The 2021 NSAA boys state golf championships came to their conclusion on Wednesday. Brendon Walker survived an up and down final round Wednesday to claim the Class D individual championship. After opening with a 2 under par 70 on day one of the competition, Walker started the day with a four shot lead but his round began with a bogey then double bogey which allowed Teegan Sonneman of North Platte St. Pat’s, who birdied two of his first three holes Wednesday, to briefly take the lead. Walker would rebound though thanks to an eagle on the par 4 6th hole followed by a birdie on the par 5 7th. Walker finished with a 37 on the front nine. The back nine for Walker also started a bit rough with a bogey on the 10th and a double on the par 5 11th but again Walker would rebound finishing with a 39 on the back nine after enduring a 95 minute delay due to lightning in the area. Walker would finish with a two day total 146, which was 8 shots better than Connor Hasenauer of North Platte St. Pat’s who was second. Brett Downing of Sandhills/Thedford, who played in the final group with Walker on Wednesday, followed up his opening 77 with an 82 on Wednesday for a two day total 159 as he finished tied for fourth. Colbi Smith of South Loup medaled in the top ten. Smith shot an 82 on Tuesday and bettered that with an 80 on Wednesday for a two day total of 162 which finished tied for 8th overall. Barak Birch of Burwell finished tied for 10th. Birch shot two rounds of 82 for a two day total of 164. Burwell’s Dillon Critel followed his opening round 88 with a final day 84 to finish tied for 19th overall. Quade Hunt finished with a two day total 185, Augustus Eliot had a two day total 187, and Jace Ostrom had a two day total of 214 for the Longhorns. Burwell finished 4th in the final team standings with a two day total of 708 just seven shots behind third place Franklin. North Platte St. Pat’s won the Class D team title with a 645.
Blake Denson of Broken Bow competed at the Class B championships held at the Elks Country Club in Columbus. Denson shot an 89 for his opening round Tuesday and followed that up with a 92 for his final round on Wednesday for a two day total of 181 which finished tied for 51st overall. Jakeb Scherer of Gothenburg, who shot an opening round 78 Tuesday, followed up with a round of 86 on Wednesday to finish with a two day total of 164 which was tied for 17th overall. Luke Gutschewski of Mount Michael Benedictine was the Class B individual champion finishing at 2 under par for the tournament. Mount Michael was also the team champion.