Sajevic Earns No. 1 Seed at Nebraska Senior Match Play
Stroke Play Qualifying Conducted Tuesday at Wild Horse Golf Club
GOTHENBURG (September 20, 2022) - The defending champion, John Sajevic of Fremont, is primed for another run after earning medalist honors and the No. 1 seed, after Stroke Play Qualifying at the 12th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship at Wild Horse Golf Club on Tuesday.
Sajevic, who won his first Nebraska Senior Match Play title last year, fired a 70 (-2) to take the top spot by two strokes. It's his third time as qualifying medalist, the most in championship history. He'll be the top seed for match play, which begins Wednesday morning, and is looking for a 12th NGA title to extend his record.
Sajevic was the only player to break par on a perfect day at Wild Horse. He was actually 1-over after six holes, but made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 to get to red figures. The four-time Nebraska Senior Amateur Champion added a birdie on No. 12, and then followed up his second bogey of the day on No. 15, with a birdie on No. 16.
Lincoln's Jayson Brueggemann is the No. 2 seed in his second try at the Nebraska Senior Match Play. The 2008 Nebraska Amateur Champion shot a round of 72 (E) that included two birdies and two bogeys.
The No. 1 seeded Sajevic will face Fremont's Eric Sullivan in the Round of 16, while Brueggemann will take on No. 15 seeded Tim Diehm of Bellevue.
Three past champions and the reigning Nebraska Senior Amateur Champion all tied for third at 73 (+1). That groups includes four-time champion Mike Krumland of Columbus, 2020 Champion Kirby Smith of Omaha, 2016 Champion Jay Muller of Omaha and Brian Csipkes of Gretna, the 2022 Nebraska Senior Amateur Champ. Muller is in the championship bracket for a record ninth time, while Krumland makes his eighth appearance.
Two other past champions made the championship bracket, meaning all six in the field will have a shot at another title. The 2018 Champion Matt Haynes of Bellevue carded a 74 (+2), while the 2019 Champion Ed Wyatt of Lincoln made it on the number with a 75 (+3). Exactly 16 players finished at 3-over or better, so no playoff was needed.
The rest of the Championship Division was seeded into three additional brackets, while the Tournament Division was split into two brackets. Match play begins at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The brackets are available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship
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.
