KEARNEY, Neb. - A new boys golf state champion is crowned, and it all came down to the wire at the NSAA Class A State Championship in Kearney.

Lincoln East surprised the field this week by taking home the Class A team title, with Max Moss winning the individual championship on a playoff finish at Kearney Country Club.

Moss and Miles Elgert of Lincoln Southeast were tied going into hole 16.Each competitor would bogey once between the next two holes before making par on the 18th, ending in a two-way tie.

Moss then beat Elgert by making par on the first playoff hole to win the individual title.

"I didn't start off the year great, but I kept grinding and it paid off, so it feels good and it's a lot better, since you can celebrate together," said Moss.

The Lincoln East Spartans also claimed the team title by edging out the reigning, back-to-back champion Westside warriors by just two total strokes.

Carter Honnens, also from Lincoln East, and Thomas Kelley of Creighton Prep tied for third place in the individual competition.

The Lincoln East coaching staff said the whole team was peaking at the right time entering the State tournament.

"We came out here today with a little bit of momentum and that kind of just took us through and we had a few ups and downs today. The guys just stuck to the game plan out here and that's what you have to do, you can't force it, you can't really try to make birdies, they just have to come because you hit the ball well. We really stuck to that all day and it really worked out," said 

Kearney will host the Class A Boys state championships for the next 4 years, alternating between the Country Club and Meadowlark golf courses.