First 2026 Fall State Championships Arrive With Wyoming Golf Titles on the Line
The 2026 Wyoming High School Golf State Championships are split between this weekend and the middle of next week. It is the first culminating event during the fall sports season. The three classifications will play 36 holes of medal play. That’s 18 holes both days in Evanston and Torrington. Class 4A and 2A will play at the same course in Evanston, which is why the season was extended through Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Four defending champions will have a chance to win another title. They all play in Class 2A and 3A.
WYOPREPS 2026 STATE GOLF PREVIEW
Class 3A – Cottonwood Country Club in Torrington, WY (Sept. 18 & 19)
Wheatland is favored in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions. The Bulldogs are seeking a 3-peat, while the Wheatland girls go for a repeat. The boys will have some stiff competition from Lander again. Meanwhile, the girls are heavy favorites entering the championships.
Both defending champions return with a chance at another title. Addison Bettinger from Buffalo is the defending 3A girls’ champ. Tate Nichols from Wheatland has won the last two boys’ crowns. Both won a conference title last week.
Bettinger’s chief competition is Haylie Nelson from Wheatland. Those two have multiple wins this season. Wheatland’s Tayen Wakkuri and Jaylen Kaufman, as well as Kenley Wilson from Lovell and Powell’s Emery Hernandez, could be a factor for the medalist honor.
Nichols’ toughest competition looks to be from teammate Jacob Miller. Other contenders include Powell’s Cody Fisher, Lander’s William Oland, Tongue River’s Easton Lewis, Wheatland’s Fletcher McKee and Griff Nichols, and Buffalo’s Bryson Kolb.
Both days feature tee times at 10 a.m. in Torrington.
Class 4A – Purple Sage Golf Course in Evanston, WY (Sept. 18 & 19)
Both the Evanston girls and Campbell County boys have won the last two 4A team titles. Entering this year’s state championship, the Evanston girls are playing on their home course and are a threat to 3-peat. Campbell County has shown improvement as a team throughout the season, but they won’t be a favorite. Kelly Walsh, Laramie, Riverton, Thunder Basin, and Star Valley will be in the mix with the Camels. It’s shaping up to be an intriguing boys’ team race.
Class 4A is guaranteed two new individual winners again, after the 2025 champs both graduated.
On the ladies’ side, Bella Beach from Cheyenne Central enters as the overall favorite. She’s put together a fantastic 2026 season. Plenty of contenders will try to snatch away that crown. Cody’s Eliana Hopkin won the 4A West Conference medalist honor last weekend by 18 shots. Expect her to be in the mix. Other contenders will include Laramie’s Addie Plassmeyer, Star Valley’s Katie Ricks, Sheridan’s Hannah Barnes, and Khloe Romo from Kelly Walsh.
Jaxon Burr from Campbell County will be the favorite in the boys’ division. He’s got plenty of challengers, including Deegan Hill and Braxton Johnson from Star Valley; Riverton’s Brody Taylor and Cade Kisling; Gibby Williams from Thunder Basin; Laramie’s Porter Stender; Abe Cole from Cheyenne East; Jaxson Bratton from Natrona County; Bentley West from Evanston, and more.
Both days of the state championships feature tee times starting at 9 a.m. in Evanston.
Class 2A – Purple Sage Golf Course in Evanston, WY (Kemmerer is the host – Sept. 22 & 23)
The Thermopolis girls and Sundance boys are the defending team champions. Thermopolis and Sundance are the top contenders for the girls’ team crown. Ten Sleep could be a dark horse. The Wright Panthers probably have the favorite mantle for the boys’ title. Big Horn, Sundance, and Kemmerer will be the main challengers.
Individually, Tazlyn Wagner from Kemmerer will try for a third consecutive girls’ state championship. She is a heavy favorite to accomplish that feat. The top contenders include Ruth Needham from Thermopolis, Kelsie and Allie Griffin from Ten Sleep, and Makinli Mowery from Greybull/Riverside.
On the boys’ side, Trevan Benson from Kemmerer has a good chance in his bid to repeat as the 2A boys’ medalist. Benson will be pushed by Colton Gerler from Wright, Hudson Leimser from Lusk, Big Horn’s Trevin Skinner, Porter Watt from Sundance, and Ty Simeral from Thermopolis.
It’s a shotgun start on both days starting at 8 a.m.
As the state golf championships have proved in the past, there are always dark horses in the individual fields who could pull a surprise.
Weather Forecast
In Torrington, Friday’s first round looks good with sunny skies and a high of 86. Saturday will be a little cooler with a high temperature around 80 and a chance of thunderstorms after noon.
This weekend in Evanston, the weather will be cooler. Friday has a high around 70 degrees and a slight chance of some showers and thunderstorms. Saturday looks to be sunny, with a high of about 67.
Next week is a little far out, given the weather in Wyoming, but early indications are partly cloudy with highs around 70 and a small chance of precipitation.
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Gallery Credit: David Settle, WyoPreps.com
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