Thiele is the 100th Nebraska Women's Match Play Champion
Championship Final Conducted Wednesday at Happy Hollow Club
OMAHA (June 7, 2023) - Wahoo's Lindsey Thiele made history at Happy Hollow Club in Omaha on Wednesday, defeating Omaha's Kaitlyn Hanna, 2 and 1, in the Final to win the 100th Women’s Match Play Championship.
Thiele claimed her first NebGolf title, and joined her three sisters (Haley, Hannah and Lauren), who all hold multiple titles. Hannah is the only other sister to win the Nebraska Women's Match Play though, which she did in 2016 as a junior golfer. In total, it's the 13th title for the Thiele family.
Thiele, a Husker golfer, jumped out to the lead from the start, despite an errant opening tee shot. Her drive sailed right and into the trees, but after punching out just short of the green, she was able to get up-and-down for par, while Hanna three-putted to lose the hole. Thiele gained another hole on No. 4, when she hit her approach shot close and two-putted for par after Hanna made bogey.
The fireworks started on the par-5 fifth, when Thiele nearly chipped in for eagle from just short of the green. Hanna answered the birdie though, by rolling in a 15-foot putt of her own to tie the hole and keep the lead at 2 up. The Iowa Hawkeye golfer, Hanna, then won No. 6 with a par to cut into the lead.
It was a stretch of five-straight tied holes after that, but there were close calls. On No. 9, Thiele stuck her approach shot just below the hole, but Hanna rolled one off the flagstick from the left fringe. The putt did not drop though, and Thiele's birdie attempt slid past as well.
Both players struggled on the par-5 12th, but Thiele took a win with a bogey to go 2 up again. Hanna stayed close though with another win on No. 14 after a solid approach shot and a two-putt par. She another good look on the par-3 15th, but couldn't get it to drop. Thiele saw her chance to close out the match early, and took advanced. She nearly reached the par-5 16th in two, and converted the up-and-down for birdie to go 2 up with two holes to play. On the difficult par-3 17th green, both players made bogey to end the match in Thiele's favor, 2 and 1.
Thiele, who just made it into the bracket after a three-hole playoff, could be the highest seed (No. 15) to win the championship. She also had last year's champion and her Husker teammate, Megan Whittaker of Elkhorn, on the bag as her caddie throughout the week.
There were also Finals in fourth other flight brackets. In the Founders Bracket in the Championship Division, Papillion's Sydney Taake defeated Omaha's Nicole Hansen, 5 and 4.
In the Tournament Division, Omaha's Debbie Wilbeck defeated Omaha's Jane Pohlman in the Gross Bracket, 3 and 2. Omaha's Sherri Monson won, 3 and 2, over Omaha's Linda Costello in the Net Bracket 1 Final. Sarah Nordlund of Nickerson took down Phyllis Hall of Norfolk, 2 and 1, in the Net Bracket 2 Final, and Omaha's Pam Carmines defeated Bennington's Shari Strong, 6 and 4, in the Net Bracket 2 Final.
The final brackets are available on the championship website below, along with additional information.
Nebraska Women's Match Play Championship
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.
