The Stars became the fourth Class C boys golf program to capture three consecutive state titles, (Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — It was a sweet, sweet three-peat for Kearney Catholic Thursday in the Class C NSAA Boys Golf Championships at Jackrabbit Run Golf Course.
The Stars became the fourth Class C boys golf program to capture three consecutive state titles. They joined Alma (2000-2002 in Class C-2) and Grand Island Central Catholic as Class C teams to win three straight titles. The Crusaders won Class B in 2002 before finishing out their three-peat with Class C-1 wins in 2003 and 2004.
Oakland-Craig won 11 consecutive Class C crowns from 1979-89. That streak is tied for first in the nation.
“A lot of teams have won two in a row, but to three-peat, it was hard and a lot of pressure,” Kearney Catholic coach Darrell Dunham said. “Man, they played great.”
The Stars fired a school-record round of 291 in day two to erase a one-shot deficit and finished with a Class C state-tournament record total of 593, topping first-day leader Fremont Bergan by nine strokes. Nash Malone and Tate Redinger added to Kearney Catholic’s haul with a 1-2 finish in the individual standings.
Trailing by one shot entering the final round, Dunham said he didn’t have to search for any fiery words of inspiration for his squad.
“The conversation — and it’s been this way the whole year — was just, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing,’” Dunham said. “A couple of guys didn’t play their best (on Wednesday), but they came back and played really well today. Even Tate and Nash, they played well (Wednesday), but they came out in red numbers today and played amazingly well.”
Leading the way was Malone, who shot 1-under-par 71 to share the first-round lead before carding a 4-under 68 on Thursday to edge Redinger by a stroke. The victory came on the heels of last year’s second-place finish when Malone lost in a playoff for medalist honors to St. Paul’s Samuel Wells.
“That was heart-breaking for Nash last year,” Dunham said. “I’m super, super happy for him to get it done this year.”
Five birdies on the front nine got Malone off to a strong start. The junior finished with seven birdies against three bogeys and made par on his final five holes to post a 36-hole total of 5-under 139.
“I made a lot more putts today,” Malone said. “I kind of just picked a line and trusted it and a lot more went in.”
Malone’s 36-hole total of 5-under (139) was the lowest in relation to par in Class C state tournament history. Gibbon’s Rylee Reinerston shot 4-under 136 in 2014 on the par-70 layout at Lincoln’s Mahoney Golf Course.
Redinger, a senior who shared the first-round lead with Malone and Fremont Bergan’s Jackson Luebbe, fired a second-round 69 to finish second at 140. Kearney Catholic’s Jackson Dunham tied for 15th at 154, while teammates Asher O’Brien shot 160 and Connor Bash shot 165.
Malone said hard work and team unity helped the Stars complete the three-peat.
“I think we’re just all really dedicated and we just practice all the time,” Malone said. “We’re all really good friends — it’s just like a big family.”
Outside of Kearney Catholic, St. Paul had the top Class C team finish in the Tri-Cities area, ending fifth at 646. Grand Island Central Catholic placed sixth (651) and Amherst was seventh (653).
Among area players, Sutton’s Jaydn Friesen finished fourth (146), Doniphan-Trumbull’s Jett Hollister tied for fifth (148) and Grand Island Central Catholic Jack Alberts ended 10th (151). Amherst’s Cope Smith and Centura’s Jack Hadenfeldt finished in a seven-way tie for 15th at 154.
