Karmazin, Nietfeldt to Play in Postponed Nebraska Senior Match Play Final
Semifinals Completed Wednesday, Final Postponed to October 9 at Platteview Golf Club
BELLEVUE (September 30, 2026) - Omaha's Kelly Karmazin and Elkhorn's Ryan Nietfeldt will face off in the Final of the 16th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship, more than a week after advancing through Wednesday at Platteview Golf Club.
Karmazin and Nietfeldt survived a rain-soaked Semifinal round on Wednesday to punch their tickets to the Final, the first for both players. However, with a barrage of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, added to the past couple weeks of rain in Bellevue, the Final was postponed until Friday, October 9 at 8:10 a.m.
The constant rain was the story going into the championship, and after an ideal day for Stroke Play Qualifying, the next two days of match play were plagued by precipitation and storms. Play was suspended twice on Tuesday, one due to heavy rain, and the second for lightning. The Round of 16 and Quarterfinals were still able to be completed, but the rain continued.
Wednesday's Semifinals were walking-only, after more rain over night and into the morning. Despite that, Nietfeldt played stellar golf. The fresh 50-year-old senior golfer jumped out to a 5-up lead over Cozad's Smokey Cornelius, with four birdies through the first nine holes.
Nietfeldt nearly holed a wedge on the par-4 12th for another conceded birdie and a 6-up lead. After Cornelius made a birdie on No. 13 for his first hole-win, Nietfeldt closed out the match with a par on No. 14, 6 and 4.
Karmazin faced a battle against another new senior golfer, Scott Tridle of Lincoln, jumping out to a 2-up lead after the front nine. The opponents tied the first five holes of the back nine, with the rain picking up as they went along. However, Tridle made a move on the last four holes, winning Nos. 15 and 17 to tie the match.
The match went to extra holes, and neither player could take advantage. After tying the first three holes, Karmazin finally triumphed with a par on the fourth extra hole, winning in 22 holes.
Nietfeldt, a former First-Team All Conference Husker (1996), is looking to win his 11th NebGolf title, and his first senior title. A win would also produce a seventh different trophy for him. He would be the first player to win a NebGolf junior title and a senior title. Nietfeldt could add a Nebraska Senior Match Play to his Nebraska Amateur (2002), Nebraska Match Play (2003), Nebraska Junior Amateur (1993, 1994), Nebraska Junior Match Play (1993), Nebraska Mid-Amateur (2001, 2013, 2019) and Nebraska Four-Ball (2019, 2022) titles.
Karmazin, a two-time All-American at Nebraska Wesleyan (1996, 1997), would take his first NebGolf title with a win. He's a long-time competitor, and his daughters have competed for many years, with his youngest, Julia, owning three NebGolf titles.
In the President's Bracket, Omaha's Trent Morrison and Chris Mangan advanced. They will play in the Final on October 9, teeing off at 8 a.m.
The brackets are available on the championship website below, along with additional information.
Nebraska Senior 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.
