Thiele, Whittaker to Play for Nebraska Women's Match Play Title
Quarterfinals and Semifinals Conducted Wednesday at Elks Country Club
COLUMBUS (June 1, 2022) - The field was reduced to two on Wednesday at the 99th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship, and Husker teammates Lindsey Thiele of Wahoo and Megan Whittaker of Elkhorn will play for the title at Elks Country Club in Columbus.
It's the second-straight year that Husker teammates have played against each other in the championship final. Beatrice's Kirsten Baete defeated Wahoo's Haley Thiele last year int he final. Both Thiele and Whittaker are looking for their first Nebraska Women's Match Play title. It would be a first NGA title for Thiele as well, who would join her sisters Haley, Hannah and Lauren, who have all won multiple NGA titles. Whittaker would add a third title, to go along with her two Nebraska Girls' Match Play trophies.
Thiele had her work cut out for her against the reigning Nebraska Girls' Amateur Champion Nicole Kolbas of Lincoln, who was 2 up after four holes in their Quarterfinal match. Thiele was able to turn it around and was 2 up after 10, but Kolbas would par the par-3 11th and birdie the 12th to tie up the match. A bogey by Kolbas on No. 15 and a clutch birdie putt on No. 18 gave Thiele a 2-up to win.
In the Semifinals, Thiele faced fellow Husker and the defending champion, Baete, who defeated Aurora’s Danica Badura, 3 and 2. Baete won the first hole of the match, but would not win another. Thiele took the lead on the front nine, and then pushed it to 2 up after Baete bogeyed No. 13. Thiele then hit her third shot close on the par-5 15th and was conceded the birdie to move to 3 up. A par on the 16th hole sealed the win, 3 and 2, for Thiele.
After falling down one after the first hole, Whittaker won five holes in-a-row and never looked back, finishing off the reigning Nebraska Women's Mid-Amateur Champion Carrie Bostar of Lincoln, 6 and 5. After two dominant performances in match play, Whittaker had only played 26 holes going into the Semifinals.
Whittaker faced No. 11 seed and Omaha Maverick Sydney Taake of Papillion in the Semifinals. Taake had upset No. 3 seed Allison Comer from UNK to advance, 4 and 3. Whittaker took a 2-up lead on Taake on the front nine, and despite her best efforts Taake was only able to win one hole, throwing a dart on the eleventh hole and converting the birdie putt. Whittaker made a late move to close out the match early, winning the 15th with a par and the 16th with a birdie to win, 3 and 2.
Three Huskers made the Semifinals, after all four semifinalists were Huskers in 2021. Jeanne Sutherland, who was recently promoted to head women’s golf coach at the University of Nebraska, was in Columbus watching the championship and followed her players throughout.
The Championship Final begins Thursday at 8:40 a.m. There will also be final matches in four other flights, visit the website below for more 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.
