Smith is Class C runner-up

Sutton freshman tears up Indianhead course in GI with a 3-under, 141

Sutton freshman Myles Smith, in the eyes of his coach Randy Ahrens, who has been around high school boys golf for the better part of four decades, is a laser focused, well-prepared player.

Smith, Sutton’s lone state golf qualifier, made a name for himself during the 2026 Class C state golf championships at the Indianhead Golf Course, shooting a two-day, three-under par 141 to claim the Class C state runner-up title Thursday, May 28.

Ahrens said of Smith, “Myles is perhaps one of the most well-prepared kids I’ve ever coached in this sport. His demeanor, and focus have made Myles such a force to deal with on the golf course.”

Ahrens adds, “he puts so much time and effort into his game, his energy, to me, he never waivers, even when he finds himself in a tough position to hit from, Myles just processes what he’s thinking and gets after it.”

Smith opened his first-ever run at a high school state championship tournament on Wednesday, May 27, during the first round of play in Grand Island. He held down second place after the first day, trailing only Nash Malone of Kearney Catholic.

impressive six birdie holes, and just three bogey holes to end day one at three-under par. Malone led after day one at four-under par.

Day two for the Sutton freshman produced five birdies and five bogeys to shoot even par, but no birdie hole during Thursday’s 18-hole round was bigger than the final hole, number 18.

Smith began the final hole of the tournament tied at two-under par with three other players, Brenson Underwood and Braeden Dyer of Adams Central, along with Jack Alberts of Grand Island Central Catholic.

After Smith’s birdie on the 18th hole, he stood alone as the runner-up medalist with his two-day 141.

Smith was one of only seven freshmen in the field of 125 golfers in the Class C tournament field.

Malone, who also birdied the 18th hole, finished as the champion with a five-under par 139.

Smith finished day one with at three-under par 69, then came in at even par on day two, finishing with a 72.

Smith’s two day run in Grand Island, according to Ahrens, was “just impressive.” “Myles just has an aura about him, that I don’t need to talk him up. He has his plan, he knows his game very well. He’s just an impressive kid with a golf skill set like very few kids I’ve coached, in my career. He maintains his focus, whether or not he made a rough shot, or an impressive shot. He’s just channeled in and doesn’t get himself into many tough situations,” shared Ahrens.

Six of the top 10 medalists in the Class C state tournament came out of the same district tournament that Smith played in, the C-4 District tournament, including Malone, who finished ninth overall in district play, but came up big to win the state championship.

Others finishing in the top 10 with Smith from the C-4 District included Underwood and Dyer of Adams Central, Alberts of GICC, Casen Kavan of St. Paul, and Colten Butler of Superior.

In the final team standings, Bergan Catholic of Fremont and Adams Central both finished with two-day scores of 591, with Bergan Catholic gaining the top spot, and the Patriots, second.

Kearney Catholic ended play with a 600 to finish third in the team race.