Omaha, NE – Happy Hollow Club hosted 18 players for the 2024 National Car Rental Nebraska Assistant PGA Professional Championships. The field was limited to Class A-8 PGA Members and all registered Class B-8 PGA Associates who have matriculated into Level 2. The format was a 36-hole individual stroke play championship.
The champion of the event would punch a ticket to the 2024 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship which will be hosted at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL on November 14-17, 2024. In addition, three players would become alternates for the event.
On hole No. 1 to begin the day, both Jay Cottam, PGA of Meadowlark Hills Golf Course and Mitch Klooz of Champions Run made birdie and that would set a trend for the rest of the tournament. Klooz flashed the brightest during the opening round thanks to a field-best seven birdies and took a four shot lead into the afternoon.
Coming in as a two-time defending champion, Cottam needed to aggressively look for birdie opportunities in order to catch Klooz, and that he did. In his first nine holes, Cottam carded three birdies and at the turn, it was all tied up. Between the two players, Klooz and Cottam made 11 birdies coming home but it was Cottam that rose to the top once again.
It came down to the final hole, both players we’re standing on No. 18 tee tied for the lead at 11-under until Cottam stuck it close and rolled in the tournament winning birdie.
Why was that birdie even more significant? It meant that Cottam shot a final round 62 (9-under) which is now the new course record at Happy Hollow Club.
“STo shoot a course record at somewhere historic like Happy Hollow, it’s awesome”, said Cottam.
The three-peat was complete and Kearney native advances to the 2024 National Championship which brings together Assistant PGA Professionals from all across the country.
The two-man race between Cottam and Klooz produced two of the best individual performances in Section tournament history. Between the two players, they made a combined 29 birdies on the day in route to a 23-under total. We would like to congratulate not only Cottam but Klooz as well on incredible play.
We would like to thank Director of Golf Mike Antonio, PGA, General Manager Gil Russell, PGA and the entire Professional staff at Happy Hollow Club for hosting us. We would also like to thank our title sponsor National Car Rental as well as our supporting sponsors Srixon/Cleveland/Asics, the PGA Tour and Rolex for making this event possible.
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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.