Thiele Takes Top Seed at 103rd Nebraska Women's Match Play
Stroke Play Qualifying Conducted Monday at York Country Club
YORK (July 20, 2026) - Wahoo's Brooke Thiele earned medalist honors and is the top seed at the 103rd Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship, after Stroke Play Qualifying on Monday at York Country Club.
Thiele was the only player to break par on a hot day in York. The future Husker finished strong to post a round of 69 (-1) and take the No. 1 seed in the 32-player bracket.
Thiele has already had a fantastic year, winning her second-straight Nebraska Girls' Amateur and finishing runner-up at the Nebraska Girls' Match Play. She's currently leading the 2026 SWAG Girls' Point Standings by a significant margin.
It was a birdie-birdie finish, on Nos. 17 and 18, that propelled Thiele into red figures and the top spot. She surpassed current-Husker Mackenzie Bream, who had led most of the day.
Bream is the No. 2 seed after finishing with a round of 70 (E). Her older sister, Brooke Bream, won the Nebraska Women's Amateur last month. The would be the first sisters to win both titles in the same summer.
Creighton golfer Madison Murnan of Omaha was third with a round of 71 (+1), while Molly Goc of Columbus and Emily Karmazin of Omaha rounded out the top-5 with rounds of 72 +2).
Omaha's Katie Ruge, a two-time champion, was the only past champion in the field. She's in the bracket as the No. 18 seed, following a round of 80 (+10).
A playoff was needed to complete the 32-player bracket, with five players tying at 89 (+19) for the last four spots. Omaha's Avery Peter, Claire Schmitz, Savannah McFalls and Kearney's Olivia James took the final spots.
Schmitz is the No. 32 seed and will play Thiele in the Round of 32 on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. The Round of 16 is scheduled to follow Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
The bracket is available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Women's 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.
