KEARNEY, Neb. - High school athletes are teeing off in Central Nebraska with the start of a multi-day state tournament.

The top boys golfers from across Nebraska are competing in Kearney this week to determine who’s the best in Class A.

The Kearney Country Club is hosting the the NSAA Class A Boys Golf championship this year with officials saying the course requires a slower pace than usual, and that golfers will have to put extra thought into every shot.

"Kearney Country Club is a unique track in the fact that it's smaller landing areas. The greens can be very difficult when they dry and get fast. There's not a lot of places to miss, and so we have to kind of be selective with your shot," said Kearney Country Club head golf professional Jonathan Reece.  

The city of Kearney will host the Class A boys for the next four years, with Meadowlark Hills and the Kearney Country Club alternating every year.

The Chamber of Commerce, Visit Kearney and other community groups worked to make the bid that got the state tournament into town.

NSAA officials say the community and course are perfect for the event.

"Kearney is a big partner with the NSAA and hosting our state championship events. We have the state cross-country championships actually here along with our state speech championships. So we have a great partnership with the community," said NSAA Assistant Director Jon Dolliver.

The tournament wraps up Thursday, and organizers say they’re looking forward to Kearney holding more state events in the future.