Ashland, NE – Presented by Club Car/Nebraska Golf & Turf, the Nebraska Section PGA hosted the 2024 Legends of Golf at Iron Horse Golf Club featuring a field represented by NEPGA Professionals with 20 or more years of service and/or members 50 years of age and older. 16 teams with two Professionals each competed and the format was 1 Best Ball on the Par 3’s and 1 Best Ball Shamble on the Par 4’s and 5’s.
Between the 32 Nebraska PGA Professionals in the event, there was 934 years of PGA Membership and service to the game of golf across the field. Jim White, PGA MP of The Fairways at Lincoln led the field with 48 years of PGA Membership while Charlie Borner, PGA of Hillcrest is at 47 years. Six Professionals in the field have been a PGA Member for 40 or more years and eight more represent more than 30 years.
Coming into the tournament, Jim White, PGA MP and Jon Petersen, PGA of Tiburon Golf Club were three-time defending champions. The dominant duo have looked unstoppable in past years with a total score of 31-under between the three events. White/Petersen were in the opening pairing alongside Ted DiGiacomo, PGA and Mike Antonio, PGA of Happy Hollow Club.
After slow starts, both of the White/Petersen and DiGiacomo/Antonio groups birdied three of their final four holes on the front to make the turn at 3-under. White/Petersen then birdied No. 10 to tie the lead before DiGiacomo/Antonio made eagle on No. 12 to jump out in front once again.
For most of the day, it looked to be a two-team race for the championship, but Brian Steventon, PGA of Shadow Ridge Country Club and Tony Pesavento, PGA of Omaha Country Club came to play. The duo strung together three birdies in a row on separate occasions throughout their round (7-8-9 and 15-16-17) and made a late comeback. Steventon/Pesavento made a clutch par save on No. 18 to tie the clubhouse lead at 7-under (64) set by DiGiacomo/Antonio.
The two teams went to a playoff to determine the champion of the 2024 event. Playing through a shamble, all four players hit tee shots on No. 9 before having to choose a ball and spot where each player would then hit their second shots and finish on their own ball from there.
After the three other players landed right of the drivable par 4, the newest Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame Inductee Tony Pesavento, PGA put his drive perfectly onto the green leading to an easy two-putt birdie to win. Pesavento & Steventon came out on top and took home two new trophies.
Finishing in solo-third was Joe Sutter, PGA of Quarry Oaks Golf Club and Tom Hearn, PGA of the PGA TOUR at 6-under (65) while three-time defending champions White/Petersen finished in solo fourth at 5-under (66). Six more teams shot in red figures on a day that featured sideways rain and brutal winds.
We would like to thank General Manager Brian Kuta, PGA and the rest of the Professional staff at Iron Horse Golf Club for hosting another tremendous event. We would also like to thank our presenting sponsor Club Car (Nebraska Golf & Turf) as well as our supporting sponsors FootJoy, Coors Light, Surfside, and the PGA TOUR.
The Nebraska Section PGA looks forward to next week’s Fourth Annual Union Bank & Trust Pro+Ladies Jamboree.
Click HERE for the Full 2024 Nebraska Section Legends of Golf Event 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.