Lincoln, NE – Overnight rain gave way to perfect scoring conditions at the Club Car/Mizuno Golf Pro-Am at Hillcrest Country Club. Ryan Vermeer, PGA, Director of Instruction at Happy Hollow Club took full advantage and posted a new course record 11-under-par 61 from the white tees. Vermeer was on the 59-watch as he was 10-under-par through 14-holes. Pars on #15 and #16 meant that he needed a birdie and eagle finish but an untimely bogey on the par 4 #17 cost him a chance at 59. Vermeer finished off his record setting day with a 25-foot eagle putt to post 61. Finishing runner-up at five-under-par 67 was Alex Carper, PGA of Wilderness Ridge G.C. and Steve Friesen, PGA of Firethorn G.C. This was Carper’s best round of the 2019 season and for Friesen, this was he second consecutive runner-up finish.
The team competition featured a 3-Net best balls on the par 3’s, 2-Net best balls on the par 4’s and 1-Net best ball on the par 5’s. This unique format put lots of pressure on the teams on the par 3’s. In the end, we ended up with a tie at 14-under-par 122 total led by Vermeer and his amateur team of Mike Vanier, Pat Walsh and Tim Ziola. Shane Zywiec, PGA of Highlands G.C. and his amateur team of Dan Thomas, Dillon Ruether and Bob Benes equaled their stellar performance.
The Nebraska Section PGA would like to thank Presenting Sponsors, Nebraska Golf & Turf (Club Car) and regional representative, Don Brudny, Mizuno Golf and regional representative, Tyler Schaaf. In addition, we truly appreciate our Supporting Sponsors, Cutter & Buck and regional representative RJ Palmer and Vinnie Krikac State Farm Insurance Agency. The “Final Drive Series” and Nebraska Cup Series Championship presented by Vinnie Krikac continues all season long. The Nebraska PGA also featured Tito’s Handmade Vodka as the Official Wine and Spirits of the Nebraska Section PGA. Tito’s Handmade Vodka “Holes of the Week” are brought to you by Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits of Nebraska. Players will vie for the Tito’s Handmade Vodka “Holes of the Week” title by competing in the various 21 “Holes of the Week” throughout the 2019 season and will post their lowest scores relative to par.
Lastly, we would like to thank General Manager, Zach Tyson, Director of Golf Mike Brown, PGA, Head Professional Jerad Palmer, PGA and Sonya Freese, PGA and Director of Grounds, Brian Hellbusch.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
T1 Shane Zywiec Highlands GC Dan Thomas Dillon Ruether Bob Benes 61-61–122 -14
T1 Ryan Vermeer Happy Hollow Club Mike Vanier Pat Walsh Tim Ziola 61-61–122 -14
3 Alex Carper Wilderness Ridge Scott Ritter Jeff Barclay Bill Salisbury 60-63–123 -13
T4 Greg Gilg Field Club of Omaha Russ Snygg Lowell Kennedy Aaron Hartung 63-62–125 -11
T4 Mike Coatman Firethorn GC Matt Coatman Sean Krueger Wade Phillips 63-62–125 -11
T6 Steve Friesen Firethorn GC John Scheer Dave Copper Doug Larson 63-63–126 -10
T6 Kyle Schellpeper Oak Hills Tom Cockle Randy Endorf Mike Goltl 67-59–126 -10
8 James Weaver Platteview Country Club Patrick Hoshor Brian Lukowski Ben Mathis 64-63–127 -9
9 Jon Petersen Tiburon GC Jay Moore Matt Wollum JT Hudson 63-65–128 -8
10 Bernie Blan College Heights Country Club Ken Parks Tom Kozisek Brenda Parks 65-64–129 -7
11 Justin Herron Pacific Springs Michael Marsh Jim Atkinson Kirk Fleck 67-63–130 -6
T12 Ted DiGiacomo Golf Galaxy – Omaha Joe Poljanec Gene Wendt Rich Sorensen 63-68–131 -5
T12 Sam Jonell Miracle Hill G&T Andrew Hoffman Bill Richards Jeff Faiman 66-65–131 -5
T14 Mike Brown Hillcrest CC Brad Dolson Bob Graves Bill Ashburn 67-65–132 -4
T14 Andrew Storm Shadow Ridge CC Mark Dynek Chad McMahon Jeff Canfield 65-67–132 -4
16 Austin Miller Omaha CC Zach Dice Andrew Fereday Bob Tatten 66-67–133 -3
17 Sonya Freese Hillcrest CC Trevor Knuth Rick Erickson Dale Mahlman 69-66–135 -1
T18 Tom Hearn PGA Tour Vinnie Krikac Mark Miller Allan Albers 63-73–136 E
T18 Brad Bailey Champions Run Jim Holmes Tandy Bailey Randy Blankenship 68-68–136 E
T18 Jerad Palmer Hillcrest CC Mark Ogle Neal Roehrs Vance Stauffer 69-67–136 E
21 Jonathan Moore Platteview Country Club Matt McCann Luke McCann Josh D’Ercole 68-69–137 +1
22 Jeff Porter First Tee of Omaha,The Spencer Huff Tim Banghart Blayne Banghart 70-69–139 +3
23 Derek Jensen Highlands GC Jerry Petersen Rick Owens John Eshleman 71-71–142 +6
PROFESSIONAL LEADERBOARD
1 Ryan Vermeer Happy Hollow Club 30-31–61 -11
T2 Alex Carper Wilderness Ridge 32-35–67 -5
T2 Steve Friesen Firethorn GC 34-33–67 -5
4 Shane Zywiec Highlands GC 32-36–68 -4
T5 Jon Petersen Tiburon GC 36-35–71 -1
T5 Mike Coatman Firethorn GC 35-36–71 -1
T7 Sam Jonell Miracle Hill G&T 37-35–72 E
T7 Jonathan Moore Platteview Country Club 36-36–72 E
T7 Justin Herron Pacific Springs 35-37–72 E
T10 Ted DiGiacomo Golf Galaxy – Omaha 35-38–73 +1
T10 Mike Brown Hillcrest CC 36-37–73 +1
T10 Andrew Storm Shadow Ridge CC 36-37–73 +1
T13 Greg Gilg Field Club of Omaha 38-36–74 +2
T13 Austin Miller Omaha CC 36-38–74 +2
T13 Kyle Schellpeper Oak Hills 41-33–74 +2
16 Tom Hearn PGA Tour 37-38–75 +3
17 Brad Bailey Champions Run 38-38–76 +4
18 Bernie Blan College Heights Country Club 40-39–79 +7
19 Jerad Palmer Hillcrest CC 40-41–81 +9
T20 Derek Jensen Highlands GC 44-40–84 +12
T20 Sonya Freese Hillcrest CC 43-41–84 +12
22 James Weaver Platteview Country Club 46-39–85 +13
23 Jeff Porter First Tee of Omaha,The 43-44–87 +15
About The Nebraska Section PGA
The Nebraska Section of the PGA is one of 41 Sections that together comprise the PGA of America. The Nebraska Section PGA is a non-for-profit organization comprised of approximately 261 PGA Members and 21 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 players 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.