Ringler's Back Nine Bounce Back Leads to Nebraska Senior Amateur Title
Final Round Conducted Wednesday at The Players Club in Omaha
OMAHA (June 14, 2023) - Lincoln's David Ringler lost the lead early in the Final Round of the 25th Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship, but made a charge on the back nine to cruise to the win on Wednesday at The Players Club in Omaha.
Ringler, who recorded a career-low 67 (-4) on Tuesday to take the first round lead, bounced back on the closing nine to shoot 70 (-1) and win by four strokes with a 137 (-5) total. The 67 (-4) is the lowest first round in championship history, and the 137 total is also the lowest 36-hole total. Ringler's 5-under total is the second-most strokes under par, behind Fremont's John Sajevic's 6-under total in 2016 (Par 72).
It was an inconspicuous start for Ringler, who led by four strokes entering the final round, as he made four straight pars. However, a bogey on No. 5 and a double-bogey on No. 6 reduced his lead to one stroke.
Ed Wyatt of Lincoln, the 2020 and 2021 Champion, played a flawless front nine, making birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 to turn in 33 (-2). He had tied Ringler's lead at 1-under after the front nine. The defending champion, Brian Csipkes of Gretna, had done the same, but in more dramatic fashion. After eight straight pars to start his round, Csipkes chipped in for an eagle on the par-5 ninth to tie the lead at 1-under.
Csipkes bogeyed the first two holes of the back nine to fall off the pace, and Ringler bogeyed No. 10 as well, but Wyatt made birdie to open the closing nine and took a two-stroke lead.
Ringler settled in after the bogey though and caught fire on the back nine. A birdie on No. 12 sparked the comeback, and after a chip-in for birdie on No. 14, Ringler was ready to roll to the clubhouse with a win. He dropped a long putt on No. 15 for birdie, and hit his tee shot close on the difficult par-3 16th, leaving his birdie putt a roll short.
The birdie barrage did not stop there, as Ringler hit approach shots close on Nos. 17 and 18, and knocked in both birdies. Any hope the other contenders had was squashed by the closing birdies.
Wyatt had made four birdies, including a tap-in birdie on No. 15, and no bogeys until No. 16. On the par-3 over water, Wyatt's tee shot splashed and he made double-bogey. He still finished runner-up after a round of 69 (-2) for a 141 (-1) total. After his wins in 2020 and 2021, Wyatt has finished T-2 and second the last two years.
Bennington's Steve Buroker finished third, after matching the best round of the day, a 68 (-3). He reached even-par and was within striking distance after back-to-back birdies on Nos. 11 and 12, but made six-straight pars on the way in to finish third at 142 (E).
Lincoln's Jayson Brueggemann had the round of the day first, playing his last four holes in 4-under to shoot a 68 (-3). He finished tied for fourth with Csipkes at 143 (+1).
Matt Petersen of Omaha was sixth with a 145 (+3) total, while Kevin Sullivan of Omaha and Jeff Russell of Elkhorn tied for seventh at 146 (+4). Lincoln's David Clouse, the 2010 Champion, was ninth with a 147 (+5) total, and Lincoln's Bill Spangler rounded out the Top 10 at 148 (+6).
In addition to the Championship Division, four age division winners were crowned, including Ringler, who won the 50-57 Age Division. The other winners were all past champions, including Clouse (58-64), Omaha's Bill Lawson (65-71) and Lincoln's John Haney (72+).
Final results and more are available on the championship website below.
Nebraska Senior 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.
