February 2025
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
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
PGA Works Fellow—Amber Bogle
DISTRICT 8 DIRECTOR
Phil Anderson, PGA
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 Bob Denney | Historian Emeritus – PGA of America
Tom Weekes can take pride in a string of feats in what is now nearly a 66-year PGA of America career. He was a golf course owner, an inspiring teacher, an avid artist, the second PGA Master Professional in the Association’s history, and the 17th president of the Nebraska PGA Section.
Weekes also could swing a golf club with authority, winning back-to-back Nebraska PGA Senior Championships in 1982 and 1983. And he is the owner of several “Weekes’ Believe It or Not” moments on the course.
Weekes has recorded 14 holes-in-one, the first coming in 1946 and the last in the summer of 2021, when his 8iron found the bottom of the cup at age 88 at Old Dane Golf Club in Dakota City, Nebraska.
“All of them were just luck,” Weekes chuckled, having celebrated his 92nd birthday on March 16, 2024, just ahead of the Section Centennial and ranks as the eldest and longest serving Nebraska PGA member.
During the chaotic 1960s, on a day most of us only dream about, Tom Weekes quietly posted two holes-in-one in a round on what was then the-Executive Course at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The renowned 18-hole layout had yet to be built on the site.
“I was a national committeeman representing Nebraska for the Young Republicans,” said Tom. “I was there for a national meeting and was pretty active in the group at that time. I wanted to get out and play, and went by myself.”
Arriving on what he thought was the fifth tee, Tom struck a 9-iron, sailing his tee shot into the hole on a green that was in clear view.
“A guy that I had not seen was on the green, and he started laughing,” said Tom. “He then yelled back at me, ‘You played the wrong hole!”
With one ace nullified, Tom pressed on and reached the 12th hole. Again, he was using a 9-iron, and this time he was indeed playing to the correct green. His tee shot took one bounce and popped into the hole.
“That was one I did count,” he said. “When I finished, I didn’t see anyone around, and just got dressed and went to dinner. I had never told that story to any writer, and I just added it up to some crazy things that I have done over the years.”
Some years later, Tom happened to leave his mark at Omaha Field Club, and the tale also has a wacky ending.
“I went out in 40, and came home on the back nine in 28 – that was with a double-bogey on the 18th hole. My drive found the trees, which were about in the middle of the fairway.”
Born in Nebraska City, Tom was a 1954 graduate of the University of Nebraska, where he was in the ROTC program, and suffered a shoulder injury that led to a medical discharge from military service.
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Rodd Slater, PGA, General Manager & Head Professional at Two Rivers Golf Club, was selected for the Section’s highest honor bestowed on a PGA Member as the 2024 Nebraska PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Slater was elected to membership into the PGA of America in 2001. For more than two decades, Slater has been a model PGA Professional who is well regarded within the community and by his peers.
Rodd Slater began his journey in the industry back in 1996 when he was hired as the Assistant Golf Professional. Just two years later, he was promoted to Head Professional at the club. For the next two decades, Slater grew in his role as Head Professional before another promotion came in 2020. Under new ownership, Slater’s role grew once again and he was named Two Rivers Golf Club’s General Manager/Head Professional. Slater has served in PGA governance at the local level during his time as a Member through both the Tournament Committee and the Special Awards Committee. He’s been a previous host of Section Pro-Am events and was named the 2021 Nebraska PGA Youth Player Development award winner.
Over the course of his career, Slater has gone above and beyond when it comes to growing the game in the Siouxland area and at his club. Two Rivers Golf Club has seen their ladies league reach new heights over the past few years. In addition to that, Slater was the first in the Siouxland area to introduce his facility to Nebraska Junior Golf’s ‘TEAM Golf’ program. As the Section phased out ‘TEAM Golf’ and brought in PGA Jr. League, Slater followed suit and introduced the new program to his facility. In 2024, Two Rivers Golf Club had more than 120 junior golfers participate and the program has become a staple at the facility.
Not only has Slater grown the game within his own facility, but he’s found creative ways to do the same outside of Two Rivers Golf Club. Slater is a weekly guest on “Your Sports Show” on Fox Sports Radio 620am with host Curtis Anderson where he talks all things golf while promoting play and player development. Along with that, Slater serves as the Head Golf Coach for the Dakota Valley High School boys team. This past year, Slater’s team captured the South Dakota High School Class A State Golf team championship and he was later named the Class A Head Golf Coach of the Year.
Slater has been thrown a few curve balls over his time at Two Rivers Golf Club and within the Siouxland community. The first off speed pitch came in 2020 when he was approached and asked to serve as North Sioux City’s Mayor. He was appointed by the City Council and served through 2021. During his time as Mayor, Slater was a leader in discussions and decisions including budget matters, city improvement projects, concerns from citizens and mediated solutions to difficult situations.
Slater and his surrounding community were thrown another curve ball in 2024 with the historic ‘Big Sioux Flood’. In June, the golf course saw record amounts of flood waters tear apart the property and the course was covered in water, silt, debris, and the future was uncertain. After meeting with his ownership, Slater said there was “zero hesitation” and he led his staff and a team of more than 75 volunteers in the recovery process.
The team began the process of cleaning and rebuilding the golf course in July. Repairs included renovating the clubhouse, reseeding and sanding fairways and greens and changing some cosmetics across the property. Despite the flood water damage, the Two Rivers GC staff still wanted to have golfers out on the course in 2024. A temporary clubhouse was used and even though just nine holes were available for play, Slater was still able to serve his golfing community. After a season-long effort of rebuilding and recovering the course, Two Rivers Golf Club is set to fully re-open all 18 holes in the Spring of 2025. Continue Reading…...
If you are interested in volunteering for any of these events this season, please email Renee Tyson at rtyson@pgahq.com or call 402-489-7760. Thank you for your willingness to help!
NEBRASKA SECTION PGA EVENTS:
June 16-17 - Junior PGA Championship - Fremont GC
July 28-29 - Section Championship - Happy Hollow Club
August 4 - Monday Qualifiers - Bent Tree and Highlands - select one site
September 12-14 - Nebraska Open - Elks CC
October 14-17 - Stage 1 Q-School - Wilderness Ridge CC
NEBRASKA JUNIOR GOLF EVENTS:
Spring Series Events (High School Girls)
April 19 - Jackrabbit Run GC (Grand Island, NE) - shotgun start at 10am
April 26 - Oakland GC (Oakland, NE) - shotgun start at 10am
May 3 - Table Creek (Nebraska City, NE) - shotgun start at 10am
Drive, Chip & Putt Local Qualifiers (Boys/Girls 7-15)
June 7 - Hillcrest CC (Lincoln, NE) - starts at 1:30pm
June 20 - Riverside GC (Grand Island, NE) - starts at 1:30pm
July 11 - Eagle Hills GC (Papillion, NE) - starts at 11:30am
Summit Series Events (Boys/Girls 14-18)
June 4 - Wild Horse GC (Gothenburg, NE) - Tee times start at 8 or 9am
June 11 - The Pines CC - Tee times start at 9am
NJG Tour Championships
July 24 - 18-Hole Tour Champ - Wilderness Ridge CC
July 25 - 9-Hole Tour Champ - Field Club of Omaha
Fall Series Events (High School Boys)
September 21 - Table Creek (Nebraska City, NE) - shotgun start at 1pm
September 28 - Jackrabbit Run GC (Grand Island, NE) - shotgun start at 1pm
October 5 - Elks CC (Columbus) - shotgun start at 1pm
June 13 - Jackrabbit Run GC (Grand Island, NE) - Tee times start at 8 or 9am
June 25-26 - Dodge Riverside GC (Council Bluffs, IA) & Bent Tree GC (Council Bluffs, IA) - Tee times start at 9 or 10am
June 30-July 1 - Norfolk CC & Wayne CC - Tee times start at 8 or 9am
July 17 - Ashland GC - Tee times start at 8 or 9am
Regular Two Day Events (Boys/Girls 7-18)
June 2-3 - Kearney Junior Classic (KCC & Meadowlark Hills GC) - starting at 7:30am both days
June 19-20 - Central Nebraska Junior Am (Lochland CC & Riverside GC) - starting at 7:30am or 8am
June 23-24 - Big O Junior Classic (Miracle Hill & Benson Park GC) - starting at 8:00am both days
July 14-15 - Capital City Championship (Mahoney GC & Highlands GC) - starting at 7:30am both days
The Nebraska Section PGA has announced Derek Jensen, PGA the recipient of the Wilson Sporting Goods Monthly Game Ball recipient for the month of February.
*Must be a Class A Member to nominate or be nominated. Click HERE to nominate.
February 2025
Presented by Callaway Golf, Harris Golf Cars –
Yamaha and Vinnie Krikac’s State Farm Insurance Agency, Nebraska PGA Professionals and their teams of Amateurs competed in the desert for the 35th Annual Nebraska PGA Vegas Classic. The three-round tournament is played with a modified stableford format where teams collected points depending on their score each hole. Near perfect scoring conditions welcomed the field to all three host courses leading to low scores across the board.
In the Professional only field, Brady Schnell of Firethorn Golf Club went wire-to-wire to collect low-Pro honors. Schnell made 13 birdies and three eagles en route to 142 points on the week. During the first round at DragonRidge Country Club, Schnell made two eagles within three holes (No. 4 & No. 6) for his first highlights of the week. His highest scoring round came on the second day at Cascata Golf Club where he collected 50 points to separate himself heading into the final round.
Throughout the final round, he coasted to victory and scored a total on the week of 142 which was 17 ahead of second place. Finishing runner-up was Steve Friesen, PGA of Firethorn Golf Club while Justin Herron, PGA of Oak Hills Country Club rounded out the top three.
In the team division, Schnell played alongside amateurs Roger Brown, Rick Grubaugh, Stan Tafoya, and Paul Garnett and the story was similar. Their squad opened with 119 points before posting an incredible 121 points during the second round at Cascata Golf Club. After grabbing the early lead, their team never looked back.
With a total score of 338 points, Team Schnell claimed the 35th Nebraska PGA Vegas Classic team race. Finishing in second place, Dylan Dauenhauer, PGA of Field Club of Omaha and his amateur teammates scored 329 points.
We would like to thank the Professional staffs at DragonRidge CC, Cascata GC and Rio Secco GC for hosting this tournament once again. We would also like to thank Callaway Golf, Harris Golf Cars –Yamaha and Vinnie Krikac’s State Farm Insurance Agency for making this event possible while supporting our Nebraska PGA Members.
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.
For those Nebraska Section PGA Professionals who are still in need of some PDRs, we have compiled a list of several opportunities that are available to you.
Career Services
Seasonal Education
eligible for Education
PDRs PGA Compensation Profile - 1 PDR
Job Seeker Preference1 PDR
