Omaha, NE – The final four in Nebraska PGA’s annual Match Play Championship met at Omaha Country Club for a showdown to find our new champion. Supported by the PGA TOUR and Rolex, the season-long bracket began in May with the round of 64 leading us up to Monday.
With one of the Section’s biggest trophies up for grabs, Ryan Vermeer, PGA of Happy Hollow Club took on Andrew Storm, PGA of Shadow Ridge Country Club while Justin Herron, PGA of Oak Hills Country met Judd Cornell, PGA of University of Nebraska Men’s Golf in the semifinals. The matches teed off early in the morning on Monday at the host of the 2021 U.S. Senior Open with two spots up for grabs into the afternoon championship match.
In the Vermeer & Storm match, Vermeer, the reigning Nebraska Player of the Year was neck and neck with the 2023 Nebraska PGA Section Champion Storm through 10 holes where they remained all square. After an eagle on No. 10 to even up the match, Vermeer went on to win the next three holes while playing them 3-under par thanks to another timely eagle on No. 13 to take a 3up lead. Vermeer held steady and closed Storm out to win 2&1 on No. 17 and he punched his ticket into the final.
In the Cornell and Herron match, Cornell, the Head Coach of the Nebraska Men’s Golf team birdie No. 2 and No. 3 to take an early 2up lead which he held all the way until the 13th hole. Standing on No. 14 tee, Herron was down two and needing a spark to attempt a late comeback in the match, which he found. Herron birdied the next three holes to win all three and out of nowhere, he took his first lead in the match on No. 16. Herron held off Cornell for the final two holes and claimed a 1up victory to meet his Team Championship partner in the final.
After an opening Herron birdie on No. 1 to take the lead out of the gate, Vermeer responded with his third eagle of the day on No. 2 to even it back up. The two opponents both made pars on the next three holes before a Herron birdie on No. 6 to regain the lead.
With a one-hole difference in the score, the two tied the next eight holes before a game changing shot took place on the par 3 – No. 15. Herron’s tee shot wound up nearly pin high but in the thick rough a few yards off the green while Vermeer had 15 feet for birdie. Just when it looked like momentum was shifting, Herron executed perfectly with a chip-in birdie to win the hole and to take a 2up lead.
The Oak Hills Country Club Head Professional went on to win the 2023 Nebraska PGA Match Play Championship, supported by the PGA TOUR and Rolex with a final of 3&2. Herron first one the event in 2002, then in 2007 and now in 2023. Herron joins Ryan Vermeer, PGA and Jon Petersen, PGA as the only players the Match Play Championship at least three times.
Herron’s route to victory wasn’t easy and makes his final victory that much more impressive. In his first match in the round of 32 after an opening bye, Herron defeated James Kinney, PGA 4&3 before taking down Nick Shanahan, PGA 1up in the round of 16. He then met past champion Jay Cottam, PGA in the round of 8 where he won 2&1. After already taking down three of the top players in the Section, Herron’s path still included tremendous players in Cornell and Vermeer making his track to the championship an impressive list.
In the afternoon’s third place match, Storm took down Cornell 1up to finish in third for the season-long event and to add to his impressive playing resume he has put together in 2023.
“Nearly all of my matches this season went right down to the wire, and it feels great to come away with this trophy”, said Herron. He reflected on his run to the title, winning it for a third time in his career and talked about competing against Vermeer, whom is usually his teammate in the annual Nebraska PGA Team Championship.
We would like to thank both of our supporting sponsors PGA TOUR and Rolex for helping us provide this season-long opportunity for our PGA Members. We would also like to thank Director of Golf Tony Pesavento, PGA and Head Golf Professional Dominick Mitchum, PGA and the entire staff at Omaha Country Club for hosting our final matches of the tournament.
Herron will enjoy the victory till next season where he will look to defend his title as the overall No. 1 seed in the bracket.