Kansas Takes 39th Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup
Singles Matches Conducted Thursday at Hallbrook Country Club
LEAWOOD, KAN. (August 1, 2024) - Kansas won back the Virgil A. Parker Trophy on Thursday at Hallbrook Country Club in Leawood, Kansas, taking the 39th Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup.
Kansas entered the day with a 5-3 lead, and Nebraska made a run during the middle of the round, but the home team finished stroke to secure the Cup, 10.5-5.5. It's the fourth win in the last five years for Kansas, which reclaims the Cup after Nebraska won in 2023.
Most of the Singles matches on Thursday were close, with Kansas flipping some late matches to take the session, 5.5-2.5.
Kansas went up in the first three matches early, but Nebraska had control of the last five matches at one point, needing 5 points to clinch. Lincoln's Gavin Gerch made an important move in the first match of the day, winning the 18th hole to get a half point against Wichita's Luke Springer.
The next two singles matches went the other way, as Connor Steichen of Omaha fought back, but fell just short, with Leawood's Chance Rinkol winning, 1 up. Lincoln's Carson Kildow was 7 down to Olathe's Myles Tarvin at one point, but cut the lead to 3 up, before Tarvin was able to close out the match, 4 and 3.
Omaha's Christopher Whittle picked up the biggest win of the day, defeating Overland Park's Tyler McNeive, 7 and 5. His Omaha Westside teammate, and the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion, Trevor Gutschewski of Omaha closed out the last Singles match early too. He took down Asher Whittaker of Wichita, 4 and 3.
Shawnee's Jacob Fratzel clinched the Cup for Kansas, defeating Omaha's Tommy Kelley, 2 and 1, to get Kansas to the necessary 8.5 points to reclaim. Two matches were left on the course, and Kansas won the 18th hole on both to turn them in their favor. Overland Park's Parker Bennett won, 1 up, over Grand Island's Prestin Vilai, and Olathe's Tyler Strong by the same margin over Omaha's Jackson Benge.
Full results and additional information is available at the Junior Cup website below.
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.
