Omaha, NE –
Omaha Country Club welcomed 29 teams—comprising 58 Nebraska PGA Professionals and Associates—for the Section’s first major championship of the 2025 season. The Senior/Junior Championship, presented by Miller & Sons Golf Cars (E-Z-GO), was held at the club’s storied venue, which has previously hosted the U.S. Senior Open. Challenging weather conditions featuring wind and rain made scoring difficult, but several teams still delivered strong performances, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Each team consisted of one senior member (50 years or older) and one junior member (49 years or younger), competing in an 18-hole best-ball stroke play format. The defending champions—Mark Foelbaek, PGA (Country Club of Lincoln), and James Sieckmann, PGA (Shadow Ridge Country Club)—entered the day determined to retain their title.
Foelbaek and Sieckmann opened with a par on No. 12 before carding their first birdie on No. 13. They remained steady with a series of pars and added a second birdie on No. 2, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the round.
Meanwhile, PGA TOUR Rules Official Tom Hearn, PGA, and Carson Schaake (Tiburon Golf Club) came out firing with an eagle on their opening hole, No. 10. A birdie on No. 14 gave them an early lead, which they held for most of the day.
Playing in the same group as Hearn and Schaake were Jon Petersen, PGA (Tiburon Golf Club), and Ryan Vermeer, PGA (Happy Hollow Club). The duo led the field in birdies, carding six in total. They posted a 4-under 67, just one shot shy of a playoff, but finished with a highlight birdie on No. 9 to close out a strong round.
After regulation, two teams stood tied at the top: defending champions Foelbaek/Sieckmann and the red-hot Hearn/Schaake, both posting rounds of 5-under 66. Foelbaek and Sieckmann made a clutch eagle on their penultimate hole (No. 10) to reach 5-under. Needing a birdie on their final hole (No. 9) to force a playoff, Hearn delivered under pressure by sinking a dramatic 50-footer from the back right of the green.
In a classic twist, Hearn was unable to participate in the playoff due to travel obligations for his next PGA TOUR assignment, leaving Schaake to compete solo in the best-ball playoff format. After both teams made par on the first playoff hole (No. 17), Foelbaek launched a huge drive on No. 18 to set up a scoring opportunity.
Schaake’s approach landed in the first cut behind the green, while Foelbaek’s shot landed on the back of the green and spun back toward the pin. With the title on the line, Nebraska PGA’s newest Class A Member calmly rolled in the birdie putt to clinch the win.
For the second consecutive season, Mark Foelbaek and James Sieckmann captured the Nebraska PGA Senior/Junior Championship title, presented by Miller & Sons Golf Cars (E-Z-GO).
A heartfelt thank you goes to General Manager/Superintendent Eric McPherson, Director of Golf Tony Pesavento, PGA, Head Professional Dominick Mitchum, PGA, and the entire Omaha Country Club staff for their hospitality and efforts in hosting this memorable event.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to our presenting sponsor, E-Z-GO (Miller & Sons Golf Cars), and supporting sponsors: Coors Light, Twisted Tea, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Sterling Cut Glass, the PGA TOUR, Rolex, Bushnell Golf, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka for making this championship possible.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS FROM THE 2025 SENIOR/JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
ABOUT THE NEBRASKA SECTION PGA
The Nebraska Section PGA is a non-for-profit organization comprised of over 300 PGA Members and PGA Associates who strive to promote the enjoyment and growth of the game of golf. The Nebraska Section PGA encompasses the entire State of Nebraska, western fifth of Iowa and a small portion of South Dakota including Dakota Dunes and Yankton. The Section office is located in Lincoln, NE and acts as a resource for local and national golf information for the golf professional and amateur player alike. Our members are often referred to as “Club Professionals”, not to be mistaken as PGA Tour Professionals.
Each Nebraska Section PGA Professional serves as an expert in the ever-changing business of golf. They are the leading expert players and teachers, skilled business managers, community leaders, and superior merchandisers who have dedicated their careers to the local delivery of these services.