Bellevue University Closes Out Intercollegiate Title
Bellevue University took the team title with another great performance during the final round of the 2018 Nebraska Intercollegiate at Norfolk Country Club in October.
Four Bruins finished in the top 10 and Bellevue turned a one-stroke advantage into a four-stroke victory. The Bruins followed up their first round 299 (+11), with a second round 298 (+10) to win with a 597 (+21) total. A couple of freshmen led the way for Bellevue, with Alex Zillig putting together the top performance with a final round 73 (+1) to finish runner-up at 147 (+3). Floris-Jan Oosterhof was just a stroke back in a tie for third at 148 (+4) following a final round 75 (+3). Junior Andre Becerra shot a final round 73 (+1) to jump up into a tie for seventh at 150 (+6). Freshman Rodrigo Navarrete also earned a medal, finishing tied for 10th at 152 (+8). Another freshman, Juan Pablo Gomez, rounded out the scoring for the Bruins with a 157 (+13) total, which left him in a tie for 28th. Another Bruin cracked the top 10 playing as an individual. Lautaro Marzillo shot rounds of 74 (+2) and 77 (+5) to finish ninth at 151 (+7).
Nebraska Wesleyan kept pace throughout the day, but fell four strokes short and finished as the runner-up team. The Prairie Wolves’ final round 301 (+13) gave them a 601 (+25) total. Sophomore Christian Hall caught fire to get his team moving and also get into contention for the individual title, He was 2-under through 14 holes, but a couple late bogeys dropped him back. Still, it was a final round 72 (E) for Hall, who jumped into a tie for third at 148 (+4). Senior Jeff Paschal stayed steady, shooting another 75 (+3) to tie for seventh at 150 (+6). Sophomore Alex Kubik also earned a medal with his T-10 finish at 152 (+8).
Midland University’s Joe Vest converted his overnight lead into the individual title. Vest, a senior, followed his first round 72 (E) with a final round 73 (+1) to win the title by two strokes over Zillig, with a 145 (+1) total. It was an up-and-down day for Vest, who made five bogeys, but made up for that with four birdies to close out the win. Junior Kean Kontor also came away with a medal for the Warriors, finishing tied for 10th at 152 (+8). Midland shot the second lowest round of the day, 299 (+11), to finish third as a team at 604 (+28).
Doane’s Ty Crandon and Northeast Community College’s Matthew Schaefer also were top 10 finishers. Crandon tied for third at 148 (+4) with a final round 75 (+3), while Schaefer improved with a final round 74 (+2) to finish in sixth at 149 (+5).
Elliott/McCoy and Bell/Soyez Advance to U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Iowa’s Gene Elliott and Mike McCoy and Kansas’ Jeff Bell and Elliot Soyez advanced through Sectional Qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at ArborLinks in Nebraska City in October.
Elliott of Norwalk, Iowa and McCoy of West Des Moines, Iowa earned medalist honors with a round of 65 (-7). The USGA Championship veterans qualified for another national championship, making seven birdies and no bogeys on the day. McCoy, the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion, made six of the team’s birdies.
Bell of Overland Park, Kansas and Soyez of Goddard, Kansas also went bogey-free, recording six birdies to earn the second qualifying spot.
Five teams finished at 67 (-5), and Fremont’s John Sajevic and Omaha’s Andy Sajevic made birdie on the first playoff hole to take the first alternate spot. The playoff continued for the second alternate spot, and Bennington’s Bill Amundsen and Curtis Taylor captured the spot after Taylor rolled in a birdie putt in the dark.
Elliott and McCoy and Bell and Soyez will next play at the 5th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon.
Final 2018 Point Standings
The 2018 NGA Point Standings races are now complete, and the top players in each category will be recognized as the Golfers of the Year at the NGA's Annual Awards Banquet at Omaha Country Club on November 16. Tab the button below to see the final standings, and stay tuned for the Golfer of the Year stories in the December issue.