Ryan Jansa - Inducted 2025

1991 Sioux Falls Lincoln/1996 New Mexico State graduate

Perhaps the greatest, but for certain the most decorated, amateur golfer in South Dakota history with a record 33 South Dakota Golf Association champions and numerous state runner-up finishes. Won nine husband-wife state titles with wife and fellow SDGA Hall of Famer Julie. He played professionally for several years, winning three events, including two on the Dakota Tour. Jansa gave up pro golf to raise a family until he turned 50 in 2023. His first PGA Tour event was the Sanford International on the Champions Tour in his hometown of Sioux Falls where Jansa finished at even par at the Minnehaha Country Club to finish tied for 55th to earn $4,400. The following September 2023 weekend, Jansa qualified for the Pure Insurance Championship on the famous Pebble Beach course (he didn’t make the final-day cut). In 2024, he qualified for and played in the Senior British Open in Scotland. Jansa, a golf and tennis player at SF Lincoln where he is a hall of fame member, led the Patriots to three State A golf team titles (1988-1990). In 1990, Jansa finished as state runner-up. Jansa played collegiately at New Mexico State, where he was a four-year starter and a first-team All-Big West Conference selection for the Aggies. In 1995, Jansa won the Big West Conference individual championship and the Aggies claimed the Big West team title. The Jansas have two children, Isaak (25) and Reese (20). Reese, an eight-time state golf champion who was the 2022 national high school player of the year, is playing collegiate golf at SDSU. Ryan’s dad, Steve, is also a member of the SDGA Hall of Fame.