Vocelka Leads Stroke Play Qualifying for 57th Nebraska Match Play
Round One Conducted Monday at Country Club of Lincoln
LINCOLN (June 24, 2024) – Omaha's Sam Vocelka continued a stellar year and leads after the first round of Stroke Play Qualifying for the 57th Nebraska Match Play Championship at the Country Club of Lincoln on Monday.
It was a day for scoring, as Vocelka was one of 22 players to break par, posting the low round with a 66 (-6). Vocelka, a Millard North grad who is headed to play golf for the Omaha Mavericks, topped an impressive list of players in the first of two rounds of qualifying.
Vocelka made eight birdies, including his last two holes, Nos. 8 and 9, to nab the lead in the race for the No. 1 seed. Last week, he won the Nebraska Junior PGA Championship, and earlier this month he finished tied for third at the Nebraska Junior Amateur.
Five players are just a stroke back of Vocelka, tied for second after rounds of 67 (-5). That group includes Lincoln's David Easley, the 2021 Nebraska Amateur Champion, Lincoln's Gavin Gerch, Husker golfer Evan McDermott, Omaha's Matt Quandt and York's Reed Malleck. Malleck is also a Husker golfer, who finished runner-up in this championship in 2022.
Two-time Nebraska Junior Amateur Champion Beau Petersen of Gretna is tied for seventh with Lincoln's Jack Minnick, with both players posting rounds of 68 (-4). Four more players were able to break 70, with Elkhorn's Dan Huston, Gretna's Christopher Atkinson and Lincoln's Scott Tridle all shooting 69 (-3).
It's the most players under-par after the first round in championship history. The field will be cut to the low 32 players for match play after Tuesday's second round, and there are currently 31 players at 72 (E) or better. The 2003 Champion Ryan Nietfeldt of Elkhorn, last year's runner-up, is amongst the group of nine players tied for 23rd at even-par.
There is a big group of players right on the cutline, tied for 32nd at 73 (+1). Two of those 16 players are past champions, including the defending champion Calvin Freeman of Table Rock. He and 2004 Champion Travis Minzel of Lincoln played together and are both fighting to make the bracket.
Tuesday's second round of Stroke Play Qualifying begins at 8 a.m. Full results and more are available on the championship website below.
Nebraska Match Play Championship
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.
