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Officers President Tony Pesavento, PGA Omaha Country Club tpesavento@pga.com

Vice President Nathan Kalin, PGA Fremont Golf Club nathan.kalin@fremontgolfclub.org

Secretary Gil Russell, PGA ArborLinks Golf grussell@arborlinks.com

Honorary President Mike Antonio, PGA Happy Hollow Club mikea@happyhollowclub.com

Staff Executive Director David Honnens, PGA dhonnens@pgahq.com

Tournament Director Sean Oâ€™Neill, PGA soneill@pgahq.com Junior Golf Director/ Player Development Coordinator Joe Canny, PGA jcanny@pgahq.com

Operations Manager Renee Tyson rtyson@pgahq.com

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The PGA of America recently announced the winners of the 2016 National PGA Scholarships designated as “National 2016” or “John Cox 2016.” I am proud to say in 2016, the Nebraska Section PGA had its highest number of National recipients to date with seven (7) children or grandchildren of PGA Members receiving this $2,000 scholarship. Congratulations to the following recipients: Bryn Davies, daughter of Lawrence Davies, PGA Rebecca Frisbie, granddaughter of Ron Gunia, PGA Issac Hirsch, grandson of Ron Gunia, PGA Carter Knopik, grandson of Dave Williams, PGA Clayton Malone, son of Dave Malone, PGA Emily Nielsen, granddaughter of Dave Williams, PGA Kelsey Petersen, daughter of Jon Petersen, PGA Founded in 1986, the PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6 million to over 3,000 students. Since the inception of the program, $140,000 has been awarded to 72 children or grandchildren of Nebraska Section PGA Members. Although the following students did not win a national scholarship from the PGA Financial Assistance Fund the Nebraska Section PGA Scholarship Committee felt they were still very deserving of receiving a scholarship. Congratulations to the following 2016 recipients: Alexa DiGiacomo, daughter of Ted DiGiacomo, PGA Andrew DiGiacomo, son of Ted DiGiacomo, PGA Madison Romjue, granddaughter of Larry Romjue, PGA Hannah Sieckmann, PGA, daughter of James Sieckmann, PGA Founded in 2007, the Nebraska Section PGA Scholarship Fund has awarded $53,750 to 71 children or grandchildren of Nebraska Section PGA Members.

The above scholarship programs continue to provide impactful assistance to the children or grandchildren of our Section membership. Our single largest source of income from these scholarship programs is our PGA Professionals and we are sincerely grateful for our continued contributions and support.

Respectfully, Nebraska Section PGA Scholarship Committee 4

Merchandiser of the Year (Public): Joe Sutter, PGA Quarry Oaks in Ashland, Nebraska was honored to be named PGA Merchandiser of the Year for public golf courses in the public category in 2015. “Our merchandise sales are driven by our incredible tournament business out here at Quarry Oaks” said Joe Sutter, PGA. “We host over 80 corporate and charitable events every year and like many golf courses we include pro-shop gift cards in our outing packages. Our philosophy is to pay out as many places as possible and not give all the gift cards to the top 2 or 3 teams. We understand that at some courses golfers can win $500 a piece in first place money. We rarely ever pay over $100 per player to the top team in our events as we like to spread out the money over the field. We feel that the more people that walk away winning something, the better. This strategy translates into more pro-shop sales, add on purchases and spending above and beyond the amount of their gift card. “ “Our pro-shop sales are very souvenir-driven. Hats and golf shirts with the Quarry Oaks logo are our number 1 and 2 items year after year. Having a great logo is paramount to our sales in the shop as well. We are very fortunate that the Quarry Oaks logo is well-respected and people will wear it proudly. We spend a lot of time selecting specific thread colors and placement of the logo on our inventory as the wrong placement or color can make or break the sale of an item.”

Lincoln, NE. – Blustery winds, hot temperatures and healthy fescue proved to be a great test of golf at the 10th Golf FORE The Troops Pro-Am at Firethorn G.C. Shane Zywiec, PGA of Highlands G.C. managed his game well and posted a very impressive one-under-par 70 to capture the low professional title. Zywiec made five birdies on his round and a couple of untimely bogies and one double-bogey hindered Zywiec from an exceptional round. Finishing one stroke back at even-par 71 was Tony Baranowski, PGA of Shadow Ridge C.C. Rounding out the top three was Jon Petersen, PGA of Tiburon G.C. who shot one-over-par 72. The team competition featuring a two-net format finished in a shootout with two teams finishing at 13-under-par. Tony Baranowski, PGA and his amateur partners, Jeff Snyder, Kevin Hansen and Corey Watton; Shane Zywiec, PGA and his amateur partners, Dan Thomas, John Burhoop, Kelly Vande Mheen headed to #18 for the shootout from 100 yards. In the end, Zywiec and his amateur partners hit some shots close and they captured the overall team title. View More

Sioux City, IA. – By far the toughest scoring conditions of the year with winds gusting 25 to 30 proved to be a great test of golf at the 14th Siouxland Charities Pro-Am at Whispering Creek G.C. Shane Zyweic, PGA of Highlands G.C. and Justin Herron of Pacific Springs G.C. managed their games well and posted an impressive even-under-par 72 to tie for the low professional title. Herron birdied two out of his final three holes to finish at even-par and his best individual finish of the season. With Zywiec’s finish he pulled ahead of Nick Wanderscheid, PGA of Green Valley G.C. by two points for the OMEGA Professional Player of the Year award. Nick Wanderscheid, PGA of Green Valley G.C. and Ryan Vermeer, PGA of Tiburon G.C. rounded out the top three at one-over-par 73. View More

Sioux City, IA. – Nick Wanderscheid, PGA of Green Valley G.C. used some home course knowledge and a red hot putter to capture the TaylorMade ProAm at Green Valley G.C. Wanderscheid in today’s final round made three timely birdies and one bogey on his round to shoot two-under-par 70 good enough for a five-under-par 139. Finishing two strokes back at three-under-par 141 total was Jon Petersen, PGA of Tiburon and Billy Keane, PGA of Sioux City C.C. Keane posted the best round of the day with a three-under-par 69 and his best professional finish of the year. The team competition featured a two-net format and there was a shootout with the team of Bob Walker, PGA of Floyd Park G.C. and his amateur partners, Kelly Schmidt, Andy Pinney and Alex Kozos posting an impressive 38-under-par 250 total. Finishing just one stroke back at 37-under-par 251 total was Jon Petersen, PGA of Tiburon G.C. and his amateur partners, Josh Peck, Wesley Merril and Erik Merril. View More

Dakota Dunes, SD. – The top Nebraska Amateurs and top Nebraska Section PGA Professionals competed in the 44th Nebraska Cup Matches at Dakota Dunes C.C. Players were treated to near perfect scoring conditions all day as the opening session featured a Four-Ball format followed by afternoon singles matches. The Nebraska Section PGA jumped to an early lead in the Four-Ball format thanks to the stellar play of the Senior Professionals led by Bryan Hughett, PGA of Norfolk C.C., Troy Harder, PGA of Wayne C.C., Mike Cornell, PGA of Champions Run and Denis Vontz, PGA of Highlands G.C. who captured 11 of the possible 12 points. Matt Meuret, PGA of Plainview C.C. and his partner, Justin Onken, PGA of Champions Run contributed in a big way to capture all 6 possible points in the morning format. The Nebraska Section PGA took the morning Four-Ball format 31 points to 11 points for the Amateurs from the Nebraska Golf Association. View More 7

Girls 7-9

Girls 13-15

1. Brooke Thiele

1. Lindsey Thiele

2. Natasha Kolbas

2. Kaitlyn Hanna 3. Lauren Thiele

Boys 7-9 1. Trevor Gutschewski 2. Thomas Bryson 3. Sam Kline

1. Jason Kolbas 2. Luke Gutschewski 3. Nolan Vondra

Girls 10-12 1. Nicole Kolbas 2. Ansley Sothan 3. Emily Karmazin Boys 10-12 1. Andrew Whittaker 2. Tanner Walling 3. Isaac Graff

Boys 13-15

Girls 16-18 1. Hannah Thiele 2. Hannah Hunke 3. Morgan Thiele Boys 16-18 1. Luke Kluver 2. Kellen Rossman 3. Trevor Kosch

Overall Winners Moving on to National: Hannah Thiele & Luke Kluver

From Mike Antonio, PGA: Thank you Jim White, PGA and John Frillman, PGA for all that you have done for me to be the PGA Golf Professional I am today. Without the opportunity you both gave me to work under you, I would have not been able to achieve all that I have, not only in my professional career but also in my personal life. God Bless both of you!

Join us as we thank our local Nebraska PGA Professionals. Click here to say #ThxPGAPro

Attend

Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2016 | Hazeltine National Golf Club | Chaska, Minnesota Ticket Information (800) 742-4653 | RyderCup.com/USA PGA of America members and their accompanying spouse/partner or guest (not both) may receive complimentary PGA Member Club tickets. Members' immediate children, under 21 years of age, will also receive complimentary access. Class "F" members, apprentices and PGM students do not receive complimentary admission. Tickets must be picked up on a daily basis from the Admissions & Will Call trailer and all individuals (spouse/partner or guest, children) must be present and visible with the PGA member to receive their ticket. Members must show current PGA of America membership card and photo identification. No PGA Member Club tickets may be collected for a future day of attendance, without exception. Members may bring a different guest, to a limit of one, each day of the Ryder Cup.

We are excited to announce that a new Directory is now available in the Nebraska PGA Section App! The App-based Directory enables Nebraska PGA members to connect with colleagues & partner reps in just a few taps.

We provide every Nebraska PGA member access to our cutting-edge iPhone and Android App. The App delivers great services like pairings, leaderboards, tournament info, news and of course, the new Directory, right to your phone. How to download the FREE Nebraska PGA App: iPhone / iPad 1.) On your device’s home screen, tap the “App Store” icon 2.) In the store, search for “Nebraska PGA” 3.) Tap the download button Android Devices 1.) On your device’s home screen, tap “Google Play” 2.) Once in Google Play, search for “Nebraska PGA” 3.) Tap the App to select it 4.) Tap the install button

Access the Directory How to access the Directory: 1.) Tap the menu icon in the top left-hand corner of the App home screen 2.) Sign into the App with your BlueGolf Id and password (if you do not know your password, tap “Get Password” on the sign-in screen) 3.) Tap the menu icon again and tap “Directory” Note: a small number of App users may need to activate the Directory in the App before signing in. There are several ways to do this: -Restart phone -Turn phone off / on -Quit the App and restart it

2016

1-Aug

Nebraska Assistants Championship

Riverside GC

Grand Island, NE

Aug 1-2

NE PGA Senior Professional Championship

Riverside GC

Grand Island, NE

Aug 8-9

Nebraska PGA Professional Championship

ArborLinks

Nebraska City, NE

22-Aug

E-Z-GO/Bushnell Pro 3-Am

Oak Hills

Omaha, NE

Sep 9-11

Wells Fargo Nebraska Open

Elks Country Club

Columbus, NE

19-Sep

Nebraska PGA Cup Series Championship

Quarry Oaks

Ashland, NE

26-Sep

All Star Pro Golf Team Championship

Fremont GC

Fremont, NE

10-Oct

Nebraska Section PGA Pro-Am Championship

Omaha CC

Omaha, NE

While playing the second of three playoff holes in the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle, Anna Nordqvist got a little careless as she was about to play from a fairway bunker. As shown in the adjacent photographs courtesy of Fox Sports, she allowed her club to barely touch a small clump of sand behind her ball just before commencing her backswing. The top photograph was taken just before her club touched the sand; the lower photograph was taken just after her club touched the sand.

Her club touching the sand was imperceptible to her, but was captured by the close-up television coverage. Nordqvist’s touching the sand with her club constituted a breach of Rule 13-4 [Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions] which states, in relevant part,

“Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) …, the player must not: … b. Touch the ground in the hazard … with his hand or a club ….”

Even though Anna had no intention of touching the sand with her club, she still incurred a two-stroke penalty for breaching Rule 13-4. Decision 13-4/31 [Touching Sand in Bunker During Backswing] confirms that Rule 13-4 is not an intent-based Rule by pointing out that a player whose club accidentally touches the sand when making his backswing is in breach of Rule 134b. As a result of this unfortunate two-stroke penalty, Nordqvist lost the playoff to Brittany Lang.

Some, perhaps many, casual viewers of the playoff may have been wondering why Nordqvist had to be penalized for such a minor violation of Rule 13-4b. It is clear that she realized no perceptible advantage by accidentally touching those few grains of sand. Nevertheless, the USGA got it right in assessing the penalty and in writing this Rule!

Although the penalty in this instance seems overly severe, nevertheless, the penalty must stand because the alternative would create absolute chaos in administrating this Rule. The Nordqvist scenario is at one end of the spectrum of possible violations of the prohibition of grounding one’s club in a bunker. Perhaps, the other end of the spectrum might be the scenario where a player’s ball is resting in a deep footprint in a bunker, and the player uses his club to smooth away the depression so that he can cleanly get his club on the ball when he makes his stroke. In Nordqvist’s scenario, she moved only a few grains of sand. In the suggested hypothetical scenario at the opposite end of the spectrum, the player moved hundreds or even thousands of grains of sand.

It would be an exercise in futility to try to define the absolute number of grains of sand that can be moved without gaining an advantage. To simplify matters, Rule 13-4 simply prohibits the grounding of one’s club in a hazard. Hazards are intended to be unfriendly places and Rule 13-4 clearly advises players to take special precautions, e.g., not testing the condition of the hazard, not grounding one’s club, and not touching or moving loose impediments lying in the hazard, when venturing into a hazard to play one’s ball in the hazard.

Richard S. Tufts offered the following comment in his excellent treatise The Principles Behind the Rules of Golf:

“Another unhappy moment for the referee occurs when he must decide whether a player has touched the surface of the ground when playing from a bunker. It is difficult to inflict a penalty when the contact with the soil is so slight that the player will have gained no possible advantage. However, the Rule is specific in stating that the ground must not be touched.” 15

Name

Class

Current Facility

Previous Facility

Previous Class

Ryan Vermeer, PGA

A-6

Tiburon Golf Club

B-6

Dale Giebler, PGA

Steve Diehm, PGA

Mike Antonio, PGA

Evan R Erickson

Connor M. Farrell, PGA

David L. Johnson, PGA

Greg D. Neujahr, PGA

Nick A. Colabello, PGA

Rodd T. Slater, PGA

Don Dravland, PGA

Jeffrey R. Henry, PGA

Derrick D. Thompson, PGA

Anthony J. Driscoll, PGA

Thomas H. Hearn, PGA

Marc Cruse, PGA

Jared R. Keenan, PGA

DON BRUDNY â€” (402) 466-6222