Thiele is 2026 Nebraska Girls' Golfer of the Year
First Award for Husker Commit
OMAHA (November 13, 2026) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Wahoo's Brooke Thiele as the 2026 Nebraska Girls’ Amateur Golfer of the Year presented by SWAG.
Thiele, a senior at Bishop-Neumann High School, had an incredible year and ran away with the points race to earn her first award. She secured her second NebGolf title this summer, and is the third Thiele sister to earn this award. Her sisters Haley (2013, 2014 and 2015) and Hannah (2015 and 2016) both previously won the award multiple times.
Thiele's crowning achievement came at Oakland Golf Club in June, where she defended her Nebraska Girls' Amateur title in record fashion. She went wire-to-wire to win the 26th Nebraska Girls' Amateur Championship, shattering her own 54-hole scoring record by 12 strokes with a 210 (-6) total. Thiele won by four strokes and became the sixth player to repeat. Her first two rounds of 69 (-3) were also championship records, matched by two other players that week.
A month later, Thiele looked like she was on track to earn a sweep of the girls' championships at Fremont Golf Club for the 64th Nebraska Girls' Match Play Championship. She tied with Minden's KayLynn Jorgensen for medalist honors in Stroke Play Qualifying, both with rounds of 68 (-3). Then, as the No. 1 seed, she rolled through the bracket with wins of 6 and 4, 5 and 4, and 6 and 4. It set up a battle against Jorgensen, the defending champion, in the Final. Thiele took a 1-up lead into the 18th hole, but Jorgensen won the closing hole and the first extra hole, to secure the title in 19 holes.
Thiele also showed she can hang with the best collegiate players in the state, as she finished fourth at the 52nd Nebraska Women's Amateur Championship at Lochland Country Club in June. She led after a first round 70 (-2), and eventually finished five strokes back at 222 (+6). Thiele also earned Low Junior honors with her finish.
In July at York Country Club, Thiele broke par once again to earn medalist honors and the No. 1 seed at the 103rd Nebraska Women's Match Play Championship. She won her first two matches, before falling to Minden's Macy Jorgensen in the Quarterfinals.
Thiele also had an impressive finish at the 2026 NSAA Class C Boys Golf Championship, earning a medal in seventh place. She plays on the boys team at Bishop-Neumann, since they do not have a girls team. Thiele took third in the 2026 Nebraska PGA Junior Championship, and also competed well on the national stage, tying for third at the Optimist International and tying for 37th at the North and South Junior Amateur at Pinehurst Resort.
Thiele also led Team Nebraska at the 58th Girls' Four-State Matches at Echo Valley Country Club in Iowa. She went 2-1 in her matches, the only player to earn 2 points for Nebraska.
Thiele 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, Junior 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.
