Nebraskans Kelley, Hixson Sign with Huskers

Nebraska junior golfers Tommy Kelley and Jaxson Hinze signed to join the Husker men's golf team for the 2026-27 season, during the fall signing period in mid-November.

“I'm thrilled to welcome both Tommy Kelley and Jaxson Hinze to the Cornhusker golf family," Coach Judd Cornell said. "Tommy has already distinguished himself both locally and nationally after great finishes at the Western Junior and The Bobby Chapman. Jaxson comes in with great momentum as the 2025 Nebraska Junior Amateur Champion and multiple appearances at some of the top junior tournaments in the United States. We really look forward to bringing their drive, skill and championship mindset to the University of Nebraska.”

Kelley comes to Nebraska ranked No. 57 nationally in the 2026 class by Junior Golf Scoreboard. He was previously ranked as high as 49th on the list of the nation's top recruits.

Kelley has produced an outstanding junior golf career including three semifinal appearances at the Nebraska Junior Match Play. He advanced to the finals of the 2024 Junior Match Play, after earning a semifinal appearance in 2023. During the summer of 2025, Kelley posted the best score in stroke play before advancing to the semifinals of match play at the event. He added a third-place finish at the 2025 Nebraska Junior Amateur.

He tied for ninth at the 2025 Bobby Chapman Invitational and tied for 25th at the 2025 Western Junior Championship. Kelley also earned top-10 finishes at the AJGA Austin Minnesota (3rd), AJGA Wyndham Clark (6th), and the AJGA Wichita Championship (7th) in 2025.

In 2024, Kelley added a third-place finish at the AJGA Stan Utley Championship, a tie for fourth at the Indian Creek Invitational and a tie for seventh at the AJGA Colorado Junior. Earlier in his career, Kelley became the youngest player ever (14 years, 10 days) to make the cut at the Nebraska Men's Amateur Championship.

Along with outstanding junior career, Kelley has been one of the state's top high school golfers at Omaha Creighton Prep. He helped the Junior Jays to a fourth-place team finish while taking third individually as a junior in 2025. As a freshman, he was a member of Creighton Prep's Class A state runner-up team, finishing 14th individually, before helping Prep to a third-place team finish as a sophomore with a 13th-place individual effort.

A Super-State and all-state performer as a junior, he led the state of Nebraska in scoring differential during the 2025 season, while posting a 69.78 stroke average on the year. A two-time district champion, Kelley fired a Creighton Prep record 63 at the district championship as a sophomore in 2024.

Kelley selected Nebraska over Iowa State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Georgetown, South Dakota State and Wyoming.

"I chose Nebraska because of the amazing coaching staff and teammates who will push me to get better."

Hinze, a senior from Waco, Neb., captured the individual title at the 58th Nebraska Junior Amateur June 11, 2025. Hinze led after every round but had to hold off fellow Division I signee Zack Erstad in a playoff to claim the title. Hinze finished at 211 (-2) over three rounds at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course in Kearney.

Hinze and Erstad tied through 36 holes again at the Nebraska Junior PGA Championship in Fremont (June 16-17). Hinze posted a two-round total of 140 (-2) to qualify for the National Junior PGA Championship in West Lafayette, Ind. (July 29-August 1).

Hinze added a tie for fifth at the AJGA Coca-Cola Junior Championship at The Highlands in Harbor Springs, Mich. (June 30-July 3), where he finished at 218 (+2) after rounds of 70, 72 and 76.

During the high school season, Hinze was the Class B state runner-up for York, falling in a playoff at Monument Shadows in Gering. Hinze posted a two-round total of 139 (-3), including a 68 (-4) in the second round.

As a freshman, Hinze fired a school-record 67 (-5) to help York share the Class B-3 district title, before taking ninth individually at the state tournament in Gering to help the Dukes capture the Class B state team championship.

Hinze, who was ranked No. 189 by Junior Golf Scoreboard and No. 171 in AJGA, joined Kelley as one of eight players on the 2025 Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup team.

"I chose Nebraska because Judd and Travis (Minzel) are amazing coaches," Hinze said. "The team members, the facilities - both outdoor and indoor - the training table and everyone who will always be there to help me made Nebraska the best choice for me."