Lincoln, NE – Highlands Golf Course welcomed both Nebraska PGA Professionals and UNL PGA Golf Management students for a day that featured simultaneous events. Leading up to the event, NEPGA Professionals have been competing in a season-long points race to earn a spot into the 28-person Professional-only event known as the Vinnie Krikac State Farm Insurance Agency Nebraska PGA Cup Series Championship, presented by On the Rocks Cocktails. The 28 players are matched up based on scoring average and they compete in an 18-hole format with the five best (and ties) advancing to the afternoon alternate shot shootout for all the marbles.
In addition to that event, the two NEPGA Professionals partnered up with two UNL PGM students to compete as a four-person team with the front nine being played as a best-ball event and the back nine as a scramble. This allows for a unique day where current PGA Members meet and share experiences with the aspiring PGA Members at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Play teed off with a shotgun start at 10:00am and the event was underway. Not many teams got off to a better start than Tom Hearn, PGA of the PGA TOUR and Alex Janssen, PGA of Oak Hills Country Club. In the best-ball portion, Janssen began his day with three solo birdies in his first four holes. The duo took their hot start to the back nine for the scramble portion and turned in a 29 (7-under) on the back nine. Hearn & Janssen coasted to an 11-under 61 with two other teams matching that score during the shootout qualifying round. The teams of Kyle Schellpeper/Jon Moore and Jon Petersen/Christian Hall both shot rounds of 61 leaving two spots open for the shootout. The next two best qualifying scores came from Shane Zywiec/Eric Kovarik and Tony Driscoll/Carson Schaake with impressive totals of 9-under.
The modified alternate shot hole-by-hole shootout was set with five teams aiming to capture the 2024 Vinnie Cup. On the first playoff hole, Eric Kovarik, PGA of Happy Hollow Club and Shane Zywiec, PGA of Highlands Golf Course advanced with a birdie. In back to back fashion, Kovarik & Zywiec made another birdie on the second playoff hole to advance again. With three teams remaining, the top two teams from the third playoff hole would advance to the championship. Kovarik & Zywiec two putt their way to an advancing par while Hearn & Janssen advanced through a chip-off after tying Petersen & Hall on the third playoff hole.
On the final hole, Janssen hit a laser beam from the tee and drove the green on No. 5 setting up a big opportunity. Hearn hit a great lag putt to roughly 5 feet from long distance and Janssen rolled in the championship winning birdie. The PGA Tour Rules Official and Director of Instruction at Oak Hills Country Club took home the 2024 Vinnie Krikac State Farm Insurance Agency Nebraska PGA Cup Series Championship.
In the Nebraska PGA & UNL PGM team event, the squad of Kevin Drew, PGA, Dominick Mitchum, PGA, Kai Nelles and Xander Wuetrich shot a blistering 18-under to win. One of the most impressive rounds of the day came from the two UNL PGM students in Nelles/Wuetrich as they shot 11-under together matching the best Pro score of the day.
We would like to thank Vinnie Krikac for his continued support in not only the Nebraska Section PGA but both Nebraska Junior Golf and PGA REACH Nebraska. In addition to Vinnie, On the Rocks Cocktails was the presenting sponsor of today’s event and we can’t thank them enough for their continued support.
We would also like to thank supporting sponsors from the event AHEAD, Sterling Cut Glass, Nebraska Golf & Turf (Club Car), Chesterman Co. Coca-Cola, Devant Sport Towels and the PGA TOUR. Lastly, we would like to thank Host Professional Dennis Vontz, PGA and his entire team at Highlands Golf Course for hosting a great event. We look ahead to next week’s season finale at The Country Club of Lincoln for our 2024 Pro+Ladies Jamboree!
Click HERE for the 2023 Nebraska PGA Cup Series Results
Click HERE for the 2023 Nebraska PGA / UNL PGM Results
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.