Sajevic is Nebraska Senior Golfer of the Year
Eighth Award in 10 Years for Sajevic
OMAHA (November 8, 2021) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Fremont’s John Sajevic as the 2021 Nebraska Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year for a record-extending eighth time.
Sajevic, now 65, continued to add to his trophy case and his legacy in 2021, once again competing against all levels of competition. He won the Nebraska Senior Match Play for the first time, and has now won the Nebraska Senior Golfer of the Year award for the eighth time in 10 years. Sajevic was also the 1989 and 1996 Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year. Sajevic's win at the Senior Match Play gave him 11 total NGA men's titles, breaking a tie for the most all-time with Omaha's Alex Schaake.
The trophy that has eluded Sajevic for the past decade is now his, as he captured the 11th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship in September at Beatrice Country Club. Sajevic shot a 72 (E) in Stroke Play Qualifying and was the No. 5 seed for match play. His road to the title was difficult from the start, as he faced the 2018 Champion Matt Haynes in the Round of 16. Sajevic jumped out to an early lead and was in control throughout, defeating Haynes, 4 and 3. In the quarterfinals, Sajevic had a rematch with Bennington’s Steve Buroker, who birdied the 18th hole to defeat Sajevic in the semifinals in 2020. It was another battle this time around, but with Buroker already on the 18th green with a good look at birdie, Sajevic stuffed his approach to just a few feet and won the match, 2 up.
In the semifinals, Sajevic took on fellow Fremont Golf Club member David Allen. After Allen tied the match through 10 holes, Sajevic birdied three of the next five to win the match, 4 and 3. On the par-3 15th, Sajevic’s tee shot landed short of the hole, rolled into the flagstick, hit the back of the hole and popped out to just a few inches. His birdie was conceded to end the match. The final was another rematch, this time against Omaha’s Skip Gist, who defeated Sajevic in the 2017 semifinals in 20 holes. Sajevic, who had finished runner-up twice in this championship, was not going to let another one slip away. He made four birdies in 14 holes and won by the largest margin in a Nebraska Senior Match Play final, 6 and 4. Sajevic was bogey-free in his semifinal and final matches.
Sajevic continued an impressive stretch at the 23rd Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship at Platteview Golf Club in Bellevue. He finished tied for fourth, which gives him a 10th straight top 5 finish at the championship, which includes a record four titles. Sajevic shot rounds of 72 (E) and 74 (+2) to finish at 146 (+2), four strokes behind the champion, Ed Wyatt of Lincoln.
A streak also ended for Sajevic in 2021. He had not qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur since 2011, his first year of eligibility. That changed this year though, as he finally pushed through again, shooting a 70 (-1) at his home course, Fremont Golf Club, to earn the lone qualifying spot. He went on to shoot rounds of 75 (+3) and 74 (+2) at the 66th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Detroit in Michigan, missing the cut to match play by just one stroke with a 149 (+5) total.
Sajevic also added to his incredible Nebraska Amateur resume. He opened the 113th Nebraska Amateur at Lochland Country Club in Hastings with a 68 (-4), and briefly held the lead. He eventually finished 21st with a 290 (+2) total, which extended his record of 34 top 25 finishes. Sajevic also made his 22nd straight 36-hole cut, and his 36th total, both records.
Sajevic will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's annual awards banquet on Friday, December 3 at The Field Club of Omaha. In addition, the NGA will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year, Girls’ Amateur Golfer of the Year and Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year.
For more on the award, link below.
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.
