Wyatt Comes Back for Back-to-Back Nebraska Senior Amateur Titles
BELLEVUE (June 29, 2021) - Lincoln's Ed Wyatt came from four strokes back to win the 23rd Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship at Platteview Golf Club in Bellevue, his second-straight title.
Wyatt put together the round of the championship and was the only player to break par during the Final Round. His 68 (-4) was the low round of the day by four strokes, and he finished with a 142 (-2) total to win by one stroke over Omaha's Kirby Smith.
It was a battle with several different contenders throughout the day, but it was over much sooner than Wyatt's first title last year. He had to endure nine playoff holes last year to win over Papillion's Eric Murphy. This time, Wyatt secured his win in regulation.
Wyatt, who started the day four strokes back of Smith, wasted no time in making his final round move. He made birdies on Nos. 2 and 4 to tie the lead with Smith, who bogeyed two of the first three holes. Wyatt then chipped in for eagle on the par-5 seventh hole to surge into the lead by two strokes.
Several players had joined the lead at one point, including Fremont's John Sajevic, a four-time champion, and Papillion's Matt Haynes, a Platteview member and the 2018 Nebraska Senior Match Play Champion.
Wyatt hit a lull in his round and made six straight pars after his eagle, but sustained the lead the whole time. A bogey on the par-3 14th was a stumble for Wyatt, and gave a few players a chance at catching him.
Haynes made a front nine charge of his own, with three straight birdies on holes No. 6-8. A double-bogey on No. 9 slowed him down, but he made birdie on No. 14 and had a short look at birdie on the par-5 16th to get within one of Wyatt. The putt slid off to the right and he would finish in third at 145 (+1).
Smith made a comeback after his slow start and a front nine 38 (+2). He finished with two birdies in his last two holes, including a long putt from just off the front of the 18th green to finish at 143 (-1) after a 73 (+1).
Wyatt's title securing shot came on the long par-3 17th hole. He hit his tee shot to within a few inches of the hole and tapped in for a birdie to get to 2-under and just needed a par on the last to clinch his second-straight championship.
Sajevic finished in a tie for fourth at 146 (+2) along with Omaha's Skip Gist. Those two also tied atop the 65+ Age Division. Omaha's Gregg Vonnahme won the 58-64 Age Division with a 152 (+8) total, while Wyatt was the 50-57 Age Division winner along with his overall title.
It's the third straight year Wyatt has won a NGA title, including his 2019 Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship.
Full results and more are available at the championship website below.
Nebraska Senior 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.
