Wyoming’s prep golf season for 2023 is here. The short six-week season will wrap up by mid-September.

Compared to a year ago at this time, there has been a little more turnover.

During the 2022 season, Upton and Wheatland repeated as Class 2A and 3A girls’ team champions. Kelly Walsh got back to the top of Class 4A for the first time since 2018. On the boys’ side, Thermopolis won their fifth consecutive Class 2A crown, and both Riverton (3A) and Jackson (4A) repeated as team champs. On the individual front, Brooklyn Materi, Erika Cook, and Parker Paxton won medalist honors again. First-time winners last year included Hadley Johnson and Josh Lane, while Samantha Spielman won for the second time in three years.

How does that impact the 2023 season? Cook and Paxton will be vying for their fourth straight title. Lane will try to repeat in 4A boys, but the other three titles will have a new winner.

Class 2A has its 2023 championships at the Newcastle Country Club next month. Class 3A will finish at Green Hills Golf Course in Worland. The Class 4A championship heads to Sheridan at the Powderhorn Golf Club.

Get our free mobile app

Class 2A

Top Returning Girls Players = Ciarra Moore (Upton), Savanah Peterson (Sundance), Baylie May (Tongue River).

Top Girls Teams = Upton, Sundance.

Top Returning Boys Players = Carter Wood (Kemmerer), Logan Timberman (Upton), Braxton Tremain (Tongue River), Hayden Overfield (Thermopolis).

Top Boys Teams = Thermopolis, Kemmerer, Upton.

2A Breakdown = There will be a new champion in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions. Moore of Upton is the top returning finisher from last year’s state championships, but some young and upcoming talent, even some hidden gems, may appear in the girls’ race. Wood, Timberman, and Tremain look to be a three-man race for the top spot, but a few dark horses could play the role of spoiler. Until someone knocks off the Upton girls and Thermopolis boys, they are favored entering a new season.

Class 3A

Top Returning Girls Players = Erika Cook (Lovell, three-time defending champ), Isabell Salas (Green River), Lily Nicholls (Wheatland), Macy Jones (Wheatland), Bryley Waring (Wheatland).

Top Girls Teams = Wheatland, Evanston, Lovell.

Top Returning Boys Players = Parker Paxton (Riverton, three-time defending champ), Sam Dolezal (Evanston), Brodie Dale (Riverton), Riley Stoudt (Lander), Ryker Lind (Evanston).

Top Boys Teams = Riverton, Evanston.

3A Breakdown = Both the girls and boys have three-time defending champions. The big question is how significant will the challengers be to Cook and Paxton? They are the two best golfers in the state. The girls’ race might be closer, as Salas, Nicholls, and others got a little closer last year. The Wheatland girls and Riverton boys both won by comfortable margins last year. They are the favorites entering this season. Evanston will try to close the gap.

Class 4A

Top Returning Girls Players = Cheyenne Ward (Natrona County), Maggie Teague (Natrona County), Madison Griffin (Kelly Walsh), Shelbi Gardner (Sheridan).

Top Girls Teams = Kelly Walsh, Sheridan, Natrona County, Cheyenne Central.

Top Returning Boys Players = Josh Lane (Kelly Walsh), Hayes Millham (Jackson), Bodie Williams (Thunder Basin), PJ Horsley (Star Valley).

Top Boys Teams = Kelly Walsh, Jackson, Cheyenne Central.

4A Breakdown = There is a bit of the ‘changing of the guard’ at the top of 4A girls’ golf this fall. Several top players graduated, which leaves the race more open than it has been. Some top players do return led by the duo at NC. Josh Lane returns to defend a title he won in a playoff last year. Some other returning all-state players will be chasing him to see if they can claim the top position. Team-wise, some familiar squads should be in contention again. The girls look even between Sheridan, Kelly Walsh, and Natrona. Cheyenne Central might be able to sneak closer to the top. For the boys, it is Jackson, Cheyenne Central, and Kelly Walsh at the top.

Did we miss anyone? Probably. A lot can change from the spring through the summer and into this new fall season. Good luck!

If you ever have any golf photos during the season, feel free to email them to david@wyopreps.com.