Omaha, NE – The final four in Nebraska PGA’s annual Match Play Championship met at Omaha Country Club for a showdown to find our new champion. Supported by the PGA TOUR and Rolex, the season-long bracket began in May with the round of 64 leading us up to Monday.
With one of the Section’s biggest trophies up for grabs, Ryan Vermeer, PGA of Happy Hollow Club took on Judd Cornell, PGA of the University of Nebraska while Brady Schnell and Mike Coatman of Firethorn Golf Club competed on the other side of the bracket in the semifinals.
In the Vermeer & Cornell match, it was tied through five holes before Vermeer made an eagle on the par 5 – 6th to take over the lead in the match, and he never lost that lead. Heading to the back nine, Vermeer made a birdie on No. 11, drove the green and made an eagle on No. 13 before closing out the match 4&3 thanks to another birdie on No. 15.
In the Coatman & Schnell match, the two golf Professionals from Firethorn Golf Club went head to head vying for a spot into the afternoon championship match. The two players went back and forth exchanging blows on the front nine before Coatman caught fire on the back. Coatman played his next six holes in six-under with an eagle and four birdies and closed out Schnell 5&3. This set up a showdown between Vermeer and Coatman for all the marbles.
Coatman drew blood first in the championship match after making an eagle on No. 2 to take a 1up lead on Vermeer. The next winning hole came on No. 4 after Vermeer saved par from out of the bunker on the par 3 and that was good enough to even the match. After a slow start, Vermeer found it and made three birdies on No. 6, 7 and 9 to take a 1up lead heading to the back nine.
The hot streak continued for the event’s past champion. Vermeer made four consecutive birdies on No. 12, 13, 14 and 15 which closed out the match 5&3 and gave Vermeer his fifth career title in the Match Play Championship. After winning three titles in a row, this was his first since 2019.
“I’ve been playing well all year but I just haven’t been able to get over the hump.”
Vermeer did just that at Omaha Country Club to collect his first win of the season. He made 11 birdies and 2 eagles on the day and put on a show over the two 18-hole matches.
After Vermeer’s opening bracket win over TJ Loudner, PGA of Stone Creek GC that ended in 2&1 fashion, all of Vermeer’s remaining matches were stress free and dominations for the most part. He took down Andrew Smeal 5&4, Shane Zywiec 3&1, Judd Cornell 4&3 and Mike Coatman 5&3 in the title match. It was an impressive display by Happy Hollow Club’s Teaching Professional.
We would like to thank both of our supporting sponsors PGA TOUR and Rolex for helping us provide this season-long opportunity for our Nebraska PGA Members. We would also like to thank Director of Golf Tony Pesavento, PGA and Head Golf Professional Dominick Mitchum, PGA and the entire staff at Omaha Country Club for hosting our final matches of the tournament.
Vermeer will enjoy the victory till next season where he will look to defend his title as the overall No. 1 seed in the bracket.