O'NEILL, Neb -- John Hurley tied for sixth I the men's state golf championship and played on the state's junior all-star team.

And he hadn't started high school yet.

The O'Neill St. Mary's freshman, following last summer's season, is ready for his first high school season. He plays for the O'Neill High St. Mary's cooperative sponsorship team.

"Last summer really helped my confidence," Hurley said. "I know I can play with most of those kids in the state because many I played against were Class A and we're in Class B."

Hurley entered the men's Nebraska Amateur, held at Gothenburg's Wild Horse Golf Club, after reading about the previous year's tournament on the Nebraska Golf Association Web Site and seeing how many high school golfers had entered.

At Wild Horse on a windy four-day weekend, Hurley was among the leaders through the 72 holes and briefly during the third round was the sole leader. He tied for sixth with Henry German of Omaha, a senior this spring at Omaha Creighton Prep, and Judd Cornell of Omaha, now playing for Nebraska as a college freshman.

"The first day I was kind of nervous, not knowing what to expect playing against the men," Hurley said. "And the third day, too, playing in the same group with (eventual champion) Ryan Nietfeldt and A.J. Elgert, just having read about Ryan's success and A.J. being Kansas State's No. 1 golfer. Other than that, I wasn't' too nervous."

Hurley later qualifired for the state's team in the Kansas=-Nebraska Junior Cup matches. In his singles match, he rallied from a two-hole deficit with seven to play to win 3 and 2.

"That helped my mental approach," he said. "The course in Leawood (Kan.) had some tight holes on the back nine. I learned to hit it where I needed to under pressure like that."

Started in golf at age 3 by his father, Jack, who gave John a plastic club and a Whiffle golf ball to hit around the yard, the younger Hurley has taken no formal instruction. He received some tips last year while playing around with Mike Antonio, pro at Happy Hollow Club in Omaha.

John also plays basketball for St. Mary's. He played mostly on the junior varsity, but saw some minutes off the bench with the Cardinal's varsity.

After the high school golf season, in which he hopes to qualify for the state tournament next month in Lincoln, Hurley will put together a summer schedule that includes regional and national junior events. And a return to the Nebraska Amatuer.