Beatrice, NE – Beatrice Country Club hosted the Nebraska Senior PGA Professional Championship over the past two days. The 36-hole stroke-play event teed off Monday with the final round wrapping up today. The field featured a strong lineup of past champions, including 12-time winner Jim White, PGA MP of The Fairways at Lincoln, and six-time winner Bryan Hughett, PGA Life Member. Along with the trophy, four coveted qualifying spots for the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship were on the line.
PGA Life Member Chris Wiemers set the early pace with a stellar 3-under 69 in the opening round, giving him a one-shot edge over defending champion Bryan Hughett. J.D. Brake, PGA of ArborLinks, and Pete Hagen, PGA of Johnny Goodman GC, also turned in solid performances, each posting a 71 (-1) to sit tied for third. With just six shots separating the top 10, the championship — and the national qualifying spots — were still wide open heading into the final round.
But Wiemers quickly left the field chasing shadows. He came out firing with four birdies in his first six holes to stretch his lead to seven. After scrambling for birdie on No. 9, Wiemers made the turn at 7-under — the only player in red numbers with nine to play — and never looked back.
With a wire-to-wire performance, Wiemers claimed his first Nebraska Senior PGA Professional Championship title, joining the elite group of Members to have won both the Section and Senior titles. While his five-shot victory left little suspense at the top, the battle for the final three qualifying spots provided plenty of drama.
Four players finished tied at 2-over, forcing a sudden-death playoff for the remaining spots in the national championship. On the first extra hole, all four players hit the green in regulation. Tom Hearn was first to putt — his 20-footer missed by inches, and he tapped in for par. The next three players all converted birdies, sealing their tickets to nationals.
Joining Wiemers in representing the Nebraska PGA at the 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL, will be Bryan Hughett, Mike Antonio, PGA of Happy Hollow Club, and J.D. Brake. Jim White, a past national champion, remains exempt and will also be in the field.
For more information and for full results, click HERE.
We would like to thank Head Professional Noah Briley and Superintendent Andy Hamilton as well as the entire Professional staff at Beatrice Country Club for hosting us. We would also like to thank the Golf Channel, Rolex, the PGA Tour and PXG for helping make this event possible.
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.
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.