Lincoln, NE – Described as their ‘Super Bowl’, 104 PGA HOPE Nebraska graduates gathered at Hillcrest Country Club for the fifth annual PGA HOPE Nebraska Cup. On of the most special days of the year, the current and former military personnel were divided into teams based on the military branch they represent for a competitive scramble. In addition to the competition, the day allows for the PGA HOPE graduates to meet other individuals from different classes and the camaraderie through shared experiences makes it that much more important of an event.

“Being able to talk to other Veterans about similar experiences we went through, that’s something I don’t have in the civilian world and something PGA HOPE brought to my life”, said Veteran Justin Weeks of the U.S. Navy.

Weeks went on to touch on a subject that is near and dear to his heart.

“We all know the statistic, 22 Veterans take their own lives a day. I truly believe PGA HOPE and events like today’s PGA HOPE Cup will help bring that statistic down. This program truly saves lives”, said Weeks.

The day began with the national anthem and the colors were presented by American Legion Post 3 – Lincoln. The players headed to their holes and the shotgun start was underway! The teams of 8 were divided up into teams of 4, with one half of the team playing the front nine and the other playing the back nine. They combined their 9-hole scramble scores for a complete 18-hole team score. The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines were all represented in the event.

After giving the cup back in 2023, Team Army came back with vengeance to win the 2024 PGA HOPE Nebraska Cup once again in 2024. The squad of Nicolas Chaki, Andrew Jarvis, Nic Markham, Colton Doyle, Travis Engler, Tyler Lauer, Terrence Dow and Alex Topil shot a field best 66 (6-under) to win by one stroke over Team Air Force.

‘This was my second time playing in the PGA HOPE Cup and obviously winning it this year makes it that more special. But my favorite part about this experience with it being my second time playing in it, is that I’ve played with complete strangers both times and now I can confidently call them my friends”, said Travis Engler of the U.S. Army National Guard.

That’s what it’s all about. The competition is fun, but the true point of the day is to connect Veterans and military personnel with one another and that’s exactly what the PGA HOPE Nebraska cup has done and continues to do.

In 2024, PGA HOPE Nebraska graduated 200 total active military personnel and veterans through the six week program, a new season high for PGA REACH Nebraska. The program as a whole now has welcomed more than 500 graduates to their family in a six year span. The mission of PGA REACH Nebraska is to positively impact lives through the game of golf and that’s the best way to sum up PGA HOPE and what the program is doing across Nebraska.

New in 2024, PGA HOPE Nebraska held it’s first ever woman’s only PGA HOPE program. This allowed for a welcoming and safe environment for ladies to learn the game without any stress or pressure to perform well, exactly what U.S. Army Veteran Sarah Meyers was looking for.

“The all women’s program at Highlands was so fun to be around different women all learning the game of golf. The Nebraska PGA Professionals truly made it a welcoming environment to learn in and I can’t thank them enough for that”, said Meyers.

PGA HOPE Nebraska has more momentum than ever and the program is only going to keep growing. If you are a Veteran or know someone that would benefit from this program, click HERE to learn more.

We want to thank Director of Golf Mike Brown, PGA, Head Golf Professional Sonya Freese, PGA and the entire staff at Hillcrest Country Club for once again hosting a tremendous event. For more pictures from our 20244 graduations and the PGA HOPE Nebraska Cup, click HERE. We look forward to our next engagement activity with our TopTracer Range Day next one deck for our PGA HOPE graduates in an effort to celebrate Veterans Day!

ABOUT PGA REACH NEBRASKA

PGA REACH Nebraska is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and the charitable arm of the Nebraska Section PGA. PGA REACH Nebraska is program-based and supported by the Nebraska Section PGA Golf Professionals. PGA REACH Nebraska’s mission is to positively impact lives through the game of golf. The Foundation has 3 core pillars of focus: Military, Youth and Inclusion. Each pillar is supported by programs that are executed to carry out our mission.

ABOUT PGA HOPE

PGA HOPE is a 6-week program that provides military veterans with free golf experiences taught by PGA Professionals. Upon completing the program, Veterans are considered “graduates” and will remain engaged every year through other PGA HOPE activities and events provided by PGA REACH Nebraska. Learning and playing the game of golf is a proven activity that has positively impacted thousands of veterans nationwide. PGA HOPE is a program that is truly making a difference, as golf has become a therapeutic part of the rehabilitation process for many veterans with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.

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.