Wild Horse Welcomes Accomplished Field for Senior Match Play
Championship Begins Tuesday at Wild Horse Golf Club
GOTHENBURG (September 18, 2022) - The field is set for the 12th Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship at Wild Horse Golf Club, September 20-22, and six past champions are scheduled to compete.
Fremont's John Sajevic headlines the field of 69 players as the defending champion, after his win at Beatrice Country Club last year. Sajevic took down two-time runner-up Skip Gist of Omaha on his way to his first Nebraska Senior Match Play crown. With last year's win, Sajevic became the fourth player to win both NGA senior championships; Lincoln's Ed Wyatt was the last to complete his trophy case in 2020.
Wyatt is back in the field this year, looking to continue his success at the senior level. He won three titles in his first three years since joining the NGA senior circuit. Along with his Nebraska Senior Amateur titles in 2020 and 2021, Wyatt won the 2019 Nebraska Senior Match Play Championship.
Gretna's Brian Csipkes, who won his first NGA title in his Nebraska Senior Amateur Championship debut earlier this season, is looking to become the second player to complete the NGA senior season sweep, after Mike Krumland of Columbus accomplished the feat in 2014. Csipkes advanced to the Quarterfinals last year before being eliminated by Gist in 20 holes.
Krumland, who holds several championship records, is back to compete, and is looking to extend them. With four wins, he holds the most titles, and also holds the record for most championship bracket appearances, qualifying eight out of 11 years. Krumland has the best senior match play record (18-4), and has never lost when advancing to the championship match.
Kirby Smith of Omaha is back for another shot at his second title. The 2020 Champion made a run last year, but fell to Gist in the Semifinals, 3 and 1. Matt Haynes, the 2018 champion from Papillion, is also in the field. He qualified for the championship bracket last year, but was defeated by Sajevic on his championship run, 4 and 3. The 2016 Champion Jay Muller of Bennington is back as well. He has the second-most match wins in championship history (16), but hasn't competed since 2019.
The championship features an 18-hole Stroke Play Qualifier on Tuesday, with the top 16 making the Championship Bracket. Match Play begins on Wednesday, with the Final scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The championship will be played at Wild Horse Golf Club for the first time. The par-72 layout will measure 6,619 yards for the Championship Division. Those in the Gross Division not making the Championship Bracket are seeded into additional brackets, while the Net Division will feature another bracket. Play begins Tuesday with starting times off Nos. 1 and 10 from 9 - 11 a.m.
Pairings for the qualifying round are available on the championship website below, along with the scoring page and additional information.
Nebraska Senior 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.
