Meet Team Nebraska for the 41st Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup
Matches to be Conducted Monday-Tuesday at Lawrence Country Club
OMAHA (August 1, 2026) - Eight juniors have earned their way to represent Nebraska at the 41st Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup Matches at Lawrence Country Club, August 3-4.
The annual event pits the best juniors competing head-to-head in Four-Ball, Foursomes, and Singles matches. Last year, Nebraska reclaimed the Cup with a 10.5-5.5 victory. Kansas leads overall series, 23-17.
Elkhorn's Jake Hirz will lead the team as the captain for the fifth-straight year. Hirz was the head boys' golf coach at Millard North High School for several years, and played golf collegiately at Wayne State.
The Nebraska team will be represented by four returning members from last year's team, including a three-time team member Tommy Kelley of Omaha. He's joined by last year's teammates, Zack Erstad of Lincoln, Jaxson Hinze of Waco and Carter Honnens of Lincoln.
Kelley, the 2026 Nebraska Junior Amateur Champion, is on the team for a third time. The Creighton Prep graduate will join the Husker men's golf team this fall. All four returning team members will be Huskers as well. Erstad and Honnens helped Lincoln East to the Class A team title in May, and both are now committed to Nebraska. Erstad will join Kelley in the fall, and Honnens, Class of 2027, the following year. Hinze, the 2025 Nebraska Junior Amateur Champion, graduated from York High School and is also going to be a Husker this fall.
Four first-time team members will compete, including the 2026 Nebraska Junior Match Play Champion Miles Elgert of Lincoln. Elgert, Class of 2027, is committed to the University of Oregon.
Elkhorn's Andrew Nietfeldt, Valley's Harper Kalin and Omaha's Knox Pocras will play in their first Junior Cup as well. Nietfeldt, a graduate of Elkhorn North, is headed to Creighton this fall. Kalin plays for Creighton Prep and is in the Class of 2028, while Pocras is in the Class of 2027 and competes for Omaha Westside.
2026 Team Nebraska
Miles Elgert, Lincoln
Zack Erstad, Lincoln
Jaxson Hinze, Waco
Carter Honnens, Lincoln
Harper Kalin, Valley
Tommy Kelley, Omaha
Andrew Nietfeldt, Elkhorn
Knox Pocras, Omaha
2026 Team Kansas
Jack Butterbaugh, Lenexa
Max Farber, Derby
Josh Fratzel, Shawnee
Kaden Leivian, Wichita
Connor MacGee, Stilwell
Henry Mayor, Mission Hills
Peyton Smith, Lee's Summit
Henry Thompson, Lawrence
Additional information is available at the Junior Cup website below.
About NebGolf
The Nebraska Golf Association (NebGolf), founded in 1966, is comprised of all members of public and private clubs and/or municipal or regional golf associations which utilize an approved handicap service recognized by the USGA and provided by NebGolf. Our mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values to all golfers in Nebraska. Among the duties of the Association include governance of member clubs and service as their handicapping and course rating authority, conduct of state golf championships, local USGA qualifying & other notable competitions, promotion of junior golf, presentation of worthwhile educational programs and support of allied golf organizations in Nebraska. The Nebraska Golf Association is an Allied Golf Association of the USGA and carries out core services including Handicap Administration and Oversight, Course Rating, Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status, Tournaments and USGA Championship Qualifiers and USGA Initiatives and Community Programs.
