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Trio Enters Hall of Fame

Skinner, Sasse-Kildow and Rack Inducted

The Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame inducted three more members on October 15 at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln. The trio of golfers includes PGA Professional Richard Skinner of North Platte, and former Huskers Sarah Sasse-Kildow, a five-time Nebraska Women's Amateur Champion, and Mike Rack, a two-time Nebraska Amateur Champion. Read the stories of their Hall of Fame careers below, and for more on the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame, click the button below.

Sarah Sasse-Kildow

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Sasse-Kildow

The most decorated Husker women's golfer of all-time. A state champion at 12-years-old. Second all-time with five Nebraska Women's Amateur titles. There's no doubt Sarah Sasse-Kildow belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Honestly, being inducted into the Hall of Fame is truly a great and humbling honor, but it also feels a bit odd in that the actual accomplishments were so many years ago," Sasse-Kildow said. "When I received the call from Dan Bahensky, it was a complete surprise. The Hall of Fame wasn't on my radar at all as I have not competed for years. I'm a little detached from current golf happenings as I haven't competed for years."

She was barely halfway through junior high before she was winning state titles. Sasse-Kildow knew how to win. She burst onto the scene in 1992 as an 11-year-old, becoming the youngest to play in the Nebraska Women's Amateur. A year later, she was a state champion, winning the 1993 Nebraska Girls' Match Play Championship at 12-years-old, the youngest champion ever.

Sasse-Kildow won two more Girls' Match Play titles (1995 and 1996), for a total of three, before she reached her 16th birthday. She also finished runner-up at the Nebraska Women's Amateur in 1996 at the age of 15.

The Nebraska Women's (Amateur) Championship was an event I focused on when practicing as a kid," Sasse-Kildow said. "I looked forward to this Championship every year, one reason being that we played some really nice courses throughout the state like Omaha Country Club, Firethorn, Happy Hollow and more. It's really something that premier facilities stepped up to host each year"

The following year, 1997, started a run of five Women's Amateur titles in six years. She won the first at Highland Country Club in Omaha, defeating McCook's Theresa Wanek on the third hole of a playoff. She was just 16-years-old.

It was a repeat, in more ways than one, in 1998, as Sasse-Kildow captured a second straight title, this time winning in regulation by one stroke over Wanek. Shortly after that win, she headed off to start her historic Husker career.

Sasse-Kildow was the first Husker to break 70 in competition, shooting a 2-under 69 at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln at the 1998 Chip-N Club Invitational. However, the following summer, her Husker teammate Elizabeth Bahensky stole the spotlight by winning the 1999 Nebraska Women's Amateur by a record 12 strokes.

That record didn't last long. Sasse-Kildow came back with a statement of her own, crushing the field in the 2000 championship to win her third title by 17 strokes. Her even-par 216 at Beatrice Country Club also set the 54-hole scoring record.

She bested Bahensky by two strokes in 2001, before another dominant 12-stroke win in 2002 for her fifth title. Sasse-Kildow would turn professional before the next Amateur, leaving her second all-time with five titles, behind Omaha's Susan Marchese.

I'm fortunate in that I was able to take home a few titles over a stretch of time and even now it feels a little surreal seeing my name multiple times in the archives," Sasse-Kildow said. "As a competitor, you kind of look at each round, each tournament by itself on a fairly basic level. Golfers know that every day on the golf course brings different shots, different experiences, the ups and the downs of the game. So to look back at my playing years and seeing my success as a whole is a challenge when there were so many things that went in to each competition."

Her Husker career was ramping up at the same time, as she led the team in scoring average and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection during her sophomore and junior seasons. However, that's when she made a bold decision that might have perplexed most people. She decided to redshirt for what would have been her senior year, and work on a swing change and overall improvement of her game.

The gamble paid off, as she went on to have a career year during the 2002-03 season. It didn't take long to see the progress she had made, as she won her first start of the fall and set the 36-hole and 54-hole school scoring records. She won three more times that fall, then went on to win the Big 12 Individual title in the spring. Sasse-Kildow was named the Big 12 Golfer of the Year, played in her third NCAA Championship and became the first and only Husker to be selected as a first-team All-American.

My senior year at Nebraska was amazing and a lot of fun to reflect on," Sasse-Kildow said. "I had actually redshirted my true senior year, which allowed me to work on some issues I had in my swing prior to playing my final year. The Big 12 Championship definitely sticks out as a key event in that I remember having a confidence in my game during that tournament that I hadn't had before. Things just seemed to click at the right time."

After the success of her senior season, Sasse-Kildow set out on her professional career. She played three seasons on the Futures Tour (now the Symetra Tour), but trying to keep her pro dreams alive without big payouts was a tough task. Her funding was running out.

That's when she got a break. It was the Big Break III, in fact. The Golf Channel show selected Sasse-Kildow for the all-female season of the show in 2005, at a time when she needed something to happen.

Participating on the Big Break was a great opportunity for me as at the time, I was nearly out of options to continue competing professionally on the Futures Tour," Sasse-Kildow said. "The winner was awarded with two LPGA Tour exemptions. I had full status on the Futures Tour, but had also depleted all funding that I had raised."

Sasse-Kildow made it five episodes into the 10-episode season, but this would be her "Big Break." She was eliminated as one of seven golfers left in that episode. She continued with her pursuit of professional golf for a while, but eventually gave it up and put her marketing degree to work.

She hasn't played much over the past decade, as she's more focused on her career and her family.

I haven't played much at all over the past 10 years. I'm married with two kids, a full-time career and the regular hectic schedule of most adults. Golf has definitely taken a back burner," Sasse-Kildow said. "When I do pull my clubs out, it's pretty hit and miss. I could shoot 73 or 87. It can be a little frustrating in that I can still see the shots, and know the game in my head, but the swings that I make physically and shot results do not match that vision. I definitely have had to lower my bar of expectations for my game but I think I'm able to enjoy the game in a different manner."

She says her children, Carson, 11, and Lila, 8, have brought back the joy of the game to her.

What's been most fun for me recently, is this past summer, my kids have gotten out on the course for the first time. I've never wanted to push them into my sport--almost to a fault--but they both are really enjoying the game," Sasse-Kildow said. "It's so much fun to see their joy in making a long putt, or smashing a drive down the fairway. Now that they are old enough to play, I hope to get out more often. Who knows, maybe I'll compete again some day. For now, it's still on a back burner."

Mike Rack

Mike Rack competes in a Kansas Golf Association event at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kansas. Photo Courtesy of Mike Rack (taken by Kansas Golf Association)

Mike Rack knows what it's like to be a champion. Now a dentist living in Lawrence, Kansas, he still thinks back to the days when he was one of the top amateur golfers in Nebraska. He remembers all the clutch shots. With a little help from the local news highlights that his father recorded each night that Mike made the coverage.

The one-iron on No. 17 at Oak Hills Country Club that helped him tie the lead in the 1990 Nebraska Amateur.

The clutch birdie putt just moments later on the first playoff hole that secured the title.

Another clutch birdie on the 72nd hole of the 1987 Nebraska Amateur for his first state championship.

It's all there. Ready to be cued up for Mike to watch anytime he wants to relive those moments.

It's a tremendous stretch of golf to relive. Rack won two Nebraska Amateurs in a four-year stretch while in school at the University of Nebraska. The Husker golfer had some tough competition too, including some other future Nebraska Hall of Famers like Larry Sock, David Clouse and John Sajevic, among others. It was Clouse who he chased down and defeated in that playoff in 1990.

Looking back, we had a blast competing in not just the state ams but in many other events during the summer," Rack said. "We all wanted to win, but were all very good friends off the course, so I feel very fortunate to have been able to play in that era with such great golfers who were greater guys off the course. I think each era has quite a few big names and it just keeps going with the talent the state has produced."

Rack started that final round in 1990 three strokes back of Clouse at Oak Hills, where he had staged another comeback four years earlier. He was 7 down to Omaha's David Walker after the first 18 holes of the 1986 Nebraska Match Play final, and cut the deficit to 1 down with three to go. He lost the next hole, but had a chance on the par-5 17th to send it to the final hole. However, his attempt to reach the green in two finished out of bounds, and Walker closed out the match and the championship on that hole.

I remember in '86 just wanting to make the cut, and I did. Then I won my first two matches in extra holes, the second match beating my teammate James Sieckmann on his home course," Rack said. "I was happy just to make the finals, and it showed by getting down so much so early. Then I won a few holes and closed the gap, but couldn’t get back to even. I remember David birdied No. 16 to go 2 up with two to play and then I found trouble on No. 17."

Fast forward four years, and Rack was faced with a similar shot on the 17th, one stroke behind Clouse. This time, he pulled the shot off. A one-iron from 230 yards rolled just off the back of the green onto the fringe. He made the textbook two-putt birdie to tie Clouse, and eventually sank a 23-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to capture his second title.

When I was over the shot on No. 17 in 1990, I never even thought about 1986. I was focused on getting the ball on the green and getting even with David (Clouse)," Rack said. "That shot was definitely one of my best considering the situation. I still had to two-putt from 40-50 feet for a birdie, which I did and tied David for the first time all week."

In the 1987 Nebraska Amateur, he was better than anyone. That included six future Hall of Famers, and three others in the top six who had won either a Nebraska Amateur or a Nebraska Match Play. Rack finished outside the Top 5 just once between 1987 and 1992, and that was a seventh place finish in 1988. He also made two Match Play finals in that stretch, finishing runner-up both times.

Getting that far (in 1986) helped me mentally in that I knew I could play with these guys, and the next year I was on a roll after winning the Michelob Am in June and the Lincoln men’s city the week before the (Nebraska Amateur) I had a ton of confidence," Rack said. "The city tournament I wired it, led the entire four days and the state am the next week was just a continuation of that. I always felt in control and confident the entire final round and got a few bad breaks on the closing holes but I wanted to be patient and not force anything just play my game."

One thing Rack recognizes when watching the birdie putt on the 72nd hole that gave him a two-stroke victory, is the confident pace it had as it went in the hole.

I birdied No. 18 to close it out, and when I look at the video I noticed that I was a bit aggressive with it, and if it didn’t go in, it probably goes at least five feet by," Rack said. "But fortunately, it went in. Yes, the (1986) match play final started to build my confidence that I can play in these events and compete to win."

The 1991 season didn't bring a state title for Rack, but he was the top amateur of the year. He finished tied for second at the Nebraska Amateur and qualified for the U.S. Amateur on his way to being named the 1991 Nebraska Amateur Golfer of the Year.

Rack said one of the best shots of his career came from that 1991 campaign. He was one stroke back of Sock playing the par-5 18th at Riverside Golf Club in Grand Island during the Michelob Amateur (now the Dinsdale Classic). Sock, who would go on to win his record third Nebraska Match Play title later that month, hit his second shot to about 12 feet. Rack's second finished on the fringe, about 25 feet away. Rack buried the eagle putt, and Sock missed. He went on to birdie the first playoff hole to win the tournament.

The Hall of Famer had an incredible playoff record during the height of his career too. Including the wins over Clouse and Sock, Rack estimated that he was 11-0 in playoffs, playing those 21 holes in about eight-under par with not a single bogey.

Rack was honored to receive the call from the Hall of Fame. The reminiscing started almost immediately.

It was awesome! I got the call from Dan Bahensky in April and as soon as he said who he was, I had a feeling he was calling about the Hall of Fame," Rack said. "I was on cloud nine for a while after that. It made me reminisce about my time playing in the state ams and other events in the state."

Nowadays, Rack stays competitive on the senior circuit. He finished runner-up at the Kansas Senior Amateur this year. If he follows suit from that 1986-1990 stretch, a title could be on the way next year.

Richard Skinner

Richard Skinner in his golf shop at Indian Meadows Golf Club in North Platte. Photo Courtesy of Job Vigil - North Platte Telegraph

Editor's Note - This article was originally published in the North Platte Telegraph and is courtesy of Job Vigil

The “Golf Doctor” healed many a golfer’s game during his Hall of Fame career and he’s not done yet.

PGA professional Richard Skinner joined his daughter Val Skinner in the Hall as the only father/daughter inductees. Val played professionally on the LPGA Tour from 1983 to 2003 and was inducted into the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.

To me, teaching is really a joy,” Skinner said. “That’s really what the game’s all about.”

Skinner was nominated for the hall by several people including Darrel Smith of North Platte, LPGA professional Jane Geddes and his daughter Val.

It’s a great honor and I’m humbled by that,” Skinner said. “It was totally unexpected and I’m very excited about it and the fact that Val is in the Hall of Fame, which is probably the first father/daughter (combo).”

His interest in golf began early in life during his years growing up in Preston, Idaho, where he graduated in 1955.

He went on to college at the PGA Business School in Los Angeles and graduated in 1966. Then following two years as a pro in Idaho, Skinner and his wife Sharon moved to North Platte in 1969 where he was the head pro at the North Platte Country Club until 1991 when he opened Indian Meadows Golf Club. The couple has two daughters, Val and Sherie.

Skinner began teaching high school students while at the NP Country Club and was a founding committee member in 1973 for the Ambassador Classic Golf Tournament.

A lot of my students went on to play college golf and did pretty well at it,” Skinner said. “That’s always a joy to see your students do well.”

Many of Skinner’s students had success in the golfing world.

I’ve had some good students,” Skinner said. “At one time, Val and another student of mine played for a state championship. That was a definite thrill.”

Val went on to play college and professional golf.

Of course, all the victories Val had when she was in school and on the mini-tour back in those days was exciting,” Skinner said. “She won six events one summer. All that stuff is pretty fresh in my mind.”

Skinner said he was very proud of his daughter’s accomplishments as well as the others he taught.

At one time I worked with three or four other gals on the LPGA,” Skinner said. “It kind of tells you where you are with what you’re doing.”

His career has been “pretty satisfying.”

I always enjoyed the learning experiences, whether it was about the rules, the game itself or the club fitting, club making,” Skinner said. “It just intrigued me. It always did, it always will, still does today.”

The key, he said, is having the willingness to grow.

I think as long as you have the desire to learn, you’re always going to gain, you’re going to gain some knowledge,” Skinner said.

Although technology has changed the equipment, the game is basically the same, Skinner said.

The playing of the game really hasn’t changed to any big degree on account of technology, other than the distance the golf ball travels makes a big, big difference,” Skinner said. “That happened in the year 2000 when Titleist came out with the three-piece ball. If your swing speed was 105 mph when you went to bed the night before they introduced the ProV1, when you got up, you gained 35 yards.”

He said it comes down to the swing.

A good swing’s a good swing, a bad swing is a bad swing,” Skinner said. “If we don’t hit the center of the face, it’s not good. It’s all about the same thing, the same principles apply all through the game, whether it’s the short game, driver, whatever.”

Skinner doesn’t plan to quit anytime soon.

Retirement does not appeal to me,” Skinner said. “If I wasn’t doing something I would go nuts. I’m going to keep working.”

Credits:

Photos Courtesy of Stu Pospisil (Omaha World-Herald), Mike Rack and the Kansas Golf Association and Job Vigil (North Platte Telegraph).

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