Hanna is Nebraska Girls' Golfer of the Year
Westside High School Senior Wins First Award
OMAHA (November 2, 2021) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Omaha’s Kaitlyn Hanna as the 2021 Nebraska Girls’ Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Hanna, a senior at Omaha Westside High School, is committed to play at the University of Iowa next year. She won the points race, despite not winning any NGA championships. Hanna had several runner-up finishes, and shined on the national stage to claim her first Golfer of the Year award.
After dealing with injuries early in the summer, Hanna made a late run to claim her award. She started by tying for runner-up honors at the 47th Nebraska Women’s Amateur Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Elkhorn. Hanna finished the championship on the difficult course with a 229 (+13) total, tied with two others, including Papillion’s Sydney Taake, with whom she shared Low Junior honors.
A couple weeks later, Hanna again tied for runner-up at the 21st Nebraska Girls’ Amateur Championship at Fremont Golf Club. She held the lead after a first round 71 (E), and followed with a 76 (+5) in the final round to finish at 147 (+5), tied with Wahoo’s Lauren Thiele for second. Hanna’s lead grew to four strokes during the final round, but Lincoln’s Nicole Kolbas came storming back with a back nine 33 (-3) to win by two strokes.
Earlier in the summer, Hanna advanced to the Round of 16 at the 97th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship at Awarii Dunes Golf Club in Axtell. She also finished runner-up at the Nebraska Junior PGA Championship and the 2020 NSAA Class A Girls’ Golf Championship, which counts towards the 2021 points race.
It was Hanna’s performance on the national stage that set her apart. She won the Midwest Junior Championship in Iowa against a talented field of future college golfers, winning in a playoff. Hanna also advanced to the Round of 16 at the 94th Women’s Western Junior, a national event with another strong field. She competed in the prestigious North and South Junior Amateur at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina as well, finishing tied for 43rd.
Hanna will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's annual awards banquet on Friday, December 3 at The Field Club of Omaha. In addition, the NGA will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year, Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year and Senior Amateur Golfer of the Year.
For more on the award, link 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.
