Riley Kuehn becomes third generation to win city title

HARTINGTON — It’s all about the Kuehns on the golf course.

If it’s not Jeaneen, it’s her son, Gary, or her grandson, Riley, who seems to have taken the sport as their own and done well enough to be a relevant participant.

It’s all in the family golf in the Kuehn household.

Jeaneen began playing in junior high and got her first set of clubs from her aunt and uncle who never had children of their own.

“I was pretty good competing and I am competitive,” Jeaneen said. “Oh, golfing is a big part of our family. I am happy and proud of Riley. Every once in a while, I get to catch a glimpse of him.”

Gary started playing later in life and took off with the sport. He won the city club championship in 1991, 2000 and 2010 while Jeaneen won her only title in 1971 and was runner up 11 other times.

“I watched her when I was little,” Gary said. “I played as a kid, but I didn’t play as much because I liked to hunt and fish and stuff.”

Gary got a job at a golf course in Lincoln in the 1980s, and that’s when he started playing regularly.

He moved back to Hartington to become the greenskeeper at Hartington Golf Club and that’s where his playing took off.

Riley, a junior at Cedar Catholic and the reigning Class C state runner-up, is the most recent city champion – winning this year – and has enjoyed the learning process from the older members of his family.

He picked up the game at the age of six.

“They have always helped me out,” Riley said. “It’s been a really cool experience, especially over the last couple of years.”

Riley didn’t get to see his grandmother play, but the two have talked plenty of golf over the years.

“She would always go out on the cart with me and watch me play. She knows her stuff. She just tells me to keep my head down and stay positive.”

Riley hopes that the Kuehn name can maintain its championship reputation.

“I hope my kids can carry on the tradition someday,” he said. “It’s a neat experience.”

He also believes he can win a state high school title this year, which would put him one up on the others of his golfing family.

“Doing it for my school is the main thing, though,” Riley said.

When he isn’t competing for Cedar Catholic, he will battle it out on the course with his dad.

“My dad is Mister Consistent and always around even par, so I have to bring my ‘A’ game,” Riley said. “The competition is always fun to play him. There is never a dull moment.”

Gary has preached to keep the ball straight and that has come in handy. His nephew, Josh Becker – who also has won a city title - sometimes joins to get involved in some friendly, family battles.

“He picked up a right-hand golf club, but plays left-handed,” Gary said. “We got him a left-handed set. He started when he was about four or five.

“When we play it gets pretty weird and nobody likes to lose. To this day, I usually win when I play Riley, but now it’s getting hard. He beats me almost every other time now,” Gary said.