Family experiences inspire Bronson to pursue college golf, business after college

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Carly Bronson will attend Southwest Minnesota State University in the fall, where she will play with the SMSU golf team.

Carly Bronson and her family moved to Hayfield when she was in second grade.
Around the same time, her oldest brother, Keegan, was getting into golf.
Bronson would follow in her brother’s footsteps, starting golf at the varsity level in seventh grade and making it to state for five consecutive seasons.
The brother and sister got to play for a couple of seasons together while Bronson was still a middle-schooler and Keegan was an upperclassman.
Their middle brother, Ty, also played for a few seasons with both his siblings.
Bronson followed in her brother’s path for years, and that will continue as she plays golf at the collegiate level next year, after graduating from Hayfield High School with the class of 2026.
She said seeing her brother go on to play at the next level was an inspiration for her.
“He was so amazing in my eyes and I was like, ‘wow, this is cool,’ so I kinda want to do that.”
Bronson said they play a lot of golf together; she sees him getting better every round.
“It’s just so fun to watch that,” she said, adding that it inspired her even more to want to play at the next level.
“I was like, ‘wow, he’s playing better now that he’s in college, and he’s playing college golf,’ and I (thought), ‘that’s what I want. I want to get better.’”
Keegan Bronson’s story has actually been an inspiration for many — but for what happened off the course.
In 2023 he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
He continued to play college golf — and graduated recently from Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa.
“It does push me, especially this season,” Bronson said. “He’s been going through new treatment and there’s more spotting of cancer … so it’s getting a little tough for me to focus on my golf this season, so that’s especially pushing me to really try.”
Bronson said she hopes to finish in the top five this year at the state meet.
“Just reminding myself of what he’s going through — and what he has gone through — is gonna really push me this year to do my best for him,” she said.
As Bronson approached her junior and senior years, she began to get serious about looking at where she would play after high school.
When she learned more about Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in Marshall, she decided it was where she would commit.
“SMSU kind of just stuck with me,” Bronson said. “They’re Division II, they’re close to home, love the coach, and…the girls on the team are just amazing. I’m really excited to play with them.”
Bronson will double-major in marketing and management.
“I’ve been working at that since I was a junior,” she said. “I have been doing PSEO classes and they told me that actually my marketing degree actually overlaps. So if I wanted to double-major in management, it would work well, so I was like, ‘sure.’ So I’m taking on a sport and a double major. It might be a lot, but I’m excited for it.”
Bronson said her dad is a salesman, and said “his job to me when I was younger seemed so fun, and I (thought), ‘this is something that I want to do.’”
It is the driving factor in her decision for a major, she said.
“He drives around all the time and he talks to all these people and it seems like something I feel like I’d be really good at; it just piques my interest a lot more.”
Bronson said her plan is to focus on international marketing.
In addition to playing golf, Bronson also played volleyball and was involved in student council, but golf has always been her true passion.
“I pour a lot of my time into golf in the summer, in the fall, in the winter; it’s pretty much a year-round thing for me,” she said.
Bronson said she is looking forward to the next chapter in life.
“I’m just really happy with the way everything’s been panning out,” she said. “It’s just been so fun, and I’m excited for the next step away from high school and high school golf and everything — just to start a whole new chapter, but it’s all been so amazing.
“I’m really, really happy that I’ve spent these years at Hayfield.”

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Carly Bronson’s father looks on as the two of them enjoy a round of golf. Bronson, who will graduate this spring from Hayfield High School, has been a standout golfer for the time.

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After making the State golf tournament for five straight seasons, Carly Bronson is looking to close out her high school career with a sixth straight trip.