Senior Brady Schnell Named Nebraska Amateur Player of the Year

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Omaha ? Senior Brady Schnell, fresh off of an individual victory at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate on Oct. 30-31, was recently named the 2006 Nebraska Amateur Player of the Year by the Nebraska Golf Association (NGA). Schnell shares the award with Omaha attorney Patrick Duffy.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Schnell began the summer by being crowned champion of the 106th North and South Amateur in Pinehurst, North Carolina on July 9, 2006, wrapping up impressive six days straight of competition with a dominant 5&4 victory in a 36-hole final day over Robert Gates of College Station, Texas. Schnell joined the likes of Francis Ouimet, Jack Nicklaus and Davis Love III in claiming the prestigious award, played at the Pinehurst Resort.

 

Schnell continued to add to his impressive summer resume with his second tournament victory as he closed the 97th Nebraska State Amateur at Indian Creek in Elkhorn, Neb. with a final round of 70.

 

The Nebraska State Amateur marked Schnell’s first men’s state title, but second individual state championship, as he previously won the Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship in 2000. In August, the senior Husker golfer qualified for a second consecutive U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota.

 

Schnell’s final round extended his margin of victory to nine strokes, while his 12-under par final score of 276 (67-68-71-70) included four rounds under par, beginning with a first-round five-under par 67.

 

Schnell has led the Huskers through their fall season, averaging 73.08 strokes through 13 rounds and snagging three top-10 finishes in just five tournaments, including his first career victory.

 

Schnell’s victory came at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate, where the Omaha, Neb. native shot a 206 (67-70-69) to lead the Huskers to a fall-best second-place spot, while also securing a season-low round of 67. The four-year veteran’s victory marked the 16th top-ten placement of his career.

 

Schnell additionally led the Huskers’ in his junior campaign with a team-lowest stroke average of 72.67 through 39 rounds in his junior season. Schnell’s 2005-06 stroke average brought his career stroke average down to 73.90. Schnell’s highlights included a second-place finish at the Fairway Club Invitational in the fall and another second-place finish at the Ron Moore Invitational in the spring.

 

Schnell wrote himself into Husker record books at the 2005 Ron Moore Invitational, where the then-junior led the Husker squad by firing a school and career-record 64 on the opening 18 holes. Schnell finished with a final score of 203 (64-70-69), beating his previous career-low round by five strokes, when he finished with a 208 (73-65-70) at the Pioneer Golf Classic in 2005.

 

Schnell’s low individual round beat his own previous record of 65 when he shot seven-under par at the 2005 Pioneer Golf Classic.

Both golfers will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association's Fall Awards Banquet, which will take place Friday, November 17, at The Omaha Country Club. In addition, the NGA will recognize the Boy’s and Girl’s Junior Amateur Golfers of the Year, the Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year and each of the 2006 amateur golf champions.

The Nebraska Golf Association, founded in 1966, conducts the state's amateur golf championships, governs its member clubs, and serves as the handicapping course rating authority for its members and its member clubs. The NGA has 27,000 members and 175 member clubs.

For more information, contact the Nebraska Golf Association at (402) 505-4653, ext. 5.