Ruge is Nebraska Women's Amateur Golfer of the Year
Omaha Golfer Swept Women's Titles in 2024
OMAHA (November 14, 2024) - The Nebraska Golf Association is proud to announce the selection of Omaha's Katie Ruge as the 2024 Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Ruge, a graduate of Millard North High School, swept the NebGolf women's championships this summer on her way to the award. It was the 14th sweep of the women's majors in the history of the championships. Ruge previously was the 2022 Nebraska Girls' Amateur Golfer of the Year, sharing the award with Omaha's Julia Karmazin, who has won her third-straight this year.
It was thanks to those two dominant performances that Ruge won the points race. The former Kansas Jayhawk turned Omaha Maverick opened the summer with an impressive performance at the 50th Nebraska Women's Amateur at Oak Hills Country Club in Omaha.
Ruge jumped out to a six-stroke lead with a first round 68 (-3). A second round 71 (E) ballooned her lead to an incredible 11 strokes. Despite difficult final round conditions, Ruge cruised in to win by eight strokes with a 211 (+1) total. It was her first Nebraska Women's Amateur title, but the third different NebGolf championship she has won.
The win also earned her a full exemption into the 124th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August. She went on to shoot rounds of 75 (+4) and 77 (+6) at the championship, just missing out on a playoff for the match play bracket by one stroke with her 152 (+10) total.
Ruge's sweep was completed in July, as she kicked off the 101st Nebraska Women's Match Play Championship as one of two players to break par during Stroke Play Qualifying. She shot a round of 71 (-2) at Landmand Golf Club in Homer, finishing a stroke behind Papillion's Kelli Taulbee (-3) in the race for the top seed.
Instead, Ruge was the No. 2 seed, and she battled through the first 32-player bracket in championship history. Twice she won the 18th hole to secure a 1-up win, including in the Semifinals to secure her trip to the Final against Wahoo's Brooke Thiele. Ruge wasted no time in the Final, jumping out to a 4-up lead at the turn, and eventually closing out the match, 4 and 3.
It was her second Nebraska Women's Match Play title, adding to her 2020 win, making her the 19th player to win multiple titles. She also now owns four NebGolf titles, tied for 15th all-time.
Ruge will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's Celebration of Champions, featuring the Golf Channel's Rich Lerner, on Friday, December 6 at the Embassy Suites in La Vista (Tickets can be purchased here). In addition, NebGolf will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Girls’ 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 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.
