Barnes Comes Back for Back-to-Back Nebraska Women's Mid-Amateur Titles
Final Round Conducted Sunday at The Pines Country Club
VALLEY (September 29, 2024) - Bellevue's Kayla Barnes completed an incredible Final Round comeback to win the 4th Nebraska Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at The Pines Country Club in Valley on Sunday.
Barnes started the day five strokes back of Elkhorn's Megan Whittaker, but caught fire and shot a championship record 67 (-5). The round gave Barnes a one-stroke victory with a 141 (-3) total, also a record. It's back-to-back titles for Barnes, who won her fifth NebGolf title, moving her into a tie for ninth on the all-time list.
After opening her first round at 5-over through her first six holes, Barnes kicked off Sunday in much better shape. She birdied No. 2 and was 1-under through those same six holes, but was just getting started. Two more birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 moved Barnes to red figures for the championship, and she made the turn in 33 (-3), eight strokes better than the first round.
The back nine provided more fireworks, as Barnes holed a bunker shot on No. 12 for birdie to get within one stroke of Whittaker's lead. A bogey followed after flying the 12th green, and her tee shot on the par-4 13th came with inches of the water. Barnes was not fazed though, and with a good lie in the penalty area, she nearly holed her approach shot, tapping in for another birdie. Whittaker couldn't convert her up-and-down from behind the green, and a two-stroke swing left them tied at 2-under.
Barnes kept it rolling on the par-3 14th, sticking her approach shot to about 10 feet. She rolled in the birdie to take the solo-lead for the first time at 3-under. Whittaker had good birdie chances on Nos. 15 and 16, but couldn't get the putts to drop.
Both players had birdies looks on the par-5 18th, and after Barnes rolled her putt by a few feet, Whittaker had a chance to tie the lead. The birdie putt stopped inches from the hole though, and Barnes calmly rolled in her par putt to seal the win.
Whittaker's final round 73 (+1) left her with runner-up honors at 142 (-2) in her first Nebraska Women's Mid-Amateur appearance.
Lincoln's Carrie Bostar, the 2021 and 2022 Champion, finished third at 154 (+10), 12 strokes behind Whittaker.
Emily Gonderinger of Omaha placed fourth with a 158 (+14) total, while Jackie Conway of Omaha was fifth at 164 (+20).
Final results are available on the championship websites below, along with additional information.
Nebraska Women's Mid-Amateur Championship
About NebGolf
The Nebraska Golf Association (NebGolf), 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 NebGolf. 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.
