Sajevic is Nebraska Senior Golfer of the Year Again
OMAHA (November 13, 2019) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Fremont’s John Sajevic as the 2019 Nebraska Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year for a record seventh time.
Sajevic has now won the honor seven of the eight years it has been awarded, winning in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 as well. He was also the Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year twice, in 1989 and 1996.
The 63-year-old Sajevic continued to add to his legacy in 2019, winning another trophy and adding to his long list of records. He started at the 21st Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln in June, capturing another title. Sajevic extended his record with a fourth title, and joined Steve Samuelson as the only players to win back-to-back titles. This is one he had to fight for though, after winning his first three titles by a total of 16 strokes. He needed a par on the final hole to close out a one-stroke victory. The win gave him his third title in four years, adding the 2016, 2018 and 2019 titles to his 2008 trophy. It also was Sajevic’s 10th NGA title overall, which set the record for the most all-time, until Omaha’s Alex Schaake matched it with his Nebraska Amateur win the following month.
In July at the 111th Nebraska Amateur at The Country Club of Lincoln, Sajevic added to an already incredible resume at the championship. Sajevic finished outside of the Top 25 for the first time in his career, but was the only senior to make the cut. He tied for 41st at 305 (+17), tying the great Larry Sock in a couple other categories on the all-time list. Sajevic made his 34th 36-hole cut, and also made the cut for the 20th straight year, both tie Sock for the most all-time.
In addition to those record-setting performances, Sajevic advanced to the Round of 16 at the 52nd Nebraska Match Play Championship at The Players Club in Omaha in June. He was again the only senior to make the bracket, and he’s only missed the cut to match play twice in the past decade, and both times he did not compete. Sajevic also finished runner-up at the 9th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship, his second silver medal at that championship. Sajevic was in control of the final against Ed Wyatt of Lincoln, but his putter was cold, and Wyatt made some clutch shots in the final two holes to take the title.
Sajevic teamed up with his son, Andy, to compete in the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Bandon Dunes. The Sajevic duo tied a championship record with their first round 62 (-8) during Stroke Play Qualifying, which helped them earn their way into the match play bracket. They fell in the Round of 32, but made the bracket for the second time. Sajevic also finished tied for eighth at the 21st Nebraska Mid-Amateur Championship at Fremont Golf Club, and was the first alternate again at Sectional Qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, falling just a stroke short of a playoff. He also finished third at the Fremont Invitational.
Sajevic will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's annual awards banquet on Friday, November 15 at The Country Club of Lincoln. In addition, the NGA will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year and Girls’ Amateur Golfer of the Year. The Nebraska Women's Amateur Golf Association's Player of the Year will also be honored.
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.
