Steichen Closes Strong to Win Nebraska Junior Amateur
FREMONT (August 4, 2021) - Omaha's Connor Steichen put together a strong finish during the final round on Wednesday to win the 54th Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship at Fremont Golf Club.
Steichen fell out of the lead after the first hole and didn't regain it until the back nine, but posted a 72 (+1) and secured his first NGA title by three strokes with a 213 (E) total. The sophomore at Omaha Creighton Prep started the day tied for the lead with Grand Island's Marcus Holling, but made a comeback after a tough start to earn his trophy.
Holling birdied the first hole to take the solo-lead, while Steichen made double-bogey on No. 3 and bogeyed No. 4 to fall four strokes behind. Steichen eventually caught him with birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 to take the lead at 1-over par.
After a bogey on No. 12, Steichen closed strong with birdies on two of the final four holes to seal his win. On the par-5 15th, Steichen hit a great second shot that he didn't even think would get to the green, it settled just right of the hole in the rough. A delicate chip and putt gave him a birdie to regain his lead after Omaha's Jake Boor tied him with a birdie on the same hole.
Steichen's clutch shot came on the par-3 17th hole with a pitching wedge to about four feet, and he made the putt to extend his lead to two stroke heading into the final hole. He striped his drive down the middle and made an easy par to finish at even-par for the championship. Boor had a chance on the 18th hole, but three-putted for bogey to fall three strokes back.
Boor and Holling finished runner-up at 216 (+3). Boor shot a final round 74 (+3), while Holling closed with a 75 (+4). Omaha's Christopher Atkinson, the 2021 Nebraska Junior Match Play Champion, challenged the lead with an eagle on No. 7 and a birdie on No. 8, eventually finishing tied for fourth at 217 (+4), after a final round 71 (E). Lincoln's Thomas Bryson, playing alongside Atkinson, also shot a 71 (E) to finish at the same number.
Ashland's Coltrane Mittag was sixth at 218 (+5), and Hastings' Brayden Schram finished seventh at 220 (+7). Jackson Benge of Omaha took eighth at 222 (+9), while Omaha' Trey Ruge placed ninth at 223 (+10).
A three-way tie for 10th rounded out the top 10, with Bennington's Cullen Buscher, Doniphan's Ethan Smith and Elkhorn's Trevor Gutschewski earning medals at 224 (+11).
Full results and more are available at the championship website below.
Nebraska Junior 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.
