Schaefer Triumphs with Clutch Finish at 115th Nebraska Amateur
Final Round Conducted Sunday at Scotts Bluff Country Club
SCOTTSBLUFF (July 23, 2023) – Matthew Schaefer of Fordyce made up a three-stroke deficit over the final four holes to win the 115th Nebraska Amateur Championship on Sunday at Scotts Bluff Country Club.
Schaefer birdied two of the last four holes to win by one stroke over Omaha's Charlie Zielinski with a 276 (-12) total. It's the first title for the South Dakota State graduate, who fired a 69 (-3) to close out the championship.
Both players made early moves, with Schaefer making a third birdie of the week on the par-5 first hole to take the lead at 10-under. Zielinski quickly answered though, throwing a dart on the par-4 second and rolling in the putt to tie the lead once again.
Schaefer stumbled in the middle of the front nine for the second-straight day, making bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5, while Zielinski played steady golf. It was a bogey-free front nine for Zielinski, and after both players in the final pairing made birdie on the par-5 ninth, Zielinski held a two stroke lead at 11-under. They both played ninth hole in 4-under for the week.
The par-5 birdie barrage continued on No. 11, as both Schaefer and Zielinski converted. Zielinski followed with another birdie on the par-3 12th, pushing his lead to three strokes. It looked like his back nine woes from the third round, where he shot 40 (+4) and Schaefer made up six strokes on him, were over.
Zielinski carried that lead into the par-5 15th, but Schaefer was prepared to make his move. Schaefer completed the par-5 birdie sweep, birdieing all four on the course in the final round with his on No. 15 to pull within two strokes. After a Zielinski bogey on No. 16, Schaefer stuffed it close on the par-3 17th and rolled in a tricky, breaking putt from inside 10 feet to tie the lead.
After finishing each of the first three rounds tied for the lead, Schaefer and Zielinski went to the 72nd hole tied at 12-under. Both players hit their drives just off to the right, and found the front tier of the green. After Schaefer left his birdie putt short, Zielinski rolled his too far by, and his comeback par putt lipped out. Schaefer then rolled his short par putt in the hole for the win. Zielinski finished runner-up at 277 (-11) after a Final Round 70 (-2).
Omaha's Andy Sajevic, a four-time Champion, had a chance to get into the mix and make history, but finished third at 278 (-10), after a 70 (-2). Sajevic made six birdies, and played his final 10 holes in 4-under, but a costly double-bogey on No. 5 kept him too far back until late. He birdied Nos. 16 and 18, and nearly rolled in another on No. 17. Sajevic was the only player in the field to post all four rounds under-par.
The 2023 Nebraska Match Play Champion, Calvin Freeman of Table Rock, finished fourth at 281 (-7) after a 71 (-1) in the closing round. Ralston's Peyton Koch shot 72 (E) and was fifth at 282 (-6), while Bennington's Johnny Spellerberg was another stroke back in sixth at 283 (-5), following his third-straight round under-par, a 71 (-1).
York's Reed Malleck played his final three rounds in 7-under, including a 69 (-3) on Sunday, to finish seventh at 284 (-4). Scottsbluff's Brock Ehler also closed with a 69 (-3) at his home club to finish eighth at 286 (-2).
Omaha's Josh Peters was ninth at 288 (E), and Lincoln's Travis Minzel and Waterloo's Johnny Williams rounded out the Top 10, tied for 10th, at 289 (+1).
Elkhorn's Trevor Gutschewski came back to earn Low Junior honors, finishing 12th at 290 (+2). Gutschewski, whose older brother Luke won the 2020 Nebraska Junior Amateur at Scotts Bluff Country Club, shot a Final Round 72 (E) to earn the honors.
Visit the championship website below for full results and more.
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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.
