The conditions were excellent Tuesday morning for Stroke Play Qualifying for the 98th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship at Awarii Dunes Golf Club in Axtell, and Husker golfer Vanessa Bouvet put on a show.
Bouvet shot a round of 70 (-2) to take co-medalist honors. Wahoo’s Lauren Thiele also posted a 70 (-2) on the same course she won the 2019 Nebraska Girls’ Match Play Championship. Bouvet took the No. 1 seed and Thiele the No. 2 seed after a random draw.
Sixteen players made the Championship Bracket with scores of 79 (+7) or better. Cassidy Ulrich of Hartington also made some noise early, sinking a hole-in-one on the 106-yard Par-3 13th with a 54-degree wedge. It was her first career ace.
The Round of 16 followed qualifying in the afternoon. Bouvet was matched against the No. 16 seed Julia Karmazin of Omaha, and opened the match on fire, taking a 6-up lead after a 30 (-6) on the front nine. She closed out the match on No. 13, 7 and 5, to advance to the Quarterfinals.
Bouvet will take on Husker teammate Kirsten Baete of Beatrice, who defeated the older sister, Emily Karmazin, 4 and 3 to advance.
The defending champion Katie Ruge of Omaha also cruised into the Quarterfinals, taking down Ulrich, 7 and 6. Ruge will take on another Husker golfer, Nicole Hansen, who won one of the best matches of the day. Hansen defeated Aurora’s Danica Badura, who won three different NGA championships last year, in 19 holes.
North Platte’s Karsen Morrison upset the No. 2 seed, Lauren Thiele, in the opening round, 3 and 2. She’ll take on Lauren’s oldest sister, Haley Thiele, who defeated Baylee Steele of North Platte, 4 and 2. Haley Thiele is searching for her first Nebraska Women’s Match Play title, the only NGA championship she’s eligible for that she hasn’t won.
Another Thiele sister, Lindsey Thiele of Wahoo, made an eagle on the 19th hole to win in extra holes over Brule’s Harley Hiltibrand. She’ll square up against Lincoln’s Nicole Kolbas, who won 4 and 2 over Omaha’s Kaitlyn Hanna.
The Quarterfinals start at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
On Air Now
Your Favorite Music
