Zielinski, Schaefer Hold Clubhouse Lead at Nebraska Amateur
First Round Completed, Second Round Suspended Thursday at Scotts Bluff Country Club
SCOTTSBLUFF (July 21, 2023) - Weather played an important role at Scotts Bluff Country Club again on Friday, as a one-hour fog delay pushed back the resumption of the first round of the 115th Nebraska Amateur Championship. However, the weather was ideal after that and the first round was finally completed, with the second round mostly done.
Three players were tied for the lead after the completion of the first round, including Omaha's Charlie Zielinski, Fordyce's Matthew Schaefer and Omaha's Connor Steichen. All three players shot 67 (-5), with Zielinski and Schaefer completing their rounds early Friday morning, and Steichen playing his full round.
Zielinski and Schaefer went back out in the afternoon for their second round, and both shot 68 (-4) to get to 135 (-9) and the clubhouse lead. Steichen started his round later in the evening and only made it through eight holes and was at even-par in his round, 5-under total, when play was suspended due to darkness at 8:17 p.m local time (MDT).
The two players at the top, Zielinski and Schaefer, are four strokes clear of the next players. Schaefer, who just finished his senior season for South Dakota State, started hot, playing his first nine, the back nine at Scotts Bluff CC, in 32 (-4), and then slipped a little with two bogeys on the front. He hit three perfect shots on the par-5 ninth though, converting an eagle to jump to 9-under and tie Zielinski's lead.
Zielinski, a Creighton golfer, made seven birdies during his second round, including on No. 7 to get to 9-under and take the lead. He finished with two pars to match Schaefer at 9-under. Both are looking for a first NebGolf title. Schaefer held the 36-hole lead by three strokes at the 2021 Nebraska Amateur Championship and finished fourth, while Zielinski was fourth last year.
Steichen, the 2021 Nebraska Junior Amateur Champion, made six pars, a birdie and a bogey to start his second round, and is currently tied with Ralston's Peyton Koch at 5-under. Koch put together the low second round, so far, a 67 (-5) to jump into the tie for third with Steichen. Koch made four birdies and holed out from 164-yards for an eagle-2 on No. 8.
Calvin Freeman of Table Rock, who won the Nebraska Match Play last month, is 1-under through 10 holes of his second round, and in fifth at 5-under. Three players are in a tie sixth at 3-under, two of them are finished. Lincoln's Geran Sander and Waterloo's Johnny Williams are in the clubhouse at 141 (-3). Sander shot a 68 (-4) to jump up after a first round 73 (+1), while Williams posted a 69 (-3). Scottsbluff's own Brock Ehler is 2-under through 11 holes of his second round and also 3-under total.
Bennington's Johnny Spellerberg is in at 142 (-2) after a round of 70 (-2), and in ninth. Omaha's Kingston Solomon and La Vista's Alex Zillig are tied for 10th at 141 (-1) after their second rounds. Four-time champion Andy Sajevic of Omaha and Elkhorn's Harrison Weddell are also at 1-under, part-way through their second rounds.
The second round will resume Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m., after which the field will be cut to the low 60 scores and ties. The third round will commence in the afternoon with the field going off in threesomes off both No. 1 and No. 10 tee.
Visit the championship website below for full results, pairings and more.
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.
