Nietfeldt is 2026 Nebraska Senior Golfer of the Year
First Player to Win Junior, Men's and Senior Awards
OMAHA (November 13, 2026) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Elkhorn's Ryan Nietfeldt as the 2026 Nebraska Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year presented by SWAG.
In his first year of senior golf, Nietfeldt (50) won and finished runner-up in the senior championships, leading to a decisive win in the points race. He added to an already historic career, and now is the first player to win the Nebraska Junior Golfer of the Year (1993), Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year (2002, 2003, 2012 and 2019) and the Nebraska Senior Golfer of the Year (2026).
Nietfeldt, a former First-Team All Conference Husker (1996), earned his 11th NebGolf title, and his first senior title, at the 16th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship last month. He's now tied for second all-time in NebGolf men's titles with Omaha's Andy Sajevic, and trails the leader, John Sajevic of Fremont (12), by one.
On the way to the Nebraska Senior Match Play title, Nietfeldt defeated one of his main competitors for the award, Brian Csipkes of Gretna, 4 and 3. He had to wait more than a week to play in the Final, which was postponed due to excessive rain at Platteview Golf Club. After the wait, Nietfeldt cruised to defeat Omaha's Kelly Karmazin in the Final, 5 and 4.
It is the seventh different championship Nietfeldt has won. He's the the first player to win a NebGolf junior title and a senior title, and adds the 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. The only championships he's been eligible for that he hasn't won, are the Nebraska Senior Amateur and the Nebraska Mid-Amateur Match Play, both of which he competed in for the first time in 2026.
In his first time competing in the Nebraska Senior Amateur, Nietfeldt finished tied for second, just one stroke behind Omaha's Patrick Duffy, the champion. Nietfeldt shots rounds of 71 (-1) and 74 (+2) to finish in a tie with Csipkes and Omaha's Kevin Sullivan at 145 (+1).
In the Inaugural Nebraska Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship, Nietfeldt advanced to the Quarterfinals before falling to Omaha's Jake Anderson in 21 holes. He also finished tied for 16th at the 28th Nebraska Mid-Amateur Championship at Beatrice Country Club.
Nietfeldt also added to an all-time Nebraska Amateur resume, finishing tied for eighth at Norfolk Country Club. He made his 23rd 36-hole cut at the championship, which moved him to fourth all-time. It was also his 19th Top 25 finish (T-5 all-time) and his 11th Top 10 finish (T-7 all-time).
Nietfeldt made his first attempt to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open as well, making it through local qualifying at Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta, Kansas. He finished five strokes shy of earning a spot through Final Qualifying at Shadow Ridge Country Club in Omaha with a round of 75 (+3).
Nietfeldt will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, November 20 at Indian Creek in Elkhorn (Tickets can be purchased here). In addition, NebGolf will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year, Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year and Girls' Amateur Golfer of the Year.
For more on the award, link below.
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.
