RAWLINS – The 3A state golf tournament was held in Rawlins to wrap up the 2024 competitive golf season. Heading into the state tournament, the Bulldog boys’ team were heavy favorites to take home the title. Individuals Tate Nichols and Haylie Nelson were expected to make a run for medalist honors.
Rawlins’ golf course, Rochelle Ranch, sits just north of I-25. When driving by it looks like sections of green grass scattered among thick patches of sage and nestled in the openness of the Red Desert. Just as tough as the terrain suggests, the par 72 golf course can be a beast when the wind decides to show up and defend the golf course from low scores. Although the sun was shining for the better part of two days over the state tournament and keeping the conditions manageable, the prevailing winds blew 15-40 mph non-stop the entire time, making the venue a true test for every golfer that teed it up. Fortunately, the Wheatland Bulldog golf team knew this would be to their advantage for “obvious reason” when the state tourney got underway.
The expectations for the boys team were high after winning every golf tournament heading into state, so it was no coincidence they were the favorites heading into the big dance. They did not disappoint. When the dust settled on day one, the bulldog boys shot a team score of 311 which gave them a 37-shot lead over Pinedale and a 43-shot lead over Lander Valley.
The top three spots on the leaderboard were also held by Tate Nichols (71), Jacob Miller (77), and Isaac Cdebaca (79). Seniors Dylan Nelson and Brecken Sandlian both shot opening rounds of 82 to find themselves in a three-way tie for 10th.
Although the Lander Valley Tigers tried to claw their way back into contention on day two, the Bulldogs boys came prepared to finish what they started. The Bulldogs were led once again by Nichols who came out and tamed the beast of a course with a 4 under score of 68 to help his team win the state team title, but also secured his first individual state championship as well.

His teammates showcased their ability by finishing strong and landing themselves in the top ten on the leaderboard. Sandian battled back to shoot the tournament’s third best overall round of 76, which moved him up seven spots from day one to finish in third place. He was followed by Nelson (77) and Miller (82) who finished in a four-way tie for fourth place. Isaac Cdebaca finished in a three-way tie for eighth after shooting an 81.
With all five boys placing in the top ten on the leaderboard they all earned all-state honors, won the 2024 state tournament by an astounding 60 sixty shots, and continued their dominance by winning every tournament this season.
WHS girls’ golf place in top 10 individually
The Lady Bulldogs started this season as three-time defending champions but were not able to defend their title at state because they needed three golfers to field a team score. However, Haylie Nelson and Tayen Wakkuri were able to compete as individuals.
On day one Nelson shot a round of 87 to find herself second place and just six shots behind eventual state champion Maddie Brace from Douglas. Tayen Wakkuri shot a round of 96 which put her in a three-way tie for sixth.
When the second round ended, the girls both ended with top-five finishes. Nelson shot a second-round score of 94 to finish in fourth place. Wakkuri shot her personal best score of 90, which was the fourth-best round of the day and put her in fifth place when the tournament concluded. These top ten finishes earned the girls all-state honors.
The Wheatland girls middle school team has won the last two conference titles and are favorites to win next spring as well. Consider this a successful rebuilding year, because Nelson and Wakkuri will be getting some added firepower to help them contend for a state title next year.
“After placing third at state last year, our coaching staff and golfers both knew we were close, but not quite ready to win the big one,” head coach Tony Nichols said, adding the commitment of the players in the off-season contributed to the team’s success. “When you have 8 to 10 guys that play all summer and battle in practice day in and day out for a spot in our top five, you have a competitive culture and camaraderie that cannot be rivaled. This is not just a win for our top five golfers, but every golfer that tried to crack our lineup for the first three weeks of the season.”
“Also, we cannot express enough what seniors Brecken (Sandlian), Dylan (Nelson), and Wyatt (Fitzwater) have meant to our program. They have worked so hard to get where they are and given four great years to our program and have helped lay the foundation for helping rebuild our boys program. Isaac, our Guernsey import, was a blessing in disguise that fit right in with the guys and contributed right off the bat,” coach Nichols said. “Most importantly, these seniors played the game the right way and were always class acts on and off the course. That leadership has passed down to our younger boys which has meant so much. To win a boys team title, have Tate (Nichols) win an individual title, shatter the record boards, and have every starting boy and girl golfer earn all-state is uncharted territory.”
“Bringing back championships means so much to our little golf community. The support we have gotten from every parent in the program, golf members, the golf board, our donors, and the rest of the town has been tremendous. Four state titles in four years is not possible without their support, so like every title we win…this one is just as much for our community as it is for us,” coach Nicols added. “The future is also bright moving forward. We have to fill some large shoes that were vacated by the girls last year and some more with our outgoing seniors this year, but we have some talented young boys and girls that are ready to keep this thing rolling for years to come.”