Beatrice, NE – Beatrice Country Club hosted 39 of Nebraska’s top Professionals and Amateurs with one spot up for grabs into the 2024 Pinnacle Bank Championship, presented by Woodhouse. The qualifier was exclusively for golfers with Nebraska ties. After a short rain delay, the 36-hole shootout began with a shotgun start.
Former Nebraska Cornhusker golfer Gentry Scheve and current Creighton Bluejays golfer Charlie Zielinski both got off to hot starts and found themselves tied for the lead after 9 holes at 4-under. After a relatively slow start of his own, Omaha’s Luke Gutschewski and current Iowa St. Cyclone golfer made the turn at 2-under after a birdie on No. 9 which gave him momentum.
Gutschewski added four more birdies in his second nine and completed the opening round with a 67 (5-under). Nebraska PGA Associate Brady Schnell of Firethorn Golf Club matched Gutchewski with a 67 and those two were atop the leaderboard after the first 18. With extremely windy conditions making it tough on the field to score, Gutschewski found his own way to go low.
With three birdies in his first 8 holes of the second round, Gutschewski found himself with a three stroke lead at 7-under, but that wasn’t enough for the rising star. He made back to back eagles on No. 9 and No. 10 which included a hole-out. All of a sudden, he was the first and only player to reach double digits and he coasted to a victory in Beatrice.
Gutschewski fired a two-round total of 135 (9-under) and won the qualifier by five strokes. Finishing runner-up was Schnell and in solo third was Scheve. With the victory, Gutschewski punched his ticket into Omaha’s Korn Ferry Tour event which will take place at The Club at Indian Creek during the first week of August. In the years past, Luke has been on the bag for his father Scott Gutschewski in the same event, this time, he will be the one swinging the clubs.
“I’m so excited. This is going to be the highlight of my career so far”, said Gutschewski following the award ceremony.
“I remember when we got the call that his dad was getting a spot in the field of this event. I was holding a newborn baby Luke”, said Amy Gutschewski, Luke’s mother.
“We’re excited to welcome local talent to the event and we’re glad to see we’re going to have a Gutschewski back in the field”, said Mark Hesser, CEO of Pinnacle Bank.
We would like to thank General Manager Colin Kitson, Superintendent Andy Hamilton and the entire staff at Beatrice Country Club for hosting the event.
We would also like to thank both Pinnacle Bank and Woodhouse for providing this life changing opportunity to Nebraska golfers. We wish Luke Gutschewski the best of luck as he tees it up in the biggest event of his young career.
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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.