Freeman, Spellerberg Lead Qualifying at Nebraska Match Play
Round One of Stroke Play Qualifying Conducted Monday at Beatrice Country Club
BEATRICE (June 26, 2023) – Red numbers were abundant Monday afternoon at Beatrice Country Club, and Table Rock's Calvin Freeman and Bennington's Johnny Spellerberg shared the low round of the first round of Stroke Play Qualifying at the 56th Nebraska Match Play Championship.
Freeman and Spellerberg were paired together and each carded a round of 66 (-6) to lead a the halfway point of qualifying by two strokes. Freeman, who is the head men's golf coach at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, and Spellerberg, the defending champion, played in the blustery and hot afternoon wave and will be in a battle for the No. 1 seed on Tuesday.
Freeman started his day with a birdie on No. 10 and never let off the gas. After turning in 33 (-3), he birdied four-straight holes to start the front nine and get to 7-under. His only bogey of the day came on the par-3 fifth hole.
Spellerberg made four-straight pars to start his round, but closed the back nine in a fury, with four birdies in the last five holes to turn in 33 (-3) as well. He followed with three more birdies on the front nine, including a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth hole to match Freeman with the clubhouse lead.
In total, 13 players broke par on what looked to be a tough scoring day early. Lincoln's Thomas Gatlin posted the low round of the morning wave, a 69 (-3), with the wind picking up mid-morning and continuing into the late afternoon. La Vista's Alex Zillig was the only other player to break par in the morning, shooting a 71 (-1).
The afternoon wave saw several low scores, in addition to Freeman and Spellerberg. York's Reed Malleck, who finished runner-up to Spellerberg last year, made seven birdies during his round of 68 (-4) and is in solo-third. Lincoln's David Easley matched Gatlin with his own 69 (-3), and they are tied four fourth.
Four players are tied for sixth at 70 (-2), including the 2004 Champion, Travis Minzel of Lincoln, who had reached 5-under at one point during his round. That group also includes Lincoln's Thomas Bryson, who just finished runner-up for the second-straight year at the Nebraska Junior Match Play, Omaha's Charlie Zielinski and Cambridge's Preston Carbaugh.
Among those tied with Zillig at 71 (-1), include Matt Quandt of Omaha, Tyler Ehresman of Grand Island and Justin Webert of Lincoln.
There are currently 40 players at 74 (+2) or better, and after Tuesday's second round, the field will be cut to the low 32 scores for the match play bracket.
Tuesday's round begins at 8 a.m. and pairings and full results are available on the championship website below, along with additional information.
Nebraska 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.
