Eagle golfer's Peyton Burbridge and Will Johntson represented Nixa for the MSHSAA 2026 Class 5 State Championships on the course at The Country Club of Columbia Par 72 course on May 18-19.

Inclement weather canceled the opening day on May 18, and the now one-day tournament would take the individual's top score, instead of combining both days. 95 golfers, including Burbridge and Johnston, comprised the tournament field.

Burbridge made program history, as he had the top score of any golfer and became Nixa's first-ever state champion. The senior linkster finished the day three-under-par at 69. He began on the back nine and finished -1 with two birdies. On the front nine, he went -2 with three birdies.

He defeated Ozark's Riley Franklin by one stroke to eventually triumph as champion. Franklin finished with a score of 70.

The four-year qualifier exits his high school career in the most memorable fashion. Not only did he become Nixa's first-ever state champion, but Burbridge won his first-ever state medal and the program's second-ever.

It was a drastic improvement considering he did not even crack the top 40 in years past. In previous stints at the state tournament, Burbridge finished 49th, 86th, and 57th. The linkster rehabbed injuries before the start of this season, and that perseverance helped him secure the right as the top golfer in Class 5.

Throughout the season, Burbridge has been right on course, performing at the top of the field in most tournaments. He helped lead Nixa to the Ozark Invitational tournament championship and runner-up finishes at the St. Louis University High School, Carthage, and Central Ozark Conference East tournaments. Burbridge was the individual champion at Carthage, finishing -2 and besting a field of over 100 golfers. Additionally, he took home the bronze at Ozark and received All-Conference and All-District honors with his tournament performances.

Teammate and 2x qualifier Will Johnston had his best state outing. After a 66th-place finish in 2025, Johnston swung his way to a top-30 performance, tying for 23rd at three-over-par with two birdies. Johnston caps off a senior season as a top-30 Class 5 and All-Conference golfer.

Burbridge joins former teammate Noah Naugle as the only Nixa golfers to win state medals in program history. Naugle finished 12th in 2024, cementing Nixa's first-ever program medal, and 7th in 2025. 

Click here to view the entire Class 5 State championships golf results.