Christiansen Leads 26th Nebraska Senior Amateur
Round One Conducted Thursday at Wayne Country Club
WAYNE (June 20, 2024) - Yutan's Randy Christiansen jumped out to the lead after the first round of the 26th Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship at Wayne Country Club on Thursday.
Christiansen tied the lowest first round to-par in championship history with his 68 (-4), and leads by a stroke over some talented players. Despite some brief afternoon rain, conditions were right for scoring on Thursday, and five players broke par.
Christiansen started hot and nearly played a flawless round. Starting late in the afternoon wave, while the rain was dissipating, he birdied four of his first eight holes to charge into the lead. He made the turn in 32 (-4), and looked unflappable, adding another birdie on No. 13 to get to 5-under.
The championship record was within reach for Christiansen. He just needed one more birdie to get there and match Fremont's John Sajevic's record 66 (-6) from 2018 at ArborLinks in Nebraska City. Christiansen was just right of the green on the par-5 16th, but couldn't convert the birdie. His tee shot on No. 18 found the trees, and led to his only bogey of the day, dropping him to 4-under.
Sajevic, a four-time champion, fired a round of 69 (-3) to lead after the morning wave, and now sits in second. He made five birdies throughout his round, including his last on No. 15, which pushed him into the lead, at the time, ahead of Omaha's Patrick Duffy, playing alongside him.
Duffy is two strokes back after a round of 70 (-2). His round included a hole-out for eagle on the par-4 11th hole, which was the hardest hole of the day. Only one other player made a birdie or better, and that was Sajevic. Duffy, a three-time Nebraska Mid-Amateur Champion, is looking for his first senior title.
Two other players broke par on Thursday, and are tied for fourth with rounds of 71 (-1). That includes Elkhorn's Jeff Russell and Oakland's Nathan Anderson, who picked up on Christiansen's hot streak. Playing in a twosome with the leader, Anderson made five birdies in his last 10 holes, including on the 18th hole to get into red figures.
The Final Round begins at 8 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10, with a morning wave and afternoon wave. The leaders, Christiansen, Sajevic and Duffy, are set to tee off at 1:40 p.m. Pairings are available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Senior 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.
