Guthmiller opens with 65 for early Nebraska Amateur lead

Scores were low in Monday’s opening round of the Nebraska Amateur at the Country Club of Lincoln (Neb.) and the highlight reel was long. Jace Guthmiller would appear there several times after an opening 7-under 65 for the outright lead. His day included an opening birdie, two closing birdies and three more – plus an eagle – in between.

“I hit a lot of drivers today, and that was kind of the gameplan going into today,” Guthmiller said.

Length helped him out on a short layout, but so did taking his medicine on the tight holes. He didn’t do anything risky on those. In addition, his putter performed.

The plan won’t change in the second round, even though Guthmiller, who recently wrapped up his eligibility at the University of Nebraska, has a two-shot lead. Last summer, Guthmiller won the South Dakota Amateur.

“I like this course a lot because it’s a lot like what I grew up on back home in South Dakota, kind of a tree-lined course, holes go back and forth,” he said. “Some holes I kind of like to hit in the opposite fairway and take a different angle in.”

🚨Incredible up-and-down for birdie on No. 17, and a 💣 on the last for back-to-back birdies. @JaceGuthmiller is our new leader after a record-tying first round 65 (-7). #NebAm pic.twitter.com/xPPWACDlOX

— #NebGolf (@NGAgolf) July 9, 2019

Behind Guthmiller, Fernando Arzate went 5 under – which included an eagle on No. 2 – to fall into second place. Luke Kluver and Caleb Badura, who won the Nebraska Match Play title earlier this year, are tied for third at 4 under.

Alex Schaake, the University of Iowa player who has won this tournament the past three years, opened with 2-under 70 and is tied for eighth.