Mittag is 2026 Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year
Tarheel's Sweep of Men's Majors Produces Another Postseason Award
OMAHA (November 13, 2026) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Ashland's Coltrane Mittag as the 2026 Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year presented by SWAG.
Mittag, who now competes for the University of North Carolina, broke through in a big way this summer, securing his first two NebGolf titles. He left no doubt that he would be the Golfer of the Year, winning the points race by a significant margin.
Mittag was just the seventh player to sweep NebGolf's men's majors, and became the youngest to do so. It's the first such award for Mittag, although he is a two-time Nebraska Junior Golfer of the Year (2023 and 2025).
Mittag had many highlights this summer, but his record-breaking performance at the 118th Nebraska Amateur Championship at Norfolk Country Club is at the top of the list. Mittag won by seven strokes with a 267 (-21) total, tying the championship record, which has stood for 28 years.
In his wire-to-wire win, Mittag had the low round of the day three of the four rounds. He tied the 18-hole scoring record, 36-hole scoring record, broke the 54-hole scoring record and tied the 72-hole scoring record. Mittag also became just the sixth player to post all four rounds in the 60s. He matched Steve Friesen's 21-under record, which was set in 1998.
A month earlier in June, Mittag had broken through for his first NebGolf title. He earned the No. 10 seed at the 59th Nebraska Match Play Championship at Oak Hills Country Club in Omaha, and after a tough opening match, began to roll his way through the 64-player bracket. Mittag won the last two holes in the Round of 64 to defeat Omaha's Jacob Cosimano, 2 up.
After that, it was wins of 7 and 6 over Creighton golfer Radley Mauney, then 5 and 4 over Kearney's Nash Malone. Mittag won four of the last eight holes against Lincoln's Zack Erstad, the No. 2 seed, to win, 2 and 1, in the Quarterfinals. He then won two of the last four to take out Lincoln's Carter Honnens in the Semifinals, 2 and 1.
The 36-hole Final against Omaha's Ryan Rogers was an instant classic, as both players came out firing. They were tied after the first 18, and Rogers jumped out to a 2-up lead early in the second 18, but it was all Mittag from there. He won six of the last 12 holes to take the match, 3 and 1. Mittag is the second-youngest player to win the Nebraska Match Play, at 18 year, nine months and 19 days.
On the national stage, Mittag fired rounds of 68 (-2) and 69 (-1) at the 126th North and South Amateur at Pinehurst Resort. That earned him a spot into the match play bracket, but he fell in the opening round to Cam Smith of the University of Arkansas, 3 and 1.
Mittag also finished tied for fourth at the 2026 Indian Creek Invitational, shooting rounds of 70 (-2) and 72 (E) for a 142 (-2) total.
Mittag 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 Women's Amateur Golfer of the Year, Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year, Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year and Girls' 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.
