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Omaha, NE – The charitable arm of the Nebraska Section PGA, PGA REACH Nebraska, hosted its third annual Birdie Bonanza at Benson Golf Course—and it was a record-breaking success. The event raised vital funds for the Foundation’s golf programs as well as for the Omaha and Lincoln Fire & Rescue Departments.
This year’s Birdie Bonanza set multiple records, including the most participating teams and the highest fundraising total. Twenty-three teams recruited more than 650 unique donors, and players made an impressive 710 total birdies, leading to over $157,000 raised—and counting.
The field consisted of 46 players, represented by 42 Nebraska PGA Professionals and two firefighters each from the Omaha and Lincoln Fire & Rescue Departments. In the weeks leading up to the event, participants leveraged their personal networks to secure pledges based on the number of birdies they made. Each two-person team played 54 holes in a single day, with the goal of making as many birdies as possible to maximize their impact.
Leading the way once again in highest per-birdie pledges were Nick Muller, PGA (Country Club of Lincoln) and Al Peterson III, PGA (The Field Club of Omaha), with an incredible $555 pledged per birdie. Eight additional teams entered the event with birdie pledges exceeding $100 each, putting the ambitious $150,000 goal well within reach.
Annually, the Foundation impacts more than 30,000 kids, veterans, and individuals from diverse backgrounds through the game of golf.
This year’s event also supported Omaha and Lincoln Fire & Rescue Departments, both of which serve their communities every day by responding to emergencies and risking their lives to protect others. The funds raised provided critical life-saving equipment and resources, while also honoring the service and bravery of these First Responders—especially in remembrance of the heroes of September 11, 2001.
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Columbus, NE – A total of 131 professional and amateur golfers from across the country teed off at Elks Country Club for the 34th annual Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nebraska Open. Historically one of the state’s premier golf tournaments, the event also raises scholarship funds for Nebraska community college students. Thanks to support from the Nebraska PGA, Nebraska Public Power District, and BCBSNE, the tournament has now surpassed $2 million in scholarships over its 34-year history—impacting hundreds of local students.
Following the Pro-Am and scholarship banquet, the competition got underway with a purse of more than $70,000. Each year, the field includes top professional and amateur golfers from Nebraska as well as players from around the world who hold cards on various professional tours. Both the professional and amateur divisions compete in the 54-hole event for separate purses, adding extra drama as the tournament unfolds.
After 36 holes, the leaderboard was one of the most tightly packed in tournament history, with 22 players within four shots of the lead. Kansas State Men’s Golf alumnus Cooper Schultz, who had just turned professional on Wednesday, held a one-shot advantage at 12-under. Defending champion Andrew Beckler sat one stroke back at 11-under alongside two other players. Meanwhile, a group tied for fifth included McCook’s Brandon Crick, Omaha’s Ryan Vermeer, and Carson Schaake—setting the stage for an exciting final round.
Through the first nine holes of the final round, three players were tied at the top before one pulled ahead. Virginian Ryan Cole, a James Madison Men’s Golf alumnus, birdied the par-5 13th to take a one-shot lead over Schaake and Beckler. He added another birdie on the par-5 15th to maintain his advantage before a weather delay halted play on the 16th green for an hour.
Cole narrowly missed a birdie on No. 16 but sank a six-footer to save par on No. 17, holding his one-shot lead as he stepped onto the 18th tee—just four swings from victory. However, his approach on the 18th went long, and a failed up-and-down led to bogey and a playoff with Schaake and Beckler. Racing to beat an approaching storm cell, Cole birdied both the first and second playoff holes to clinch the title at the 34th Blue Cross and Blue Shield Nebraska Open.
“I’ve been struggling with my game this summer, and it feels good to know I still have it in me to win a golf tournament,” Cole said afterward.
PGA Professionals are trained to be versatile, taking their job descriptions to new heights. That commitment is part of the membership pledge. You’re not only selling yourself—you’re representing the values of the game and the profession.
It’s a rite of passage that Marc Cruse, Dawn Neujahr, and Nick Muller—merchandising standouts and leaders—have embodied throughout their careers.
PGA Historian Emeritus Bob Denney dives deep into the stories of three Nebraska PGA Professionals that have helped shape the Section while leading the way in the merchandising world of golf.
Omaha, NE – The final four in Nebraska PGA’s annual Match Play Championship met at Omaha Country Club for a showdown to find our new champion. Supported by the PGA TOUR and Rolex, the season-long bracket began in May with the round of 64 leading us up to Thursday’s semifinal and final matches.
With one of the Section’s biggest trophies up for grabs, four familiar faces met in the final four. On one side of the bracket, Justin Herron, PGA of Oak Hills Country Club took on Shane Zywiec, PGA of Highlands Golf Course for a spot into the afternoon final. On the opposite side of the bracket, Jay Cottam, PGA of Meadowlark Hills Golf Course met University of Nebraska’s Men’s Golf Coach Judd Cornell, PGA.
In the Zywiec–Herron pairing, Herron started strong, carding two birdies in his first four holes to grab an early lead. The two then exchanged pars to close out the front nine. Holding just a 1-up advantage on the 10th tee, Herron nearly holed out for an albatross on the par-5, settling for an eagle to extend his lead. One shot later, on the par-3 11th, he stuck his approach close and converted yet another birdie. Suddenly up 3-up, Herron never looked back. He closed out Zywiec on the 15th hole for a 4-and-3 victory, advancing to the afternoon championship match.
In the second semifinal, Cottam and Cornell squared off for a shot at Herron. Over the opening nine holes, Cottam made two birdies and capitalized on several Cornell miscues to build a commanding 4-up lead at the turn. He added a birdie on No. 10 and another on No. 11, winning one hole and halving the other. Cornell attempted a late rally, but it was too little, too late; Cottam closed him out on the 15th for his own 4-and-3 win.
The afternoon championship featured two past champions—Cottam and Herron—each aiming to return to the winner’s circle. As in the morning, Herron started hot, nearly holing out for eagle on No. 1 and tapping in for birdie. Cottam answered a few holes later with a birdie on the par-5 6th to square the match. Heading to the back nine, it was all even.
On the 10th, Herron again executed perfectly, making birdie to reclaim the lead. Cottam stumbled with a bogey on No. 11, and Herron poured in birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 to go 4-up with four holes remaining. Cottam managed a last-ditch birdie on No. 15, but the deficit proved insurmountable. Herron sealed the match with another birdie on No. 16, closing out Cottam 4-and-2.
For the fourth time in his career (2002, 2007, 2023), the Oak Hills CC PGA Professional captured the Nebraska PGA Match Play title. His path to the championship included victories over some of the Section’s toughest competitors:
