Erstad Joins Husker Golf Team

Nebraska high school star Zack Erstad became the most recent newcomer to the Husker men's golf program when he signed with the Big Red on Tuesday, June 30.

Erstad, who led Lincoln East High School to back-to-back Class A state team titles in 2025 and 2026, has enjoyed consistent success for the Spartans over the past two seasons.

Erstad, who was the Class A individual runner-up in 2026, was the 2025 Nebraska Junior PGA Champion. He was also the runner-up at the 2025 Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship and represented the Cornhusker State on Team Nebraska in the summer of 2025.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity for Zack to be a Husker," Nebraska Head Coach Judd Cornell said. "He's proven he belongs on this level and will make a huge impact on our program. I am really excited about him."

A Nebraska Super-State selection in 2026, Erstad was a three-time Academic All-State pick at Lincoln East while also winning a pair of individual tournament titles.

Erstad, who finished fourth just two strokes back of long-time PGA pro Scott Gutschewski at the U.S. Open local qualifying tournament in Omaha in early May, advanced to a top-25 individual finish at the U.S. Open Qualifier at Ballen Isles Country Club in Palm Beach Garden, Fla. (June 8). 

Erstad is the oldest son of two-time Major League Baseball All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and World Series champion Darin Erstad, who was the No. 1 pick in the 1995 MLB Draft after spending three years on the Nebraska baseball team. He also spent eight seasons (2012-19) as the head coach of the Nebraska baseball team, leading the Big Red to four NCAA Regional appearances (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019) and the 2017 Big Ten regular-season title when he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Zack Erstad becomes the second son of a former Husker baseball player to join the Nebraska golf team in as many weeks, following the signing of Gavin Gerch, whose father Andy was a member of the all-tournament team at the College World Series in 2005.

Erstad and Gerch, both from Lincoln, join fellow Nebraska high school standouts Jaxson Hinze and Tommy Kelley among the Husker golf newcomers for 2026-27.