Thiele is Medalist and No. 1 Seed at Nebraska Women's Match Play Championship
Stroke Play Qualifying and First Round Matches Conducted Monday at Kearney Country Club
KEARNEY (July 20, 2020) - Lauren Thiele of Wahoo took home medalist honors and played her way into Quarterfinals at the 97th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship at Kearney Country Club
Scoring conditions were tough in Stroke Play Qualifying morning. Thiele carded a 72 (+1) to become the medalist and No. 1 seed by two strokes over her older sister Haley Thiele, who shot a 74 (+3).
There was also a 4-for-1 play-off for the 16th seed in the championship bracket between Baylee Steele of North Platte, Kristin Goertz of Omaha, Karsen Morrison of North Platte, and Lacie Fox of Beemer. All four players finished at 83 (+12). Steele and Fox were eliminated after the second hole of the play-off, while Morrison and Goertz went five holes before Goertz triumphed to move into the championship bracket.
Lauren Thiele was a finalist last year at just 15-years-old, finishing runner-up. She moved one step closer to repeating that, winning her Round of 16 match over Goertz, 2 and 1.
Thiele's opponent in the Quarterfinals is Emily Karmazin of Omaha. Karmazin’s match was the only one in the championship bracket to go to extra holes. It took her one extra hole to close out over 2009 Champion Kayla Barnes of Bellevue.
The next quarterfinalist is Sydney Taake of Papillion, who won her match 1 up over Kira Mestl of Ogallala. Taake won five holes throughout the match, and never trailed at any point in the round. She goes on to face Hannah Hunke of Snyder, who won 2 and 1 over Shelly Liddick of Bellevue.
It's a showcase of talent in the next match. Two-time Nebraska Women’s Amateur champion Haley Thiele takes on Danica Badura of Aurora, who is fresh off her sweep of the NGA girls’ championships.
Thiele won in strong fashion today, 4 and 3 over Neely Adler of Lincoln. Badura had a tougher battle this afternoon. She was down three holes to Kenzey Kanno of Morrill, but rallied to put together a 3-and-2 victory.
Katie Ruge of Omaha continues her strong summer with a Quarterfinal appearance and a big Round of 16 win. She won 5 and 3 over University of South Dakota golfer Jalea Culliver of Omaha. Her opponent will be Ricki Hickstein of Chadron. Hickstein also played a clean match, winning 4 and 3 over Kaitlyn Hanna of Omaha.
The rest of the Championship Division that did not make the championship bracket was seeded into the Founders Bracket. Those players also played their Round of 16 matches on Monday, and will begin the Quarterfinals Tuesday. The two net brackets from the Non-Championship start match play Tuesday as well.
The brackets are available at the championship website below along with additional information.
Nebraska Women's Match Play 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.
About NWAGA
The Nebraska Women's Amateur Golf Association, founded in 1973, is an organization of golf clubs and individuals governed by amateur women golfers and formed for the purpose of promoting and conserving the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf for all women in the State of Nebraska. As NWAGA members, your participation and support is integral to NWAGA's success and will continue to enliven our efforts.
