Smith Leads Nebraska Senior Amateur after First Round
BELLEVUE (June 28, 2021) - Omaha's Kirby Smith was the only player to break par on Monday at Platteview Golf Club in Bellevue, and he holds the lead after the first round of the 23rd Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship.
Smith, the reigning Nebraska Senior Match Play Champion, put together a flawless round of 70 (-2) to take the lead at the halfway point. He recorded two birdies and no bogeys during his opening round, and leads by two strokes over John Sajevic of Fremont. Smith broke through last year for his first NGA title last year at York Country Club, and is looking to become the fourth player to win both NGA senior championships.
Sajevic, the four-time champion, is two strokes back after a round of 72 (E). He made two birdies and two bogeys during his round. Sajevic has won three of the last five Nebraska Senior Amateurs, and was one stroke away from a playoff the other two years.
Three players are tied for third and three strokes back. Omaha's Skip Gist and Bellevue's Matt Haynes and Mike Johnson all shot rounds of 73 (+1). Haynes won the 2018 Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship at Platteview Golf Club, his home club. Gist won the 2000 Nebraska Mid-Amateur Championship.
The defending champion, Ed Wyatt of Lincoln, is one of four players tied for sixth at 74 (+2). That group includes two-time Champion Mike Krumland of Columbus, who won his titles in 2006 and 2014. Tekamah's Jason Hoover and Omaha's Peter Alvestad are also in at 2-over par.
The final round begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, with the leaders set to start around 10 a.m. Full first round results and final round pairings are available at the championship website below.
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.
