Blair, NE – Monday brought a new event for the Nebraska Section PGA with the Harris Golf Cars Pro/Pro event at River Wilds Golf Club. 16 duos of Nebraska PGA Professionals teamed up to compete in the two-person shamble with the best of two scores counting each hole. In addition, there was a blind draw ahead of the event that randomly paired twosomes together to form teams of four in which they competed in a shamble while counting two total balls.
The tournament began with a shotgun start at a new host venue for most of the Nebraska PGA Professionals in the field. After an opening par on their first hole (No. 18), Brady Schnell of Firethorn Golf Club and Mitch Klooz of Champions Run Omaha made five consecutive birdies from No. 1 through No. 5. Just one hole behind that group, Nick St. Onge, PGA of The Country Club at Lincoln and Derek Carlson, PGA of The Players Club at Deer Creek opened with a hot start of their own. St. Onge and Carlson birdied their first two holes (No. 17 & 18) and they reached 5-under through nine holes.
Brad Bailey, PGA of Champions Run Omaha and Andrew Storm, PGA of Shadow Ridge Country Club began their day with seven pars before breaking out on No. 3 in a big way. The duo made eagle on the par 5 – No. 3 and followed it up with three straight birdies to get to 5-under. Just when the field was stacked at the top with ties, Schnell and Klooz went on yet another run to pull away for good. Standing on No. 11 tee, the duo sat at 6-under on the day with just a one-stroke lead. In back-to-back fashion, Schnell & Klooz made eagles on No. 12 and No. 13 to reach double digits at 10-under. They then added to their impressive day with a birdie on No. 15 to finish at 11-under for the day.
Schnell and Klooz went on to win the Harris Golf Cars Pro/Pro shamble event by two shots. Finishing runner-up was Storm and Bailey at 9-under par while four teams tied for third at 7-under par.
In the additional four-person shamble, Ted DiGiacomo/Bryan Hughett/Jacob York/Sam Jonell took home first place with a total of 17-under par to win by one shot.
We would like to thank our title sponsor Harris Golf Cars as well as our supporting sponsors Vinnie Krikac’s State Farm Insurance Agency, Coors Light & White Claw Hard Seltzer for supporting our Nebraska PGA Professionals. We would also like to thank Director of Golf Sam Jonell, PGA, Assistant Professional Jacob York, PGA and the entire staff at River Wilds Golf Club for hosting the event.
We shift our focus to our 2023 Nebraska PGA Cup Series Championship, presented by Vinnie Krikac’s State Farm Insurance Agency which will take place at Highlands Golf Course on Thursday, October 5th, 2023.
Click HERE for the Full 2023 Harris Golf Cars Pro/Pro Event Results
