Vontz Stays Hot to Garner No. 1 Seed at Nebraska Match Play
Round Two of Stroke Play Qualifying Conducted Wednesday at Wild Horse Golf Club
GOTHENBURG (June 16, 2021) – It was more of the same for Lincoln's Nate Vontz on Wednesday at Wild Horse Golf Club in Gothenburg, as he separated himself from the field after Round Two of Stroke Play Qualifying for the 54th Nebraska Match Play Championship.
Vontz, a Creighton Bluejay senior, made seven more birdies and an eagle during his round of 67 (-5) to add to his first round 64 (-8), for a 131 (-13) total. He finished with 15 birdies and two eagles over the two rounds, and was six strokes clear of the closest competitor. Vontz earned medalist honors and the No. 1 seed for match play.
It was a similar start to the first round for Vontz, as he birdied four of his first six holes for the second straight day. However, he made his first two bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8. It didn't take him long to bounce back though, as he stuck his tee shot close on the par-3 ninth and rolled in his fifth birdie of the day.
Vontz then made another bogey on No. 10, but followed that up with the shot of the day. On the 442-yard par-4 12th, he had 157 yards into the green and his gap wedge found the bottom of the hole. He made a couple more birdies and a bogey on the back nine, and closed out his round with a par on No. 18. He'll square up against the No. 32 seed Christian Ghilardi of Lincoln.
Omaha's Andy Sajevic, the 2013 Champion, and Omaha's Jake Boor, the 2021 NSAA Class A Champion, tied for second at 137 (-7). Both players shot rounds of 68 (-4) and 69 (-3), and Boor was awarded the No. 2 seed after a random draw, and will face Ty Heimes of Battle Creek. Sajevic will be the No. 3 seed and match up against Colton Stock of Omaha.
The 2019 Champion Caleb Badura of Aurora and Charlie Zielinski of Omaha were two strokes behind at 139 (-5). Zielinski is the No. 4 seed and Badura the No. 5 seed. Zielinski will take on Creighton teammate Jake Kluver of Norfolk, while Badura will face another Bluejay, Jackson Thompson.
Exactly 32 players finished at 149 (+5) or better, and no playoff was needed to complete the bracket. The Round of 32 begins at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, followed by the Round of 16 in the afternoon. Full results are available on the championship website below, along with the match play bracket.
Nebraska 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.
