Central Texas high school golf has been a staple at the UIL state tournament for years and 2026 proved to be no exception. Both Westlake’s boys and girls teams won their respective Class 6A team championships. There also were a pair of Austin-area golfers who won individiual state honors — Westlake’s Henry Talarico and Taylor’s Rylen Darter.
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Here are the golfers who made the 2026 All-Central Texas Golf Team as selected by the American-Statesman high school sports staff.
2026 All-Central Texas Golf TeamBoys player of the year: Henry Talarico
The Westlake sophomore was the best golfer on the course at the UIL state tournament, winning Class 6A individual honors with a two-day score of 142 (70-72). He also led the Chaparrals to a six-stroke victory over runner-up The Woodlands to give Westlake its 15th all-time boys team state championship. It was Talarico’s first appearance at the state tournament.
Westlake’s Henry Talarico hoists the championship trophy after he won the UIL state golf championship in Class 6A recently. Westlake also won the team title. (Michael Rome/Photo by Michael Rome)
Girls player of the year: Rylen Darter
The Taylor freshman recently won the UIL Class 4A individual state championship with the third-best score in state history: a 140 (79-71). She finished seven shots ahead of state runner-up Avery Glanzer of Fort Worth Benbrook. Darter won 10 tournaments this season. She aspires to play in the Augusta Women’s National Amateur and then the LPGA Tour.
Rylen Darter, who was crowned champion of the Class 4A State Girls Golf Tournament this month, is only a freshman. (Rustin Darter/Photo by Rustin Darter)
All-Central Texas Boys Team
Mackey Beckett, sr., Lake Travis: Was part of three Cavs state tournament teams, including the 2024 state champs. The two-year captain and Michigan Wolverines signee shot a school-record 61 at the Bart Granger Memorial Tournament in Fort Worth.
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Sterling Hurd, sr., Westlake: The Texas Longhorns signee finished in the state’s top three in each of the last two years.
Westlake junior Sterling Hurd has a share of the lead after the first day of the UIL State Golf Championships. He will play for the University of Texas after he graduates in 2026. (Rick Cantu/American-Statesman)
Bennett Kuhns, jr., Lake Travis: Consistent scorer averaged 72.0 this season and was the District 26-6A champion. A member of the Cavs’ 2024 state title squad, he’s committed to TCU.
JP Lynch, soph., Westlake: Already has played a major role in Westlake’s two state championship runs in his first two years as a Chap. He shot 72-72-144 at state this year.
Braydon Pratt, jr., Austin High: Competing at the 6A state tournament as an individual, he finished tied for 16th with a 76-72-148. He was the first Austin High golfer to qualify for state since 2012.
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Henry Talarico, soph., Westlake: Our boys player of the year won the Class 6A individual (and team) state championship, shooting 142.
Braydon Pratt of Austin takes a swing at the UIL State Golf Tournament last week. He is part of the American-Statesman All-Central Texas Team. (Nick Lego/Photo by Nick Lebo)
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All-Central Texas Girls Team
Addison Bandelier, soph., Vandegrift: The Vipers’ team captain led the squad to the Class 6A state tournament. She shot 78-77-155 and shot an average of 76.3 this season. She made the All-District 25-6A team.
Addison Bandelier, Vandegrift golf. Faces off the Field, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman)
Rylen Darter, fresh., Taylor: Our girls player of the year won the Class 4A state championship and had a personal-best round of 65 this season. She’s the No. 7-ranked golfer in the country for the class of 2029 by Global Junior Golf Rankings.
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Lindsay Kneer, jr., Westlake: A key part of the Chaps’ state championship team, her individual rounds of 76-79 helped Westlake win its fifth girls state title. She also was part of the Swing for the Cure tournament squad that finished 6-under par at Brackenridge Park.
Ava Osborne, jr., Westlake: The Chaps junior has already pledged to play for North Carolina. Another key part of Westlake’s championship squad, she matched her teammate and classmate Kneer at state, shooting 76-79-155.
Michaela Partridge, soph., Vandegrift: The Vipers sophomore won the District 25-6A golf tournament, placed 22nd at regionals, and was a driving for a team that finished third in the overall standings. Her average score this year was 77.5.
Emmy Yang, jr., Westlake: The Chaps junior was Westlake’s best scorer at the state meet. Her two-day score (78-75-153) helped Westlake rally past Lake Travis for the team championship.
Westlake’s EmmyYang is huge by teammate Lindsay Kneer during the UIL state golf tournament at White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Mikala Compton/American-Statesman)