Beatrice, NE – 106 junior golfers across the Nebraska Section PGA teed it up at Beatrice Country Club in the 2024 Nebraska Junior PGA Championships. Boys 13-15, Girls 13-15, Boys 16-18 and Girls 16-18 made up the four divisions of juniors that competed the past two days in the Section’s biggest junior event of the season. The annual event sends two boys and two girls from the 16-18 divisions to the National Junior PGA Championships. The national event will be held July 30-August 2, 2024 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
The Nebraska Junior PGA Championships serve as both a qualifier and as a premier event on the Nebraska Junior Golf summer circuit. This year’s edition of the championship moved to Beatrice Country Club where water comes into play on six holes, and bunkers and traps are strategically placed on numerous holes. The already tough golf course became more challenging with consistent 20-30mph winds from start to finish. The 36-hole event kicked off Monday and an impressive test was ahead of top juniors from the area.
Beginning with the Girls 16-18 division, Omaha’s Julia Karmarzin continued her stellar start to the summer season with a playoff victory over Fremont’s Ansley Giesselmann. After an opening 77 (5-over), Karmazin found herself one-shot behind the leaders coming into the final round before firing a field-best 73 (1-over). The only other player in the division that was able to match Karmazin’s final round was Giesselmann. The playoff went four holes and Karmazin rolled in a par putt on No. 9 to capture the championship.
“In my last summer of junior golf, I’ve just really been trying to dial it in”, said Karmazin after she qualified for the national championship. The future Creighton Bluejay looks forward to competing the rest of the summer and hopes to make some noise on the national stage.
Finishing runner-up in the Girls 16-18 division and qualifying alongside Karmazin was the rising junior Ansley Giesselmann of Fremont. Rounding out the top-3 was future Nebraska Cornhusker Olivia Lovegrove of Lincoln.
It was a tight race from start to finish in the Boys 16-18 division and it came down to the second playoff of the day. Omaha’s Sam Vocelka and Gretna’s Beau Petersen managed to fire even par (144) rounds for the championship even with the incredibly tough scoring conditions.
Coming into the final regulation hole, Vocelka had a two-shot lead on No. 18 playing in the final group and after taking an unplayable after his drive, the Millard North graduate carded a double allowing Petersen back into the mix and into a playoff. Vocelka showed he has a short memory by taking home the championship with a clutch birdie on the third playoff hole.
With Vocelka and Petersen finishing in 1st and 2nd, Lincoln’s Thomas Bryson capped off the top-3 medalists with a two-day total of 145 (1-over).
“It would be amazing to take my family out to Congressional (Country Club) for the national event”, said Vocelka.
The Girls 13-15 division was our third division that needed bonus holes to decide the champion. Omaha’s Chloe DiPrima, Columbus’ Stella Sedlacek and Omaha’s Lauren Murnan fired two-day totals of 167 (23-over) to tie for first place. After a one-hole playoff, DiPrima made a clutch par to take home first place. Finishing runner-up was Sedlacek and Murnan finished in third place.
The Boys 13-15 represented our final division, and though they weren’t eligible to qualify for the national event, a stacked field offered great experience and several players posted great scores. Topping the division was Fremont’s Trey Mooney with a total of 154 (10-over) while Boston Bojanski carded a 157 (13-over) to become the third Fremont native to medal in this year’s event with his runner-up finish. Finally, Elkhorn’s Oliver Athen fired solid rounds for a total of 159 (+15).
We would like to thank General Manager Colin Kitson, Superintendent Andy Williams and the entire staff at Beatrice Country Club for hosting two outstanding days of this storied championship.
We are excited to cheer on our four national qualifiers that will head to Maryland later this summer to represent our entire Section at a course that has hosted five major championships.
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS FROM THE NE JUNIOR PGA
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.