Benge, Brown Qualify for U.S. Junior Amateur, Beasley for U.S. Girls' Junior
Qualifying Conducted on Tuesday at Lochland Country Club
HASTINGS (June 14, 2022) - Omaha's Jackson Benge kept his hot-streak going and along with Omaha's Kolby Brown, qualified for the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, while Maya Beasley of Pinehurst, North Carolina earned a spot in the 2022 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship through qualifying at Lochland Country Club in Hastings on Tuesday.
Benge, who won the Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship last week in runaway fashion, kept his foot on the gas and fired a 64 (-8) to earn medalist honors and one of two qualifying spots. After making six birdies in 13 holes of the Junior Match Play Final, Benge added nine birdies today to post the low round of the day by a whopping eight strokes. The Omaha Westside rising junior also won a junior event in Iowa over the weekend.
Brown, Benge's high school teammate, had to battle for his spot, birdieing two of the last three holes to shoot 72 (E). He won a playoff against Grand Island's Henry Kosmicki, who also shot 72 (E). Brown made par on the first playoff hole, No. 10, to secure his spot in the championship. Kosmicki is the first alternate, and Geneva's Alexander Schademann is the second alternate after a round of 73 (+1).
On the girls' side, Beasley also took medalist honors by a healthy margin to take the lone qualifying spot. Her 71 (-1) was the only round under par and the low by three strokes. Beasley played a flawless back nine 35 (-1), with one birdie, to separate herself.
Lincoln's Nicole Kolbas and Englewood, Colorado's Madeline Bante tied at 74 (+2), and Bante won a playoff for the alternate positions. Bante is the first alternate, and Kolbas, who played in last year's U.S. Girls' Junior, is the second alternate.
Benge and Brown will play next at the 74th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon, July 25-30. Beasley will play at the 73rd U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Kentucky, July 18-23.
Final results and more are available at the buttons below.
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.
