Sajevic Leads Senior Amateur Again
LINCOLN (June 3, 2019) -Weather played a major role in the first round of the 21st Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, and it was three-time champion John Sajevic of Fremont who charged into the lead.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain rolled into Lincoln just as play was about to start, and delayed play for four hours. More than two inches of rain fell on Wilderness Ridge, soaking the course and creating some difficult playing conditions for the 78 competitors. Play eventually started with a 12 p.m. shotgun, and players dealt with windy and soft conditions.
Sajevic handled the conditions the best, shooting a round of 72 (+1) to lead by three strokes. The defending champion started on No. 7, making double-bogey to begin his round. However, he bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole, and also made birdies on No. 14 and No. 5. The 2008, 2016 and 2018 champion is looking to add to his already record three titles, and also capture a record 10th NGA men’s title.
Three strokes back in a tie for second is the 2015 champion Jay Muller of Omaha and Todd Pospisil of Norfolk. Muller played alongside Sajevic, and matched him most of the way, making 10 straight pars at one point. Though, bogeyed three of his final six holes to fall back into the tie with Pospisil.
A trio of players are tied for fourth at 76 (+5), including Omaha’s Dave Greenwood, Lincoln’s Bill Spangler and Omaha’s Kirby Smith. Behind them is a loaded group of eight golfers tied for seventh at 77 (+6). That group includes three past champions, David Clouse of Friend, Mike Krumland of Columbus and Steve Samuelson of Waterloo. The 2018 Nebraska Senior Match Play Champion, Matt Haynes of Papillion also shot 77 (+6) to crack the top 10.
The final round begins Tuesday at 8 a.m., with the leaders set to start at 10 a.m. off No. 1.
Visit the championship website below for full first round results, final round pairings and more. Check us out on Twitter (@NGAgolf) for highlights of the day.
Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship
About the NGA
The Nebraska Golf Association, 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 the NGA. 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.
