Kottmeyer Caps Win at 36th Nebraska Junior Match Play
Championship Final Conducted Thursday at Riverside Golf Club
GRAND ISLAND (July 10, 2025) - Ben Kottmeyer of Lincoln capped an incredible week at Riverside Golf Club, winning the 36th Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship on Thursday.
Kottmeyer defeated Kearney's Nash Malone, 2 and 1, in the Final to win the title. The Lincoln Southwest graduate is headed to Doane University this fall to play golf, and secured his first NebGolf title in his last junior championship.
Malone took charge to start the Final, which was delayed 30 minutes due to severe weather early Thursday morning. He had a short birdie putt conceded after Kottmeyer missed his par putt, taking a 1-up lead.
However, Kottmeyer responded with an early run after that. On the same green where he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt to win his Semifinal match in 20 holes, Kottmeyer dropped another birdie putt on No. 2 to tie the match. He'd soon win three-straight holes, with pars on Nos. 3 and 4, taking a 2-up lead.
They went back-and-forth mid-way through the match, with Malone winning No. 9 with a great two-putt par. Kottmeyer rolled in another birdie on No. 11, but bogeyed No. 12 and his lead was back down to 1 up.
Malone had some chances over the next few holes, but could not capitalize. Kottmeyer caught a fortunate break on No. 16, when his second shot bounced off the boundary fence and stayed in. Then, he made an incredible up-and-down from there to save par and win the hole, pushing his lead to 2 up with two to play.
An easy two-putt par on the shortened par-4 17th was enough to close out the match, and the championship.
The final bracket is available under the Scoring tab of the championship websites below, along with additional information.
Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship
About NebGolf
The Nebraska Golf Association (NebGolf), founded in 1966, is comprised of all members of public and private clubs and/or municipal or regional golf associations which utilize an approved handicap service recognized by the USGA and provided by NebGolf. Our mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values to all golfers in Nebraska. Among the duties of the Association include governance of member clubs and service as their handicapping and course rating authority, conduct of state golf championships, local USGA qualifying & other notable competitions, promotion of junior golf, presentation of worthwhile educational programs and support of allied golf organizations in Nebraska. The Nebraska Golf Association is an Allied Golf Association of the USGA and carries out core services including Handicap Administration and Oversight, Course Rating, Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status, Tournaments and USGA Championship Qualifiers and USGA Initiatives and Community Programs.
