Schaake, entering his junior year at the University of Iowa, felt as if he struggled in the opening holes. He missed three greens in a row early in the round but held it together nonetheless. Schaake has played it conservatively off the tee this week – often choosing 3-iron instead of driver. He hit his driver for the first time Saturday at No. 16.
“Those three birdies to finish set the tone,” Schaake said.
Schaake is going for his third consecutive Nebraska Amateur title this week. At 13 under, he is nine shots ahead of the next closest player. That’s Vance Janssen of Blair, Neb., who had a 67 on Saturday to get to 4 under.
Caleb Badura and Jace Guthmiller are tied for third at 2 under. They fired rounds of 74 and 73, respectively, on Saturday.
Should Schaake close out the victory on Sunday, he will be the first player since Bob Astleford, also of Omaha, to win three straight titles.
“This course and this whole tournament, winning it two times now, I can come out here and know what it takes to win it,” Schaake said. “I know how much patience you have to have.”