Baete Closes Strong For Nebraska Women's Match Play Title
Championship Final Conducted Thursday at Awarii Dunes Golf Club
AXTELL (June 3, 2021) - Beatrice's Kirsten Baete added to her trophy case on Thursday, defeating former Husker teammate Haley Thiele of Wahoo, 5 and 3, to claim the 98th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell.
Baete isn’t new to winning championships, but it's been a few years since her last NGA title. The University of Nebraska senior won the 2016 Nebraska Girl’s Amateur Championship.
A good start was in the cards early for Baete, as she saved par on the par 5 opening hole, after recovering from an errant tee shot that landed in a sandy waste area. Thiele wound up in similar territory, but couldn't recover, and lost the hole. Thiele would make that up, however, on No. 4, knocking down a long birdie putt to tie the match.
Each golfer continued to battle for the next few holes, but on Nos. 7 and 8, Baete started to separate. Two straight pars put Baete in control, with 2-up lead.
Thiele converted an impressive up-and-down for birdie from a tight lie on the par-5 ninth, while Baete two-putted for birdie after a huge drive and a wedge into the green. However, it looked like Thiele was making her move, as she hit her approach close on No. 10 and rolled in the birdie to climb within one hole.
Baete saved her best golf for the back nine, though. She won No. 12 when Thiele's par putt lipped out. Baete then hit it tight on the par-3 13th and dropped the birdie, before a simple up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 14th. The three straight wins gave her a 4-up lead with four holes to play.
It was a two-putt par on the long par-3 15th hole that gave Baete a fourth straight win and closed out the match, 5 and 3.
Sydney Taake of Papillion won the Founders’ Flight Bracket Final over Ricki Hickstein of Chadron, 3 and 2. The Founders’ Flight consisted of players from the Championship Division who did not make the cut for the Championship Bracket.
In the Tournament Division, three other net flight winners were crowned. Sarah Nordlund of Elkhorn bested Belinda Rude of Kearney, 2 and 1, to win the Flight 1 Final. Sally Bryson of Kearney defeated Chris Seberger of Grand Island by concession to win the Flight 2 Final. Kathy Garrelts of Kearney triumphed in Flight 3 over Joyce Gilbert, 4 and 3.
Visit the the championship website below for the final bracket and more.
Nebraska Women's 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.
