Meet Team Nebraska for the 39th Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup
Matches to be Conducted Wednesday-Thursday at Hallbrook Country Club
OMAHA (July 29, 2024) - Eight juniors have earned their way to represent Nebraska at the 39th Kansas-Nebraska Junior Cup Matches at Hallbrook Country Club in Leawood, Kansas, July 31- August 1.
The annual event pits the best juniors competing head-to-head in Four-Ball, Foursomes, and Singles matches. Last year, Nebraska won the cup 12-4, tied for the second-largest winning margin in Junior Cup history, only 0.5 points from the record. Nebraska reclaimed the cup, which had been held by Kansas for three straight years.
Elkhorn's Jake Hirz will lead the team as the captain. Hirz was the head boys' golf coach at Millard North High School for several years, and this will be his third year as captain for the Nebraska Junior Cup team.
The Nebraska team will be represented by three returning members from last year's team: Jackson Benge of Omaha, Trevor Gutschewski of Omaha, and Connor Steichen of Omaha.
Gutschewski will be headlining the team as No. 1 in the standings and representing for a third year. It's been another incredible season for Gutschewski, who is coming off an unprecedented win at the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. He's the first Nebraskan to win the title, and just the second to win a USGA title, joining the great Johnny Goodman, who won the 1933 U.S. Open as an amateur, and the 1937 U.S. Amateur. Even before the national title, Gutschewski was having a spectacular season, winning the 35th Nebraska Junior Match Play, and finishing runner-up at both the 57th Nebraska Junior Amateur and the 57th Nebraska Match Play. Gutschewski will also compete at the Pinnacle Bank Championship in August after qualifying with a first-place finish at the 2024 Indian Creek Invitational. After that, he'll be competing in the U.S. Amateur, earning his spot with his U.S. Junior Amateur performance.
Jackson Benge of Omaha will also return for this third year after performing well in the NebGolf match plays this year. The 2022 Nebraska Junior Match Play Champion was a semifinalist at both the Nebraska Junior Match Play and Nebraska Match Play in 2024. Benge also tied for third at the Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship in June. The recent high school graduate will play alongside two of his Omaha Westside High School teammates, Trevor Gutschewski and Christopher Whittle of Omaha.
Connor Steichen of Omaha will compete for the third time, returning from last year's team, and having played in 2021. Steichen was the 2024 NSAA Class A Boys Champion. The 2021 Nebraska Junior Amateur Champion also finished tied for 33rd at the 116th Nebraska Amateur, and made the Round of 16 at the 35th Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship.
Whittle is a first-timer on the Nebraska Team after finishing ninth at the Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship and advancing to the Round of 16 at the Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship.
Gavin Gerch of Lincoln, the Stroke Play Qualifying Medalist at the 2024 Nebraska Match Play, will be making his debut after coming off a stellar summer. Gerch finished tied for ninth at the 116th Nebraska Amateur Championship, made the Round of 16 at the Nebraska Match Play Championship, and was a Quarterfinalist at the Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship.
Tommy Kelley of Omaha also makes his first appearance at the matches with an impressive summer as the Nebraska Junior Match Play Runner-up to Gutschewski. He also made the Round of 32 at the Nebraska Match Play Championship.
Carson Kildow of Lincoln can also be found on the roster this year with his first appearance. Kildow was one of four juniors to make the Quarterfinals at the Nebraska Match Play Championship against a talented field of individuals. He also tied for 14th at the Nebraska Junior Amateur and made the bracket at the Nebraska Junior Match Play.
Prestin Vilai of Grand Island, another newcomer, will round out the squad. He had a fifth-place finish at the Nebraska Junior Amateur and a trip to the Quarterfinals at the Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship. He also won two Nebraska Junior Golf Tour events.
2024 Team Nebraska
Trevor Gutschewski, Omaha
Jackson Benge, Omaha
Prestin Vilai, Grand Island
Gavin Gerch, Lincoln
Tommy Kelley, Omaha
Carson Kildow, Lincoln
Christopher Whittle, Omaha
Connor Steichen, Omaha
2024 Team Kansas
Parker Bennett, Overland Park
Jacob Fratzel, Shawnee
Tyler McNeive, Overland Park
Chance Rinkol, Leawood
Luke Springer, Wichita
Tyler Strong, Olathe
Myles Tarvin, Olathe
Asher Whittaker, Wichita
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.
