Karmazin Hangs onto Girls' Amateur Lead, Petersen Vaults to Top in Junior Amateur
Round Two Conducted Tuesday at Lochland Country Club
HASTINGS (July 9, 2022) - Omaha's Julia Karmazin maintained her lead at the 23rd Nebraska Girls' Amateur Championship, while Gretna's Beau Petersen vaulted into the lead in the 56th Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship, after the second round on Tuesday at Lochland Country Club.
Karmazin had a more up-and-down day than her first round, but still held strong to post a 76 (+4) and keep her lead. She's one stroke ahead with a 149 (+5) total, in her quest for a first NebGolf title.
Petersen took charge on the boys' side with a stellar round of 68 (-4). He's the 36-hole leader with a 138 (-6) total, and is three strokes clear of second place.
Karmazin's round started off shaky, as a double-bogey and two bogeys left her 4-over through the first five holes. She bounced back though, making birdies on the par-3 15th and the par-4 16th to right the ship. Karmazin made a few more bogeys, but added another birdie-2 on the par-3 third hole, and closed her round with four-straight pars to secure the lead against some charging contenders.
A couple of players put together low rounds to move into the final group with Karmazin. Omaha's Madison Murnan caught fire early, starting on the back nine, and made the turn in 35 (-1). She then reached 2-under for the round after a birdie on No. 2, but dropped a couple strokes down the stretch with bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8 to finish a stroke behind Karmazin at 150 (+6).
Lincoln's Isabella Elgert had a wild round, which ended up as one of just three under-par rounds in championship history. Elgert's 71 (-1) moved her into third at 153 (+9), and was just one stroke off the championship scoring record. Only Wahoo's Haley Thiele's 70 (-2) in the 2015 first round was better, and Elgert matched Karmazin's 71 (-1) in the second round last year in the championship record book.
Back on the boys' side, after opening the championship with a 70 (-2), Petersen's 68 (-4) is the lowest round of the championship so far. He did it in dramatic fashion too. Three birdies on the front nine allowed Petersen to turn in 34 (-2), and he added another birdie on the par-5 10th to get to 3-under on his round. He lost a stroke with a bogey on No. 15, but rolled in an eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole to finish off a great round and push his lead to three strokes.
Omaha's Porter Topp was just a stroke behind for the round of the day, posting a 69 (-3) to move into second at 141 (-3). The NSAA Class A Champion was bogey-free with four birdies until a bogey on No. 17.
Lincoln's Gavin Gerch posted his second-straight round under par with a 71 (-1), and sits in third at 142 (-2). A star-studded group is five strokes back of Petersen at 143 (-1). That group includes the first round leader, Teddy Peterson of Omaha, and two NebGolf champions. Peterson followed his first round 69 (-3) with a 74 (+2) to drop into the tie for fourth. He's joined by the defending champion, Trevor Gutschewski of Elkhorn, who bounced back with a round of 70 (-2). Omaha's Jackson Benge, the 2022 Nebraska Junior Match Play Champion, shot a 73 (+1), and Omaha's Sam Vocelka posted a 69 (-3) to get to 1-under.
The 2021 Champion Connor Steichen of Omaha is in eighth at 145 (+1) after a round of 73 (+1). Miles Elgert of Lincoln, like his sister, shot an under-par round, posting a 70 (-2) to get to 147 (+3) and ninth. Omaha's Tommy Kelley and Beatrice's Trey Baehr, the NSAA Class B Champion, round out the top 10 at 148 (+4).
The fields were cut on both sides, with the 18 girls making the cut at 165 (+21) or better. The boys' cut was made at 154 (+10), with exactly 36 players advancing to play the final round.
The boys' final round begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with the leaders set to tee-off at 9:50 a.m., while the girls' final round starts at 8:50 a.m., with the leaders scheduled for 9:40 a.m.. Full results and Final Round pairings are available on the championship websites below, along with additional information.
Nebraska Girls' Amateur Championship
Nebraska Junior 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.
