trip to Georgia. It was the culmination of months of competition and a chance to test his skills on one of golf's biggest stages.

On April 5, 2026, Miles competed in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National.

Against the best young golfers in the country, Miles delivered a performance that placed him among the nation's best.

He finished 4th overall in the Boys 10-11 division with 21 points.

His performance included:

2nd — Putting
6th — Driving
7th — Chipping
4th — Overall

For Miles, Augusta wasn't simply the destination. It was another step in the process. And perhaps even more importantly, it gave him the opportunity to experience what is possible when a young golfer commits himself to development.

One of the most exciting aspects of Miles' development is his attitude toward competition.

He doesn't simply want to participate.

He wants to compete.

That mindset has taken him from local junior tournaments in South Dakota to national competitions at Pinehurst and Augusta National.

And despite the accomplishments already on his résumé, Miles remains focused on improving.

His continued development is a reflection of the environment around him—including the consistent coaching and relationship he has built with Drew Trautman and Danny Sinksen at Iron Range Golf Performance.