COLUMBUS, Neb. — The Kearney Catholic Stars are Class C boys state golf champions for the first time in program history. 

The Stars took the title at The Elks Country Club in Columbus with a two-day score of 53 over par. That total is 23 strokes better than Grand Island Central Catholic, who finished in second place. Kearney Catholic entered Wednesday with a three-stroke lead over the Crusaders after firing a 320 in round one. The top four finishers on the five-man team improved to tally a 309 in round two to win the championship by a comfortable margin.

Jackson Dunham of Kearney Catholic won the individual championship by shooting five over par. The sophomore had a three-stroke lead after the first day and started day two by parring every hole on the front nine. He shot three over par on the back nine to log a two-day total of 149.

Dunham is the second Kearney Catholic golfer to win the individual title. Phil Hranac won the C-1 championship in 2004 and 2005.

Bowdie Fox of GICC was second at eight over. Jack Alberts of GICC tied for fourth and Austin Adelung of Amherst finished tied for sixth.

The five Kearney Catholic golfers who competed at state were Dunham, Landon Edeal, Nash Malone, Tate Redinger and Quinten Hogeland.