Kelley is 2026 Nebraska Junior Golfer of the Year
First Award for New Husker
OMAHA (November 13, 2026) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Omaha's Tommy Kelley as the 2026 Nebraska Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year presented by SWAG.
Kelley, a graduate of Omaha Creighton Prep, put together a historic performance at the Nebraska Junior Amateur to win his first NebGolf title and catapult himself to this award. It's the first such award for Kelley, who is now competing for the Husker men's golf team as a freshman.
Any talk of Kelley's 2026 campaign has to start at the 59th Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship at Oakland Golf Club. He shattered the championship scoring record by five strokes with his 202 (-14) total, and became the first player to post all three rounds in the 60s. His final round 66 (-6) is tied for the second-lowest in the championship's history.
Kelley had a solid showing at the 118th Nebraska Amateur at Norfolk Country Club, finishing tied for 20th with a 290 (+2) total. Only one junior golfer finished ahead of him, Zack Erstad of Lincoln (T8). Kelley also made the bracket at the 37th Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship, but had to forfeit his opening match due to illness.
It was on the national stage that Kelley really shined, with Top 10 finishes at the Bobby Chapman Invitational and the Pete & Alice Dye Junior Invitational. He also finished T-19 at the Western Junior Championship and T-27 at the North and South Junior Amateur at Pinehurst Resort.
Kelley tied for fourth at the NSAA Class A Boys Golf Championship with a 142 (-2) total, and went 2-1 in his matches at the 41st Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup at Lawrence Country Club in Kansas.
Kelley will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, November 20 at Indian Creek in Elkhorn (Tickets can be purchased here). In addition, NebGolf will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year, Girls' Amateur Golfer of the Year and Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year.
For more on the award, link 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.
