Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today
GRAND ISLAND — Kearney Catholic’s Nash Malone and Tate Redinger both shot 1-under par 71 to land in a three-way tie for the top spot Wednesday in first-round play of the Class C NSAA Boys Golf Championships at Jackrabbit Run Golf Course.
The Stars’ duo is tied with Archbishop Bergan freshman Jack Luebbe heading into Thursday’s final round. Norfolk Catholic’s Callen Marshall shot even-par 72 and stands fourth, while the trio of Archbishop Bergan’s Boston Bojanski, Centura’s Jack Hadenfeldt and Doniphan-Trumbull’s Jett Hollister are two shots back of the lead at 73.
Grand Island Central Catholic junior Jack Alberts shot 2-over 74, finishing day one in a three-way tie for eighth place with Grant Schieffer of Crofton and Jackson Wegner of St. Paul. Zephyr Mowinkel of Milford and Rylan Gilmore of Ogallala are tied for 11th at 75.
In the team standings, Archbishop Bergan leads the way at 301 and Kearney Catholic — the two-time defending state champion in Class C — is one stroke back at 302. Norfolk Catholic is third (312), EMF is fourth (318) and St. Paul is fifth (329).
Other Kearney Catholic competitors include Jackson Dunham (tied for 23rd at 78), Asher O’Brien (tied for 50th at 82) and Connor Bash (tied for 55th at 83). Dunham, a senior, won the individual Class A state title in 2023.
Consecutive birdies on holes 16, 17 and 18 powered Malone’s round of 71. The junior also had birdies at No. 5 and No. 8.
Redinger’s opening round was marked by steady play as he made 13 pars, including every hole on the front nine. The senior birdied Nos. 12, 15 and 16 against two bogeys on the back nine.
Second-round play in the 36-hole tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday.
