Gutschewski Stays Hot, Leads Nebraska Amateur
Round One Conducted on Tuesday at Fremont Golf Club
FREMONT (July 16, 2024) – Omaha's Trevor Gutschewski continued his hot July and jumped out to the lead after the first round of the 116th Nebraska Amateur Championship on Tuesday at Fremont Golf Club.
Gutschewski, a rising senior at Omaha Westside, had the championship record in his sights during his round of 65 (-6), and leads by three strokes over a talented field. It's tied for the lowest first round score in championship history, and just one off the first round score to-par record. There have only been three other first round 65s in championship history, all were 7-under rounds on par 72 courses.
It's been a good week for Gutschewski, who is committed to play golf at the University of Florida. He won the Nebraska Junior Match Play last week, and followed it up with a win at the Indian Creek Invitational to earn a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour's Pinnacle Bank Championship in August. Gutschewski currently leads the 2024 NebGolf Point Standings, and is tied for the lead in the NebGolf Junior Point Standings.
Gutschewski kick-started his round with an eagle chip in on the par-5 13th hole, and after a birdie on the par-3 17th, he made the turn in 33 (-3). He was just getting started though, as he birdied four of the first five holes on the front nine to get to 7-under. He needed just two more birdies to get the championship record, but made bogey on the short par-4 seventh instead, and close with two pars to finish at 6-under.
Overall, 14 players broke par on an ideal Tuesday at Fremont Golf Club, with temperatures barely reaching into the 80s, and light winds throughout the round. That includes four players tied four second behind Gutschewski at 68 (-3). Omaha's Mike Siwa, York's Reed Malleck, Lincoln's Evan McDermott are the closest competitors.
Siwa, a former Husker, and Malleck and McDermott, both current Huskers, all posted their 3-under rounds in the morning wave. Siwa's round included a hole-out eagle on the par-4 sixth hole, while McDermott put together the only bogey-free round of the day.
Five players are tied for fifth after rounds of 69 (-2), including Luke Gutschewski of Omaha, Trevor's older brother, who plays at Iowa State. Both brothers own Nebraska Junior Amateur and Nebraska Junior Match Play titles.
The group at 2-under also includes Waterloo's Johnny Williams, and Omaha's Luke Strako, Connor Steichen and Matthew Junge. Steichen won the Nebraska Junior Amateur at Fremont Golf Club in 2021.
Another five players are tied for 10th after rounds of 70 (-1). Three junior golfers are amongst them, with Nebraska Junior Match Play semifinalists Coltrane Mittag of Ashland and Jackson Benge of Omaha at that number, as well as Omaha's Sam Vocelka. They are joined by Husker golfer Hamish Murray and Grand Island's Henry Kosmicki.
Two past champions matched par and are tied with seven others for 15th at 71 (E). The 1989 Champion John Sajevic of Fremont is in good shape to increase his record with a 37th made cut, while Lincoln's David Easley, the 2021 Champion, is also at even-par. The 2002 Champion Ryan Nietfeldt of Elkhorn shot a 72 (+1) and is also in the mix, tied for 24th.
The second round begins at 8 a.m. off both Nos. 1 and 10 tees on Wednesday, after which the field will be cut to the low 60 scores and ties for Thursday and Friday's rounds. Pairings are available on the championship website, along with the scoring page and additional information.
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.
