Beatrice CC Set to Host 11th Nebraska Senior Match Play
Championship Begins Monday at Beatrice Country Club
OMAHA (September 10, 2021) - The field is set for the 11th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship at Beatrice Country Club, September 13-15, and four past champions are scheduled to compete.
Kirby Smith of Omaha headlines the field as the defending champion, after his win at York Country Club last year. Smith was the No. 2 seed and took down three-time NGA champion Ed Wyatt of Lincoln in the semifinals, before defeating Bennington's Steve Buroker in the final. He's scheduled to play with Wyatt during Monday's Stroke Play Qualifier, as well as perennial contender John Sajevic of Fremont at 10:40 a.m. off No. 1.
Wyatt is trying to become just the second player to sweep the NGA's senior championships, joining Mike Krumland of Columbus, who accomplished the feat in 2014. Wyatt picked up his second-straight Nebraska Senior Amateur title this summer with his win at Platteview Golf Club in Bellevue. He's won three titles in three years, since joining the NGA senior circuit. Along with his Nebraska Senior Amateur titles in 2020 and 2021, Wyatt won the 2019 Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship.
Sajevic is still searching for his first Nebraska Senior Match Play title, one of only two titles he's eligible for that he hasn't won yet. He's finished runner-up twice, most recently to Wyatt in 2019. Sajevic has advanced to at least the semifinals, three of the last four years. A win would give him his 11th NGA title, the most men's titles all-time.
The 2018 Champion Matt Haynes of Papillion is also in the field, coming off a third place finish at the 2021 Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship. Haynes is paired with Kevin Sullivan of Omaha and Brian Csipkes of Gretna at 9:20 a.m. off No. 1. Csipkes will be competing in his first senior championship, after turning 50 in August.
Krumland is back to compete, and is looking to extend several championship records. He won four of the first Nebraska Senior Match Plays, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2017, and holds the most titles. Krumland also has made the championship bracket seven of 10 years, one shy of the record, and boasts an 18-3 match play record, the best all-time. He'll play with Omaha's Rob Mullin and Bellevue's Dave Shillinglaw at 10:50 a.m. off No. 1.
Buroker, last year's runner-up, is back for another shot. He'll play with another former runner-up, Skip Gist of Omaha, who fell to Krumland in the 2017 final. A new senior golfer will join them at 10:30 a.m. off No. 1, Jayson Brueggemann of Lincoln. The 2008 Nebraska Amateur Champion turned 50 in March, and finished 16th at the Nebraska Senior Amateur.
The championship features an 18-hole Stroke Play Qualifier on Monday, with the top 16 making the Championship Bracket. Match Play begins on Tuesday, with the Final scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. The championship will be played at Beatrice Country Club for the first time. The par-72 layout will measure 6,334 yards for the Championship Division. Those in the Gross Division not making the Championship Bracket are seeded into additional brackets, while the Net Division will feature another bracket. Play begins Monday with starting times off No. 1 from 9 - 11:50 a.m.
Pairings for the qualifying round are available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Senior 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.
