Hansen, Thiele Lead Nebraska Women's Amateur
First Round Conducted Monday at The Country Club of Lincoln
LINCOLN (August 3, 2020) - Lincoln's Nicole Hansen and Wahoo's Lindsey Thiele were the only players in red numbers and hold the first round lead at the 46th Nebraska Women’s Amateur Championship at The Country Club of Lincoln.
Hansen will be a redshirt sophomore on the Husker women's golf team this fall. The Bloomingdale, Illinois native caught fire from the start, while Thiele made a late charge to tie the lead. Both players finished at 71 (-1) and lead by one stroke over third place.
Hansen came firing out of the gates, birdieing three of her first five holes to take the lead. She dropped back to 2-under a couple of times, but bounced right back with birdies on Nos. 11 and 16. However, she had some trouble around the green on No. 17 and double-bogeyed to fall back to 1-under.
Thiele, who will be a freshman for the Huskers this fall, made the turn in 37 (+1), but opened the back nine with back-to-back birdies to get into red figures. She went into the 18th hole at even-par, but closed with her fourth birdie of the day to finish at 1-under.
Aurora's Danica Badura is in third after a round of 72 (E). The 2020 Nebraska Girls' Match Play and Nebraska Girls' Amateur Champion opened with a front nine 39 (+3), but made a run on the back nine, closing in 33 (-3) to get back into the mix. Badura is trying to become the first player to win the Nebraska Girls' Amateur and the Nebraska Women's Amateur in the same year.
Two past Nebraska Girls' Amateur Champions are tied for fourth at 74 (+2), including Kaitlyn Hanna of Omaha (2019) and Kirsten Baete of Beatrice (2016).
Five-time champion Sarah Sasse-Kildow is competing for the first time since 2011, and shot a 75 (+3). She's tied for sixth along with Lincoln's Nicole Kolbas.
Husker golfer Jessica Haraden is in eighth at 76 (+4), while 2019 Nebraska Girls' Match Play Champion Lauren Thiele of Wahoo is tied for ninth with North Platte's Baylee Steele.
Two-time champion Stephanie Kolbas of Lincoln, Nicole's mother, is tied for 11th with Chadron's Ricki Hickstein, the 2017 Nebraska Girls' Amateur Champion, at 78 (+6).
Pairings for Tuesday's second round are available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Women's Amateur 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.
About NWAGA
The Nebraska Women's Amateur Golf Association, founded in 1973, is an organization of golf clubs and individuals governed by amateur women golfers and formed for the purpose of promoting and conserving the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf for all women in the State of Nebraska. As NWAGA members, your participation and support is integral to NWAGA's success and will continue to enliven our efforts.
