Woodhead is Medalist and No. 1 Seed at Nebraska Match Play
Round Two of Stroke Play Qualifying Conducted Tuesday at Riverside Golf Club
GRAND ISLAND (June 21, 2022) – Elkhorn's Danny Woodhead topped the field to earn the No. 1 seed after the second round of Stroke Play Qualifying at the 55th Nebraska Match Play Championship at Riverside Golf Club in Grand Island on Tuesday.
After a hot and windy day for the first round, Tuesday presented much more favorable conditions, with temperatures in the high-70s to low-80s and light wind. A light rain also dropped in from time-to-time throughout the day, but red numbers were for the taking.
Woodhead was tied for the lowest round of the day with a 68 (-4), and finished with a 139 (-5) total to earn medalist honors by one stroke. The former NFL veteran running back will be the No. 1 seed for match play. He made four birdies in his first seven holes to push further into red numbers, after his first round 71 (-1). Woodhead chipped it close from an awkward lie and made a closing birdie on No. 18 to seal his top seed.
A playoff for the final five spots in the bracket followed play, with six players finishing at 149 (+5). Christopher Atkinson of Omaha claimed the final spot in the bracket with a par on the second playoff hole to beat-out Omaha's Johnathan Hudson for the No. 32 seed. Atkinson will play Woodhead in the 8 a.m. match on Wednesday morning.
Other players advancing through the playoff were Preston Carbaugh of Cambridge, Marshal Obal of Columbus, Kevin Sullivan of Omaha and Glenn Bills of Grand Island, who all made birdie on the first playoff hole (No. 1).
Bennington's Johnny Spellerberg, the reigning Nebraska Mid-Amateur Champion, is the No. 2 seed. He shot a second-straight round of 70 (-2), to finish a stroke back of Woodhead at 140 (-4). Spellerberg made eagle on the par-5 first hole again today, and will face Bills in the Round of 32. Bills shot 70 (-2) at his home club to earn his spot in he bracket.
Lincoln's David Easley, the reigning Nebraska Amateur Champion, was one of just two players to break par during Monday's difficult afternoon wave, and followed that up with another under-par round on Tuesday morning. He had a much cleaner card in the second round, making just one bogey and rolling in four birdies for a 69 (-3) to finish in a tie with Spellerberg at 140 (-4). He's the No. 3 seed and will play Sullivan.
The 2019 Champion, Caleb Badura of Aurora, shot the low round of the morning wave, matching Woodhead's 68 (-4). He bounced back from a 73 (+1) in Round One on his home course to finish at 141 (-3), tied with three others. Lincoln's Travis Minzel, the 2004 Champion, Table Rock's Calvin Freeman and Omaha's Matthew Quandt also finished at 141 (-3). After a random draw, Quandt is the No. 4 seed, Freeman the No. 5 seed, Minzel the No. 6 seed and Badura the No. 7 seed.
Elkhorn's Ryan Nietfeldt is the No. 8 seed after finishing at 142 (-2), alongside York's Reed Malleck, the No. 9 seed. Nietfeldt, a former Husker golfer, won the 2003 title at Riverside Golf Club, the last time the club hosted the championship. Malleck, a current Husker golfer, won the 2020 Nebraska Junior Match Play title.
The Round of 32 begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with the Round of 16 to follow in the afternoon. The match play bracket is available on the championship website below, along with stroke play qualifying results and additional information.
Nebraska 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.
