Lincoln, NE – The season-long brackets of the Nebraska PGA’s Senior and Assistant Match Play Championships culminated in thrilling championship matches today at Firethorn Golf Club. On the Senior side, past champion Jon Petersen, PGA (Tiburon Golf Club), faced off against Pete Hagen, PGA (Johnny Goodman Golf Course). In the Assistant bracket, Caleb Badura (Jackrabbit Run Golf Course) and Mark Foelbaek, PGA (Country Club of Lincoln), went head-to-head. The challenging Pete Dye design provided an exciting layout, while ideal scoring conditions greeted the players throughout the day.
In the Senior Championship, Petersen and Hagen remained neck and neck through the first 10 holes, each carding a birdie and exchanging pars. Momentum shifted on the par-5 11th, where Petersen got up and down for birdie to take a 1-up lead. He extended the margin with a long birdie putt on No. 13, pushing the lead to 3-up. Hagen responded with a birdie on the 14th to spark a potential comeback, but Petersen’s steady play proved too much. He sealed the match with a par on the par-3 17th, earning a 2&1 victory.
This marks Petersen’s second career win in the Senior Match Play Championship and caps off an impressive week following his low Senior score at Monday’s Hillcrest CC Pro-Am. His path to the title included a 4&3 win over Joe Sutter, PGA; a 6&5 victory over Adam Bradfield, PGA; and a tightly contested 1-up win over 2025 Nebraska Senior PGA Professional Champion Chris Wiemers, PGA.
In the Assistant Championship, two former Nebraska Husker Men’s Golf teammates—now PGA Professionals—met in the final match. Just two weeks ago, Caleb Badura and Mark Foelbaek teamed up to win the 2025 Nebraska PGA Team Championship. Today, they found themselves on opposite sides of the bracket, vying for individual honors.
Foelbaek’s run through the bracket was nothing short of dominant. Prior to the final, none of his matches went beyond the 14th hole. He posted a 7&6 win over Tanner Muhlecke, a 6&5 victory against Christian Hall, and a 7&5 win over Sutton Hermann. That dominance continued in the final.
Foelbaek jumped out to an early lead, carding two birdies in the first four holes and capitalizing on a Badura mistake at the 5th to go 3-up. He remained steady the rest of the way, mixing in a birdie on No. 8 and playing mistake-free golf en route to a 5&4 win, capturing his first career Assistant Match Play Championship and continuing his stellar summer on the Section tournament circuit.
We extend our sincere thanks to Director of Golf Mike Coatman and the entire professional staff at Firethorn Golf Club for their outstanding hospitality and exceptional course conditions. Gratitude is also due to the PGA TOUR for their partnership in both events and to Rolex for their support of the Assistant Match Play Championship.
Next on the schedule: the Section returns to Firethorn Golf Club for another exciting Pro-Am tournament.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SENIOR BRACKET & RESULTS
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ASSISTANT BRACKET & RESULTS
ABOUT THE NEBRASKA SECTION PGA
The Nebraska Section PGA is a non-for-profit organization comprised of over 340 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.