OFFICERS/BOARD
President Mike Schuchart, PGA
Vice President Phil Palmer, PGA
Secretary— Bobby O’Keefe, PGA
Honorary President—Dawn Neujahr, PGA
Board Member Tony Baranowski, PGA
Board Member Joe Wiegand, PGA
DISTRICT 8 DIRECTOR
Phil Anderson, PGA
NEBRASKA PGA STAFF
Executive Director/CEO David Honnens, PGA
Assist. Executive Director Seth Scollard, PGA
Managing Director—Renee Tyson
Tournament Director—Derek Carlson, PGA
Junior Golf Director Kurt Karcher, PGA
Digital Media Director Brett Renner
Director of Foundation Programs—Amber Bogle
Administrative Assistant—Tiffany White
Development Officer Bob Danenhauer
Community Relations Coord. Margie Smith
INTRODUCING OUR NEW LOGOS HONORING OUR SECTION’S 100 YEAR HISTORY:
Written by Stu Pospisil | Omaha World Herald Reporter & Lead Writer
When the Nebraska Section PGA received the PGA of America’s Herb Graffis Award in 2020, NEPGA Executive Director David Honnens said:
“A lot of great things have been going on in the last decade.”
The programs that garnered the national award for growing the game and player development are even stronger five years later, in 2025.
“I think it was one of the greatest awards for our membership. It was a long time coming,” Honnens says. “I know we had been recognized 30 years prior, with Bob Schuchart and Co., but with all the metrics and all the programs across the country, we were the smallest Section ever to be recognized with this award.
“We like to say we do it the Nebraska way. It’s really remarkable what has happened and transpired in Nebraska across the board in golf, and to have great partnerships like we do with the Nebraska Golf Association, NWAGA (Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golf Association), and our (high school and college) coaches.
“It was one of the greatest moments in our Section’s history, for sure, and it definitely recognized the things our men and women do on a daily basis to grow the game.”
When Honnens started as Executive Director, Nebraska Junior Golf had been in place for one year. The Nebraska Section and the Nebraska Golf Association had combined their youth programs in 2009.
“One of the greatest things we ever did was get together with some of our past presidents and revamp the junior golf structure with the Nebraska Golf Association,” Honnens said. “Junior golf was kind of fragmented. They (the NGA) had high-end, competitive golf. We had just regular golf.”
Continue Reading…..
PGA Hall of Famer Bob Popp Sr. combined exceptional skill and local leadership to promote the Nebraska PGA Section and ultimately served at the national level. He led with kindness, friends say not with impersonal orders.
“Bob was congenial, very easy to get to know,” said PGA Life Member Gene Johnson, who turns 85 this month and served as an assistant coach at Creighton Prep for 20 years. Gene spent three years working for Bob Popp at Omaha Country Club.
“Bob did a really fine job for the Section and all its members,” Gene said. “He was fun to work for. He was always on you, but not in a mean way.”
Born February 9, 1929, in Belleville, Illinois, Bob grew up in a golf family and took his first job at his father Ted’s nine-hole Oak Hill Golf Course, which featured sand greens.
“Dad said they used to save old motor oil and mix it with sand on the greens,” said Bob Popp Jr., the older of Popp’s two sons. “That combination made for a slick putting surface.” Popp competed on the PGA Tour for four seasons—primarily during the “West Coast Swing” — and recorded 17 career holes-in-one.
“I was with him when he made one of those at Omaha Country Club,” Gene recalled. “The celebration was covered. He was a member of the Hole-in-One Club.”
Bob captured the 1961 and 1965 Nebraska PGA Section Championships and competed in four PGA Championships and three Senior PGA Championships. He held PGA professional positions in Maysville, Kentucky, and Lancaster, Ohio, before arriving at Omaha Country Club on January 1, 1959. He remained there for 31 years, retiring in 1990.
Continue Reading…..
The
Nebraska Section PGA has announced Greg Johannesen, PGA the recipient of the Wilson Sporting Goods Monthly Game Ball recipient for the month of August
The Wilson Game Ball honors PGA Professionals who exemplify leadership, innovation, and dedication to growing the game of golf and for more than three decades, Greg Johannesen has done exactly that. As one of the most influential figures in club fitting and instruction in our Section, Greg’s impact is felt far and wide by golfers of all ages and abilities.
“I am honored to receive this month’s Wilson Game Ball award,” Johannesen shared. “Entering the golf industry and becoming a member of the Nebraska Section PGA has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made.”
Since joining the Section in 1992, Greg has committed himself to improving how golfers experience the game. Widely regarded as a pioneer in club fitting, Greg has been instrumental in developing PXIII a patented club fitting system and software that is now taught as part of the Professional Golf Management (PGM) curriculum at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His leadership in this area has fundamentally changed how golf equipment is fit, bringing new levels of precision and performance to players of all skill levels.
“Golf is a very unique sport,” Greg explained. “While getting the correct club specs in a player’s hands is very important, inter-set matching is vital for consistency, and is achievable with our PXIII technology. Leverage matching all clubs in a set for predictable release is a must and cannot be left to chance.” Continue Reading
The Road to Recovery: Supporting Your Golf Course Superintendent with Critical Cultural Practices
I wanted to share an insightful article written by my colleague, Jim West, who serves as the PGA Career Consultant for the Kentucky & Tennessee Sections. This article sheds light on the vital role that PGA Professionals have in elevating the golfing experience. By actively supporting Golf Course Superintendents, they play a crucial part in implementing essential cultural practices. These practices are particularly significant during the fall recovery season, as they help restore the health and playability of the turf following the challenges posed by the intense summer heat.
PGA Professionals wear various hats, but at the core of their roles is the goal of enhancing the golfer's experience. This experience is intricately tied to the conditions of the golf course, making the partnership with the Golf Course Superintendent pivotal. As we transition into fall after a rigorous summer, essential cultural practices like aeration, interseeding, topdressing, and fertility programs become necessary for turf health recovery, albeit impacting short-term playability.
Understanding the Superintendent’s Challenge: Superintendents often face critical challenges due to high summer temperatures, straining turf, especially within transition zones. Fall practices, though disruptive to immediate play, such as aeration, topdressing, and overseeding, are vital in restoring the course for the future. PGA Professionals must support these practices, as golfers look to them for guidance and explanations about course conditions.
Key Cultural Practices:
1. Aeration: It alleviates soil compaction and promotes better root development, essential for turf vitality.
2. Topdressing: Helps improve surface qualities like firmness and drainage, enhancing playability.
3. Overseeding: Critical for maintaining turf density, introducing resilient grass types to weather challenges.
4, Fertility Programs: Prepare the turf to withstand diseases and climatic challenges, ensuring recovery from previous seasons' stresses.
These improvements, though gradual, are vital. Educating golfers about the necessity and timeline for recovery reinforces their trust in the process and the professionals involved.
Role of the PGA Professional: Acting as communicators and educators, PGA Professionals must explain and advocate for these cultural practices, ensuring consistency in messaging alongside the Superintendent. They play a key role in aligning strategy with club leadership, emphasizing the longevity and benefits of such practices. Their proactive involvement dictates member support and understanding, aligning expectations with the course's recuperative needs.
Communication Strategies:
Proactively inform and educate golfers using pragmatic and transparent discussions on cultural practice benefits.
Employ analogies and simplified explanations to make technical processes comprehensible.
Set reasonable expectations for recovery timelines, reinforcing the message with ongoing updates.
Conclusion: The recovery and improvement of golf course conditions are long-term investments benefiting both the course and its players. PGA Professionals, as leaders and advocates, must not only understand these cultural practices but also champion them within their clubs. Effective communication and education about these practices solidify golfer trust and satisfaction, leading to a more successful and enjoyable golfing experience.
Kevin Drew, PGA,ARWC
On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the Iowa PGA Board unanimously elected Aaron Krueger, PGA Director of Golf at the Wakonda Club as its next representative from the Iowa PGA to represent District 8 on the PGA of America National Board of Directors.
District 8 is made up of the Iowa PGA, Nebraska PGA and Minnesota PGA Sections. There are fourteen districts in the PGA of America’s Governance.
Krueger will take his seat at the PGA Annual Meeting in Frisco, TX on November 6, 2025. Krueger will spend one-year shadowing current District 8 Director from Minnesota, Phil Anderson. At the 2026 PGA Annual Meeting, Krueger will be sworn in for a three-year term.
The PGA of America has announced the 15 PGA of America Golf Professionals who will take part in the 10th cohort of the Association’s PGA LEAD program.
PGA LEAD, established in 2016, is the Association’s leadership development program created to identify, mentor and progress PGA of America Members from a variety backgrounds along a guided path to volunteer leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels of the PGA of America. The program also helps train PGA of America Members who have a desire to serve on nonprofit boards in the communities where they work and live.
The primary goal of PGA LEAD is to establish a deep bench of PGA of America Members who are prepared to rise through the volunteer leadership ranks of the Association.
The 12-month program includes virtual monthly training on topics such as board governance and culture, business metrics, pillars of leadership and personal branding. Additionally, the cohort meets twice a year in person for networking and to witness governance in action at Association functions. The conclusion of the program includes a final project presented to the Association’s committees and board of directors.
“PGA LEAD is an invaluable program for our Association, helping talented PGA of America Golf Professionals prepare to serve and make a difference in both their communities and the Association,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., PGA Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “I love seeing the growth of each participant as they progress through the program and the success of alumni who have gone on to serve in leadership roles.”
Leadership positions held by PGA LEAD alumni include one National Board of Directors member and numerous PGA Section presidents, Section vice presidents, Section secretaries, 20 Section board members and 30 national committee members. See Full PGA LEAD Cohort 10 Class
The Nebraska Section PGA proudly hosted the annual Legends of Golf Championship, an event that honors and celebrates PGA Professionals who have paved the way for future generations. Eligibility for the championship is limited to PGA Members who have served for 20 or more years or are aged 50 and older. This year, 26 Nebraska PGA Professionals competed, collectively representing an impressive 841 years of PGA Membership.
Presented by Club Car, the tournament featured a two-person team format, using one best ball on the par 3s and a shamble format on the par 4s and 5s. Tee times began at Field Club of Omaha, where 13 teams enjoyed one of the finest weather days of the season.
From the outset, Shane Zywiec, PGA (Highlands Golf Course) and Ted DiGiacomo, PGA (Happy Hollow Club) dominated the field, finishing at 14-under-par to win the event by an impressive seven shots. The duo opened their round with four birdies and an eagle in their first five holes setting the tone for a championship-worthy performance. They carded a field-best 28 (7-under) on the front nine and carried their momentum into the back, adding another five birdies and an eagle. Zywiec and DiGiacomo finished with a remarkable score of 53 on the par-67 course.
READ FULL ARTICLE AND SEE FINAL RESULTS
The season-long brackets of the Nebraska PGA’s Senior and Assistant Match Play Championships culminated in thrilling championship matches today at Firethorn Golf Club. On the Senior side, past champion Jon Petersen, PGA (Tiburon Golf Club), faced off against Pete Hagen, PGA (Johnny Goodman Golf Course). In the Assistant bracket, Caleb Badura (Jackrabbit Run Golf Course) and Mark Foelbaek, PGA (Country Club of Lincoln), went head-to-head. The challenging Pete Dye design provided an exciting layout, while ideal scoring conditions greeted the players throughout the day.
In the Senior Championship, Petersen and Hagen remained neck and neck through the first 10 holes, each carding a birdie and exchanging pars. Momentum shifted on the par-5 11th, where Petersen got up and down for birdie to take a 1-up lead. He extended the margin with a long birdie putt on No. 13, pushing the lead to 3-up. Hagen responded with a birdie on the 14th to spark a potential comeback, but Petersen’s steady play proved too much. He sealed the match with a par on the par-3 17th, earning a 2&1 victory.
This marks Petersen’s second career win in the Senior Match Play Championship and caps off an impressive week following his low Senior score at Monday’s Hillcrest CC Pro-Am. His path to the title included a 4&3 win over Joe Sutter, PGA; a 6&5 victory over Adam Bradfield, PGA; and a tightly contested 1-up win over 2025 Nebraska Senior PGA Professional Champion Chris Wiemers, PGA.
In the Assistant Championship, two former Nebraska Husker Men’s Golf teammates now PGA Professionals met in the final match. Just two weeks ago, Caleb Badura and Mark Foelbaek teamed up to win the 2025 Nebraska PGA Team Championship. Today, they found themselves on opposite sides of the bracket, vying for individual honors.
Foelbaek’s run through the bracket was nothing short of dominant. Prior to the final, none of his matches went beyond the 14th hole. He posted a 7&6 win over Tanner Muhlecke, a 6&5 victory against Christian Hall, and a 7&5 win over Sutton Hermann. That dominance continued in the final.
Foelbaek jumped out to an early lead, carding two birdies in the first four holes and capitalizing on a Badura mistake at the 5th to go 3-up. He remained steady the rest of the way, mixing in a birdie on No. 8 and playing mistake-free golf en route to a 5&4 win, capturing his first career Assistant Match Play Championship and continuing his stellar summer on the Section tournament circuit.
We extend our sincere thanks to Director of Golf Mike Coatman and the entire professional staff at Firethorn Golf Club for their outstanding hospitality and exceptional course conditions. Gratitude is also due to the PGA TOUR for their partnership in both events and to Rolex for their support of the Assistant Match Play Championship.
Jon’s route to victory:
4&3 over Joe Sutter
6&5 over Adam Bradfield
1Up over Chris Wiemers
3&1 over Pete Hagen
He captures the title for the second time in his career.
Mark’s route to victory:
7&6 over Tanner Muhlecke
6&5 over Christian Hall
7&5 over Sutton Hermann
5&4 over Caleb Badura
Presented by Club Car and Nebraska Golf & Turf, the Nebraska PGA Pro-Am circuit resumed with 28 teams competing at Hillcrest Country Club. On what could only be described as a topfive weather day, Nebraska PGA Professionals competed in a stroke-play format while also teaming up with three amateurs in the popular Lone Ranger team competition.
In the Lone Ranger format, one team member is designated as the “Lone Ranger” on each hole. This role rotates throughout the round Player A takes the 1st hole, Player B the 2nd, Player C the 3rd, Player D the 4th, and back to Player A on the 5th, and so on.
The Professional-only division saw impressive scoring, with seven Nebraska PGA Professionals finishing under par. Leading the way was Carson Schaake (Tiburon Golf Club), who continued his outstanding season with a commanding win. Schaake carded seven birdies and just one bogey en route to a 66 (6-under).
Justin Herron, PGA (Oak Hills Country Club) finished solo second with a strong 68 (4-under), while Ryan Vermeer, PGA (Happy Hollow Club) and Brady Schnell (Firethorn Golf Club) shared third place with matching 69s (3-under). Jon Petersen, PGA (Tiburon Golf Club) claimed Senior Professional honors with a solid round of 71 (1-under).
Continue Reading…..
NEW Hole-in-One Club. Entry into the club is only required one time until the next Hole-in-One is made. Entry fee is $20.00.
Invest In Yourself With Lifelong Learning
Lifelong Learning with the PGA of America provides PGA of America Golf Professionals with the tools to grow, adapt, and lead in an ever-changing golf industry. From specialized certifications to leadership development, these educational opportunities will enhance your skills and advance your career.
Start Today
2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Team is Officially Set
At today's press conference, held at the Home of the PGA, Captain Keegan Bradley selected his six remaining Captain's Picks: Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. To find out more about his selections, click here.
See the Team
Breakfast at Bethpage
Kick off each day of the 2025 Ryder Cup with T-Mobile Breakfast at Bethpage, a live pre-game show hosted by SNL's Colin Jost broadcasting from the electric first tee at Bethpage Black.
How to Watch
Ryder Cup Pre-Registration
PGA of America Members and their accompanying spouse/ partner or guest (limit 1) can receive complimentary tickets to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Golf Course. Members' immediate children, under 21 years of age, will also receive complimentary access. Streamline your experience by pre-registering for you and your additional eligible guests by September 15, 2025. To learn more about complimentary access, click here.
Submit Your 2025 Club Champions
Celebrate amateur club champions and their PGA Coaches by submitting your 2025 club champions. All champions will receive an invitation to the 2025 PGA National Club Championship in Palm Springs, CA in December.
Submit Here
Eight All-Star teams of junior golfers competed for the opportunity to advance to the Regional Championship
For the fourth year in a row, The Club at Indian Creek hosted the PGA Jr. League Nebraska Section Championship, with four All-Star teams of junior golfers ages 14-17 in a division and four All-Star teams of junior golfers ages 10-13 in another division. The players and their families joined in on what was an amazing opportunity and memorable experience for everyone involved.
Section Qualifiers and Championships are the first of three phases in the PGA Jr. League AllStar Season, which highlights the aspirational nature of competition celebrated in a way unique to PGA Jr. League. This championship event was a 9-hole scramble stroke play qualifier played on the Red Feather Course in which each of the all-star teams were broken into two -person scramble pairs (four pairs on each team counting the best three of four pair scores for the team total).
The day was more than just a junior championship as it was in collaboration with the Pinnacle Bank Championship (PBC), which has been a regular stop for the Korn Ferry Tour as professionals are attempting to earn their PGA TOUR card. The day included a putt-putt course and Nebraska Athlete autograph station as part of the PBC Youth Day and the opportunity to hit on the driving range right next to the professional golfers.
The low score of each division was crowned as the Section Champion but the top two teams in each division punched their ticket to the Regional Championship, which will be held on September 12-14 at The Ridge GC in Sioux Center, IA. The two teams who advanced to the Regional Event in the 17U Division are The Miracle Hill Stars and The Ridge GC All-Stars. In the 13U Division it was the Greater Siouxland All-Stars and Eastern Nebraska All-Stars.
Following recreational play in the spring and summer, hundreds of 13u All-Star teams (boys and girls ages 10-13) and 17u All-Star teams (boys and girls ages 14-17), are formed from a combination of players in each league. Section Champions from both age divisions advance to the Regional stage of competition at one of 12 sites in September. Ultimately, twelve 13u Regional champions will vie for the title at the PGA Jr. League Championship at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch West, November 16-20, to be broadcast live on select ESPN networks. The 17u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship is at Twin Warriors Golf Club in New Mexico on October 23-26.
PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth pillar program of the PGA of America’s 501(c)(3) foundation, PGA REACH, with the goal of making the program accessible to all youth regardless of background, circumstance or ability. Boys and girls ages 17 and under learn and play golf on teams, wear numbered jerseys and receive expert coaching from PGA Professionals.
Official Results:
17U Division
1. Miracle Hill Stars – 110*
2. The Ridge GC – 118*
3. Miracle Hill Stripes – 120
4. Wilderness Ridge CC – 125
13U Division
1. Greater Siouxland – 108*
2. Eastern Nebraska – 110*
3. Capital City – 112
4. Firethorn Fireballs – 121
*Advanced to the Regional Championship
Click HERE to access our photo album of the event where you can view/download any photos you would like.
Your spring/summer PGA Jr. League season may be ending, but it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop any time soon!
With students heading back to school, it’s vital you get your fall leagues on their calendars now! Publish your fall program as soon as possible and make sure you’re communicating with previous players as well as families with ties to your facility and your community. As a reminder, the $110 GameChanger membership fee the kids have already paid is good all year long. The longer into the year they play, the greater value they get from their membership fee! You are still welcome and encouraged to charge a fall/winter coaching fee to drive revenue
There are plenty of creative ways to keep the fun of PGA Jr. League rolling this fall and winter.
"Continuing PGA Jr League with a Fall season has been a great way to build our juniors into competitive players. At The Ridge we change up the format and use a combination of Op36 and PGA Jr. League. The kids love spending time on the course every week and as a coach I enjoy spending more time with the kids developing them into lifelong golfers."
Karrie Van Ravenswaay, PGA Head Golf Professional, The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, IA
Counting all the reasons you can’t have a fall program? Player Engagement Consultant Kim Shafer offered a few solutions in this article: PGA Magazine.
Publish your program Here’s how.
Get the word out
Use word of mouth, email lists and all the promotional tools in the 2025 Marketing Toolkit to make sure your players, their families and your community know about your program.
Use social media
Use social media to share a little about your program and encourage players and families to register We even made it easier for you with this registration graphic
Share your calendar as soon as possible
With school starting, family calendars are starting to fill up. Set your practice and game day schedule with school calendars in mind and make sure your program gets first priority by sharing it early.
Randy Carlson, PGA 9/1
Mitchell Culek 9/2
Bob VanderZee Jr., PGA 9/3
Blake Collier, PGA 9/4
Brian Kuta, PGA 9/5
Judd Cornell, PGA 9/5
Kevin Chesnut, PGA 9/6
John Craw, PGA 9/9
Jerad Palmer, PGA 9/9
Steve Shanahan, PGA 9/10
Jacob Wright, PGA 9/10
Jacqueline Stevens, PGA 9/10
Brian Winge, PGA 9/11
Ty Stewart 9/13
Skip Tredway, PGA 9/14
Bradley Goetsch, PGA 9/14
Daniel Fox, PGA 9/15
Don Graham, PGA 9/16
Katherine Carollo, PGA 9/18
Anthony Thiner, PGA 9/18
Tyler Schaaf 9/19
Tyler Jacobsen 9/19
Austin Miller, PGA 9/19
Jeffrey Nielsen, PGA 9/20
Carson Schaake 9/21
Ted DiGiacomo, PGA 9/21
Paul Murcek, PGA 9/22
Joe Protexter, PGA 9/22
Andrew Smeal 9/23
Timothy Fox, PGA 9/25
Michael Zadalis, PGA 9/25
Caleb Meyer 9/29
Scott Ethington, PGA 9/29
Adam Coates, PGA 9/30
Jonathan Benson, PGA 9/30
