Malleck Holds 18-hole Lead at Nebraska Junior Amateur
BEATRICE (July 23, 2019) – It was an ideal day on Tuesday at Beatrice Country Club for the first round of the 52nd Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship, and Reed Malleck of York shot the lowest opening round in seven years to leap into the lead.
Malleck made six birdies and one bogey during his round of 67 (-5), which was the lowest round since Mitchell Klooz of Laurel shot the same score at Norfolk Country Club in 2012. The soon-to-be York High School senior made birdies on Nos. 5 and 9 to turn in 34 (-2). He made four more birdies on the back nine, including a closing birdie on No. 18 for a 33 (-3).
Lincoln’s Josh Bartels is just one stroke back after a round of 68 (-4), the only other round under par today. Bartels, who finished runner-up at the 2019 Nebraska Junior Match Play, jumped out to the early lead, making an eagle-3 on the 579-yard par-5 fourth hole. He followed up with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to shoot a front nine 33 (-3). His back nine was bogey-free, with a single birdie for a 35 (-1).
Omaha’s Josh Peters is in third place, after a round of even-par 72. He had tree trouble on the 18th hole but made a long putt to save par. Four players are tied for fourth at 74 (+2), including the 2019 Nebraska Junior Match Play Champion Luke Gutschewski of Elkhorn. Gutschewski had an even-par round going as well, after an eagle on the par-5 14th hole, but his tee shot on No. 18 was out-of-bound by a couple inches, and he finished with a double-bogey. Norfolk’s Jake Kluver, Cambridge Preston Carbaugh and Lincoln’s Connor Vandewege also shot 74 (+2).
Omaha’s Josh Kramer shot 75 (+3) and is in eighth place, while Christopher Atkinson of Omaha is in ninth after a 76 (+4). Three players round out the top 10, including the second-youngest player in the field, 12-year-old Thomas Bryson of Lincoln. Grand Island’s Noah Vahle and Omaha’s Charlie Zielinski also shot 77 (+5), and are tied with Bryson for 10th.
The second round begins at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Full results and more can be found on the championship website below.
Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship
About the NGA
The Nebraska Golf Association, 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 the NGA. 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.
