For the second time since 2017, the Class AÂ team champion is likely to come from outside of Lincoln. The other two classes? They're much more open. Here's a look at what to expect as the state's best tee it up on Monday and Tuesday.
Class A
Site: Riverside Golf Club, Grand Island.
2023 state champions: Lincoln East (team), Eden Larson, Lincoln Southwest (individual).
State qualifying teams:Â Omaha Marian (311 district score), Lincoln East (332), Omaha Westside (335), Lincoln Southwest (341), Kearney (352), Elkhorn South (358), Columbus (369), Norfolk (383), North Platte (384), Millard West (393), Fremont (393), Lincoln Southeast (398).
Returning '23 state medalists: Eden Larson, Southwest (first), Isabella Elgert, East (second), Madison Murnan, Omaha Marian (fifth), Ansley Giesselmann, Fremont (sixth), Lauren Murnan, Omaha Marian (ninth), Lucy Peterson, Omaha Marian (ninth), Addison Shirk, East (12th).
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Outlook: For the second time since 2017, the team champion is likely to come from outside of Lincoln. Omaha Marian has been dominant all season and had Class A's best district score by 21 shots. Three Crusaders finished in the top 10 at last year's state tournament. Marian is the overwhelming favorite to stand on top of the podium for the first time since winning the last of its six straight titles in 2010. The individual race will be much more wide open. Eden Larson defeated Lincoln East's Isabella Elgert in a playoff to win last season's title, and both return this year. Larson heads to state with wins in her last four tournaments. Marian could have four players contending for the individual championship, and Fremont's Ansley Giesselman will be in the mix as well.
Class B
Site:Â Monument Shadows Golf Course, Gering.
2023 state champions:Â Omaha Duchesne (team), Kiera Paquette (Beatrice).
State qualifying teams:Â Omaha Duchesne (353 district score), Elkhorn North (356), Omaha Skutt (370), Norris (371), Bennington (375), Gretna East (375), Sidney (381), York (382), Lincoln Pius X (383), Scottsbluff (389), Adams Central (394), Grand Island Northwest (405).
Returning '23 state medalists:Â Whitney Dahir, Omaha Duchesne (fourth), Anabelle Bang, Elkhorn (10th), Peyton Hartman, Adams Central (11th), Isabelle Johnson, Nebraska City (13th), Addison Peck, Scottsbluff (15th).
Outlook: Just five individual medalists return from last season, including only two — Omaha Duchesne's Whitney Dahir and Elkhorn's Anabelle Bang — who finished in the top 10. Dahir was fourth in 2022, making this year's individual race as wide open as it gets. Omaha Duchesne, despite losing two seniors off last season's state champion squad, will be in contention for its third consecutive title and seventh in the last 10 seasons. Elkhorn North, which won in 2021, finished third in 2022, and second last season, will push for the title as well. Those two squads were the only ones to break 370 at districts.Â
Class C
Site: Lake Maloney Golf Club, North Platte.Â
2023 state champions: Broken Bow (team), Camryn Johnson, Broken Bow (individual).
State qualifying teams:Â Minden (349 district score), Holdrege (373), Wayne (378), Sutton (381), Chadron (385), Grand Island Central Catholic (387), EMF (384), Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (398), Scotus Central Catholic (399), West Holt (403), Ogallala (413), Valentine (422), Lincoln Christian (431), Omaha Concordia (432), Boone Central (441).
Returning '23 state medalists: Mia Hiebner, Heartland (fourth), KayLynn Jorgensen, Minden (fourth), Kara Suchsland, Minden (seventh), Julia Messere, GICC (8th), Reese Ribera, Ogallala (12th), Amelia Ptacnik, Holdrege (13th), Joslyn Johnson, Wayne (14th), Molly Custer, Broken Bow (15th).
Outlook:Â We're guaranteed new team and individual champions in Class C. Four-time defending team champ Broken Bow didn't qualify as a team this season, and the top three finishers from last season's state meet were all seniors. Minden is the favorite in the team race. Coached by former Whippet standout Whitney (Schwenka) Maulsby, the Whippets had the fifth-best district score regardless of Class and the best in Class C by 24 shots. Minden is trying to win its 12th title, which would be the second-most in state history, and first since 2014. Heartland's Mia Hiebner and Minden's KayLynn Jorgensen tied for fourth individually last season, and will be among the favorites this week.