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Pinnacle Bank Championship Set for July to be Held Without Fans

Decision made to protect the health and safety of players and community.

Omaha, Neb. – The Pinnacle Bank Championship announced today that the 2020 Championship, scheduled for July 30 – August 2, will be contested without fans onsite. The Korn Ferry Tour said it supports the decision believing conducting the tournament without crowds onsite is in the best interest of protecting everyone, including the Omaha community at large.

The decision was made in accordance with and recommendations from local, state and federal government agencies tasked with ensuring the safety of those essential to conducting the tournament.

“While we will miss the great crowds and visible community support at the Championship, we look forward to next year’s tournament scheduled for July 26-August 1, 2021 when we can enjoy golf together again,” said Jessica Brabec, Pinnacle Bank Championship Tournament Director.

“In January, we were moving full steam ahead with our plan for this tournament, and like everyone else, by March, based on the information available, we had to make some tough decisions. We felt, and the TOUR agreed, that no spectators was the best course of action to take for the safety of the players and the community,” Brabec said.

In spite of fans not being onsite, the Tournament will continue its long tradition of supporting a local nonprofit through its charity donation.

“We are fortunate to be able to support local nonprofits through the generosity of local companies and appreciate their support in spite of the challenges we’ve all had to work through this year,” said Marc Hock, president of Pinnacle Bank.

The pro-ams scheduled for Monday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 29 will go on as scheduled. Players will all use separate carts and those playing in the Wednesday pro-am will play nine holes with each of two pros.

Unfortunately, Youth Day is also impacted by this decision. Tournament officials are working on a plan to engage with young people through a virtual event. Details to follow.

For more information about the Pinnacle Bank Championship, please visit the website at The Pinnacle Bank Championship.

ABOUT THE PINNACLE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

The Pinnacle Bank Championship is an award-winning stop on the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry Tour in Omaha, Nebraska and will be held July 27-August 2, 2020 at The Club at Indian Creek. The event features a purse of $600,000 and was awarded the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour’s Truck Award and 2017 Korn Ferry Tour’s Tournament Rookie of the Year Award in its inaugural year. The 2017 champion, Sam Ryder currently has 237 FedEx Cup Points and is ranked at 93. His best finish to date in 2020 is tied for third at the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open. The 2018 champion, David Skinns, ended his 2019 season with one top ten finish and welcomed a new baby boy to his family. The 2019 champion, Kris Ventura is currently ranked 175 on the FedEx Cup list with 76 points. To date, his best 2020 finish is tied for 18th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA TOUR.

ABOUT THE PINNACLE BANK

Family-owned since 1938, Nebraska-based Pinnacle Bancorp is a $12 billion financial holding company with 156 locations across 7 states. For more information, visit pinnbank.com.

Pinnacle Bank Championship Qualifier Set for July at ArborLinks

Nebraskans invited to compete for spot in Korn Ferry Tour Stop

Omaha, Neb. – Nebraska golfers – or those with ties to the state – will have the opportunity to earn a spot in the PGA TOUR’s 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Pinnacle Bank Championship and compete for a share of the $600,000 purse.

The 36-hole qualifier returns to ArborLinks in Nebraska City on Thursday, July 2, 2020. Professional and amateur golfers with Nebraska ties can vie for an exemption into Nebraska’s only Korn Ferry Tour event, the 2020 Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Aetna and hosted at The Club at Indian Creek.

“We are excited competitive golf has returned to Nebraska with our qualifying event at ArborLinks,” said Jessica Brabec, Pinnacle Bank Championship Tournament Director. “Moving our event back two weeks on the calendar to July 27-August 2nd gives us a great opportunity to have a strong field of Korn Ferry Tour professionals, allowing the winner of this event the chance to compete against them.”

Any professional with Nebraska ties or any amateur with Nebraska ties who has a WHS handicap index of 4.0 or less will be eligible to compete. Current legal residents of Nebraska, Nebraska Section PGA Members and PGA Associates, students and graduates of Nebraska colleges or universities and individuals born in Nebraska and graduated from a Nebraska high school are eligible.

The qualifier at ArborLinks is limited to the first 60 entrants who meet all eligibility and handicap requirements. Entry deadline is Tuesday, June 23 at 5:00 p.m. Complete details are available by visiting the tournament website at The Pinnacle Bank Championship or the Nebraska PGA.

“Nebraska has a rich tradition of some very talented amateur and professional golfers,” said David Honnens, PGA, Nebraska Section PGA CEO. “The opportunity for one of these very talented golfers to compete and represent our community at the highest level at a tournament like the Pinnacle Bank Championship will truly be a special moment for golf in Nebraska.”

For more information about the Pinnacle Bank Championship, please visit thepinnaclebankchampionship.com.

ABOUT THE PINNACLE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
The Pinnacle Bank Championship is a stop on the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry Tour in Omaha, Nebraska and will be held July 27-August 2, 2020 at The Club at Indian Creek. The event features a purse of $600,000 and was awarded the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour’s Truck Award and 2017 Korn Ferry Tour’s Tournament Rookie of the Year Award in its inaugural year. The 2017 champion, Sam Ryder currently has 237 FedEx Cup Points and is ranked at 93. His best finish to date in 2020 is tied for third at the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open. The 2018 champion, David Skinns, ended his 2019 season with one top ten finished and welcomed a new baby boy to his family. The 2019 champion, Kris Ventura is currently ranked 175 on the FedEx Cup list with 76 points. To date, his best 2020 finish is tied for 18th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA TOUR.

ABOUT THE NEBRASKA SECTION PGA
The Nebraska Section of the PGA is one of 41 Sections that together comprise the PGA of America. The Nebraska Section PGA is a not-for-profit organization comprised of approximately 270 PGA Members and 25 Associates who strive to promote the enjoyment and growth of the game of golf. The Nebraska Section PGA encompasses the entire State of Nebraska, western fifth of Iowa and a small portion of South Dakota including Dakota Dunes and Yankton. The Section office is located in Lincoln, NE and acts as a resource for local and national golf information for the golf professional and amateur players alike. Our members are often referred to as “Club Professionals”, not to be mistaken as PGA Tour Professionals. Each Nebraska Section PGA Professional serves as an expert in the ever-changing business of golf. They are the leading expert players and teachers, skilled business managers, community leaders, and superior merchandisers who have dedicated their careers to the local delivery of these services.

ABOUT THE NEBRASKA GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Nebraska Golf Association, founded in 1966, is comprised of all members of public and private clubs and/or municipal or regional golf associations which utilize an approved handicap service recognized by the USGA and provided by the NGA. The NGA’s mission is to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values to all golfers in Nebraska. Among the duties of the Association include governance of member clubs and service as their handicapping and course rating authority, conduct of state golf championships, local USGA qualifying & other notable competitions, promotion of junior golf, presentation of worthwhile educational programs and support of allied golf organizations in Nebraska.

Pinnacle Bank Championship To Present $30,000 Check to TeamMates at Upcoming Event

Total donations to TeamMates over the past three years exceed $95,000

The Pinnacle Bank Championship announced today the tournament has given more than $252,000 to area charities supporting such organizations as Make-a-Wish Nebraska, The Lane Thomas Foundation and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Championship officials will present TeamMates with a check for $30,000 totaling more than $95,000 given to the charity founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne, which has been the tournament’s benefactor as its charitable partner.

The check presentation will take place at a TeamMates mentor meetup to be held at DJ’s Dugout Aksarben at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with the Pinnacle Bank Championship and this generous contribution to the TeamMates Mentoring Program,” said Sarah Waldman, executive director of TeamMates. “Our staff and volunteers had so much fun supporting this incredible event, and this contribution in turn helps us provide support to more than 10,000 TeamMates mentees and their mentors.”

“Fostering support within our community and providing donations to organizations such as TeamMates, Make-a-Wish and others aligns with the values of the tournament and we’re thrilled we have such great support from the Omaha community and our partners,” said Jeff Jorth, board chairman of Support Nebraska.

The Pinnacle Bank Championship returns in 2020 for its fourth year running from July 27–August 2 at The Club at Indian Creek, one week later than last year.

“2019 was a great year for us with a total attendance of more than 41,000 spectators from 11 states across the country allowing us to contribute more than $120,000 to charities supporting youth in the Omaha area,” said tournament director Jessica Brabec. “We’re hoping to greatly exceed those numbers in 2020.”

About TeamMates

The mission of the TeamMates Mentoring Program is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. TeamMates serves all youth who have indicated an interest in meeting with a safe, caring adult once a week at school. Matches play board games, shoot hoops or just talk. TeamMates is currently serving students in almost 180 communities across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota with the vision of reaching the gold standard of school-based mentoring programs and serving 12,000 youth by the end of 2020. Go to teammates.org to learn how to become a TeamMates mentor today.

Ventura secures PGA TOUR card with win at Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Chevrolet

Source: PGATOUR.COM OMAHA, Neb. – All Kristoffer Ventura ever wanted to do was be a card-carrying PGA TOUR member. But the elusive club just never quite seemed to want him back. An emergency appendectomy before the final stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. Countless failed attempts at Monday qualifiers, and a missed cut the only time he did manage to get through. “It felt like, wow, the world really doesn’t want me to play on TOUR,” he recalled. Maybe the world wants him after all. The 24-year-old will officially call himself a PGA TOUR member next season, as a 1-under 70 secured his card Sunday at the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Chevrolet. He entered the day with a one-shot lead over Lanto Griffin, and despite early troubles, managed to hang on for a two-stroke victory over Andres Gonzales and Chad Ramey. He finished at 16-under 268 for the tournament. Gonzales and Ramey, who each carded a 4-under 67, tied for second at 14-under 270. Five others, including Griffin, came in at 11-under 273. “You can say that the start of my career has been tough, and maybe I got the tough part out of the way,” Ventura said. “It just shows that if you keep working hard and believe 100 percent in what you do, great things are going to happen. I trusted that and look where I’m at right now. I’m really humbled.” Ventura went from having conditional Korn Ferry Tour status with zero starts to a PGA TOUR member in a matter of only eight weeks. It began with a sponsor exemption into the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation last month, where a T3 secured his spot for remainder of the season. Three weeks later, he moved inside The 25 after coming out on top in a three-hole playoff at the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank. After Sunday’s triumph at The Club at Indian Creek, he sits at No. 6 on the points list and has officially locked up his position for the 2019-20 campaign. “Coming into this week I knew that was going to happen,” he said. “I didn’t tell very many people, but I had confidence in my game, and I had enough tournaments where I felt that it was really achievable. To win this week is incredible. I’m really proud.” Despite the confidence, his latest win didn’t come without some early drama. He bogeyed the opening par-4 fourth, and Griffin poured in a long birdie putt on the ensuing hole to take a one-shot advantage. The deficit would soon grow to two at No. 4, but Griffin bogeyed the next while Ventura poured in an 18-footer from the fringe to deadlock the top of the leaderboard. It was all Ventura from there. He stuck his approach shot to three feet at the par-3 eighth to regain the advantage, and after Griffin bogeyed No. 11, the lead surged to three when Ventura connected on a long birdie at the 13th. He played the final five holes at 1-over to secure the win. “This course is probably one of the better courses that I’ve played,” he said. “It’s tough. You’ve got to hit great shots. It’s windy. You never know what’s going to happen. I told myself that even if I was two behind or three (shots) behind, I could still hang in there, and maybe at the end I’d have a chance to win.” Ramey and Gonzales, meanwhile, both capped the best finishes of their respective seasons. Ramey—who has made all 21 starts this year—poured in a 51-foot eagle at the par-5 15th to surpass the estimated point total to secure a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, while Gonzales rose 86 spots to No. 67 and solidified starts for the remainder of the season. “I’ve been out here for a while, played every tournament so far, so it will be nice to go home and take a little break,” said Ramey, who now sits at No. 32 in The 25. “Obviously, the ultimate goal is the PGA TOUR. I feel like I’ve hit on some stuff here in the last month or so, and I just think I’ve got to keep doing what’s working and don’t overthink it.” For Gonzales, it was his best result since a T2 at the 2016 DAP Championship. It was only his seventh start of the year, as he had been making starts on past champion status prior to his successful week. “It’s nice to start getting some starts and know I’m going to be in some fields,” he said. “It’s exciting for me. I’ve been playing pretty solid for most of the year, but I need to get up on this points list and try to get my PGA TOUR card back.” SUNDAY NOTES:
  • Sunday’s weather: Early thunderstorms, rain, high of 74, winds N/NE 7-14 mph.
  • Final-round tee times were delayed three hours and 59 minutes due to inclement weather in the area.
  • With his victory, Kristoffer Ventura has secured his PGA TOUR card for the 2019-20 season.
  • Ventura became the 10th 54-leader/co-leader to go on and win this season.
  • Ventura joined Robby Shelton and Xinjun Zhang as the only players to win twice this year. Three weeks ago, Ventura erased a three-stroke final-round deficit to win the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank.
  • Ventura finished the week third in scrambling, converting 18 of 23 up-and-downs.
  • Andres Gonzales earned his best finish of the 2019 season and jumped 86 spots in The 25 to 67th.
  • Chad Ramey, who finished T2, has surpassed the 375-point threshold estimated to secure players a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.
  • First-round leader Byron Meth finished T9 at 9-under 275 after a final-round 72.
  • Omaha, Neb., native Scott Gutschewski finished the week in a tie for ninth after a final-round 67. At the inaugural Pinnacle Bank Championship in 2017, Gutschewski finished in a tie for second.
  • Norfolk, Neb., native Luke Kluver finished the week 67th. Kluver converted an up-and-down on his final hole on Friday to advance to the weekend.
  • This week’s purse is $600,000, with $108,000 going to the champion, Kristoffer Ventura. He also receives 500 Korn Ferry Tour points.
  • Forty-seven Korn Ferry Tour winners competed in the field this week, combining for 70 victories.
  • The par-4 11th hole (533 yards) ranked as the toughest hole on the course Sunday, playing to an average of 4.493.
  • The par-5 seventh hole (559 yards) ranked as the easiest hole on Sunday. The hole played to an average of 4.328 and yielded five eagles and 41 birdies.

Tee times delayed – 2019 Pinnacle Bank Championship Final Round Groupings and Starting Times Revised Schedule

TEE #1

 

11:59 Garrett Osborn Birmingham, AL 72 68 70 210
Scottie Scheffler 3 Dallas, TX 69 71 70 210
Brett Drewitt Inverell, Australia 71 69 70 210
12:10 Brian Campbell Irvine, CA 70 65 74 209
Blake Cannon Meza, AZ 72 69 69 210
Nicholas Thompson Palm Beach Gardens, FL 73 68 69 210
12:21 Billy Kennerly Alpharetta, GA 69 70 70 209
Taylor Moore Edmond, OK 67 71 71 209
Callum Tarren England 68 69 72 209
12:32 Eric Steger Fishers, IN 69 71 69 209
Conrad Shindler Dallas, TX 69 70 70 209
Matt Hill Sarnia, ON, Canada 71 68 70 209
12:43 Zac Blair Saint George, UT 70 66 72 208
Scott Gutschewski Omaha, NE 70 65 73 208
Blayne Barber Auburn, AL 72 69 68 209
12:54 T.J. Vogel Hollywood, FL 74 66 68 208
Jonathan Randolph Oxford, MS 70 70 68 208
Steven Ihm Peosta, IA 70 68 70 208
1:05 Brett Coletta 25 Melbourne, Australia 70 65 72 207
Harry Higgs 16 Dallas, TX 74 68 66 208
Bo Hoag Columbus, OH 69 72 67 208
1:16 Zach Wright Baton Rouge, LA 73 64 70 207
Edward Loar Rockwall, TX 67 70 70 207
Joseph Bramlett Los Gatos, CA 69 67 71 207
1:27 MJ Daffue South Africa 67 72 68 207
Ethan Tracy Hilliard, OH 70 68 69 207
Denzel Ieremia Hamilton, New Zealand 69 69 69 207
1:38 Andres Gonzales Lakewood, WA 67 67 69 203
Jamie Arnold Sydney, Australia 68 69 68 205
Andy Zhang Winter Garden, FL 73 69 65 207
1:49 Byron Meth San Diego, CA 64 70 69 203
John Oda Honolulu, HI 69 65 69 203
Chad Ramey Fulton, MS 66 67 70 203
2:00 Kristoffer Ventura 22 Stillwater, OK 67 64 67 198
Lanto Griffin 5 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 67 68 64 199
Tyson Alexander Gainesville, FL 66 66 70 202

TEE #10

 

11:59 Rhein Gibson 8 Edmond, OK 71 66 73 210
Rafael Campos 20 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 72 70 69 211
Martin Flores Dallas, TX 70 72 69 211
12:10 Ben Martin Kiawah Island, SC 70 71 70 211
Davis Riley Hattiesburg, MS 68 71 72 211
Kyle Reifers Mooresville, NC 69 70 72 211
12:21 Mark Hubbard 9 Denver, CO 69 69 73 211
Dawie van der Walt Kingwood, TX 68 74 70 212
Will Zalatoris Plano, TX 71 71 70 212
12:32 Trevor Cone Concord, NC 73 69 70 212
Horacio León Santiago, Chile 69 72 71 212
Ben Taylor London, England 70 71 71 212
12:43 Drew Weaver Atlanta, GA 71 69 72 212
Steven Alker Hamilton, New Zealand 70 72 71 213
Thomas Bass Wilmington, NC 70 71 72 213
12:54 Chris Baker 21 Jacksonville Beach, FL 71 70 72 213
Max Greyserman Short Hills, NJ 68 70 75 213
Michael Hebert Atlanta, GA 70 72 72 214
1:05 Joseph Winslow Overland Park, KS 69 72 73 214
Sam Love Birmingham, AL 71 70 73 214
J.T. Griffin Atlanta, GA 71 70 73 214
1:16 Paul Haley II Dallas, TX 69 71 74 214
Jon Curran Hopkinton, MA 71 71 73 215
Matt Hill Sarnia, ON, Canada 72 70 74 216
1:27 Vince India Chicago, IL 69 73 74 216
Tyler McCumber 19 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 68 74 74 216
Andre Metzger Scottsdale, AZ 68 73 75 216
1:38 William Harrold United Kingdom 73 69 75 217
Will Cannon Hoover, AL 70 71 76 217
1:49 Luke Kluver Norfolk, NE 71 71 76 218
Marcelo Rozo Bogota, Columbia 70 72 76 218

PGA TOUR announces Korn Ferry as umbrella sponsor of newly named Korn Ferry Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2019

CONTACTS:
Stewart Moore, PGA TOUR, 904-540-2765, StewartMoore@pgatourhq.com
Dan Gugler, Korn Ferry, 310-226-2645, Dan.Gugler@kornferry.com

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) announced today a 10-year agreement making the Los Angeles-based, global organizational consulting firm the Umbrella Sponsor of the newly named Korn Ferry Tour.

In replacing Web.com, Korn Ferry’s sponsorship takes effect June 19 and extends through the 2028 season. The Korn Ferry Tour will continue to award PGA TOUR membership to the Tour’s 50 leading players, including the top 25 from the Regular Season points list and the top 25 from the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals points list.

The announcement was made jointly by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, Korn Ferry Chief Executive Officer Gary Burnison, and Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin on Wednesday morning in New York City.

“We welcome Korn Ferry to the PGA TOUR family with today’s announcement,” said Monahan. “Our thanks to Gary Burnison and his team for a partnership that will promote Korn Ferry’s mission of helping people and organizations exceed their potential, collaborating with a Tour that has proven to identify the next generation of PGA TOUR talent over the last 30 years.”

Korn Ferry also becomes a PGA TOUR Official Marketing Partner as the “Official Leadership Development Firm” of the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and Korn Ferry Tour. Additionally, Korn Ferry will assume sponsorship of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance in Evansville, Indiana – the third and final event in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

“We’re excited to partner with the PGA TOUR. Our organizations are both all about talent – getting players and people to that next level and advancing their careers. People will never discover their full potential until they are provided an abundance of opportunity. Korn Ferry and the Korn Ferry Tour provide that opportunity,” said Burnison. “This sponsorship will further elevate our brand as a global organizational consultancy and extend awareness of our firm to new audiences around the world.”

Korn Ferry develops and coaches 1.2 million people a year, puts someone in a new job every three minutes and has worked with companies to evaluate and assess nearly 70 million professionals. The firm has offices in more than 50 countries and 8,500 employees.

Korn Ferry works with clients to design their organizational structures, roles and responsibilities. The firm helps them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward, develop and motivate their workforce. Korn Ferry also helps professionals at all levels navigate and advance their careers.

“This is a tremendous day for our organization, and we are eager to work with Gary and his team as we continue to build the Korn Ferry Tour from the strong foundation already in place,” said Baldwin, the first female to be named president of one of the PGA TOUR’s six global Tours earlier this year. “Korn Ferry has an impassioned desire to enhance the careers and brands of our players through this incredibly competitive Tour. This partnership will allow us to further those goals while elevating the Tour and our tournaments for our partners and fans.”

With 50 available PGA TOUR cards for the following season (since 2013), the Korn Ferry Tour is the path to the PGA TOUR. Twenty-five TOUR cards are reserved for the leading points earners at the end of the 24-event Regular Season. Another 25 are up for grabs at the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals that follow the Regular Season in August and September.

During the PGA TOUR’s 2017-18 season, eight players from the Korn Ferry Tour Class of 2017 won titles, including Aaron Wise, whose victory at the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson was the 500th by a former Korn Ferry Tour player – a list which includes 24 major championships and eight PLAYERS Championships, including Gary Woodland’s win on Sunday at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Four players from the Class of 2018 have won on the PGA TOUR this season – Cameron Champ (Sanderson Farms Championship), Adam Long (The Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open) and Max Homa (Wells Fargo Championship).

Other notable PGA TOUR players who got their start on the Korn Ferry Tour include major champions Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson.

For more information on the Korn Ferry Tour, please visit PGATOUR.com.

About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with clients to design their organizational structures, roles and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward, develop and motivate their workforce. And, we help professionals navigate and advance their careers.

About Korn Ferry Tour
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour identifies and develops those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. In 2013, the Korn Ferry Tour became The Path to the PGA TOUR with all 50 available PGA TOUR cards coming through the Tour and the season culminating at the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. This season marks the 30th year of competition on the Korn Ferry Tour. Three out of four PGA TOUR members are Korn Ferry Tour alumni. Tour alumni have won more than 500 PGA TOUR titles, including 24 major championships and eight PLAYERS Championships. To learn more about the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit PGATOUR.COM, or follow the Tour on social media via Instagram (@KornFerryTour), Twitter (@KornFerryTour) and Facebook (facebook.com/KornFerryTour).19

Exemptions Announced for Pinnacle Bank Championship Presented by Chevrolet

CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH THE CLUB AT INDIAN CREEK ALSO ANNOUNCED.

OMAHA, (Neb.), June 5, 2019 – The Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Chevrolet has announced exemptions for two professional golfers, Brandon Crick of McCook, Neb. and Braden Thornberry of Olive Branch, Mississippi.

Crick, 31, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and turned professional in 2010. Crick’s best professional result this year is a T-19 at the Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas.

Thornberry, 22, turned professional in 2018 and attended the University of Mississippi where he was the 2017 individual NCAA champion. He has competed in six professional events as an amateur, including a T-4 at the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn. The eight-under-par finish left him tied with PGA pros Kevin Chappell, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Billy Horschel on the final leaderboard.

“We were excited to receive several exemption requests from very talented players,” said Nick Kelley, who serves on the board of directors for the Pinnacle Bank Championship. “Our committee saw this as an opportunity to potentially launch the career of a young, highly skilled player with the opportunity to play in one of the best tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour.”

“We have a history of providing opportunities to local and national up and comers,” Kelley added. “In 2003, Scott Gutschewski of Omaha parlayed a sponsor exemption into a remarkable season, including a win and 26th-place finish on the Korn Ferry Tour season money standings.”

The Pinnacle Bank Championship also announced today the extension of its contract with The Club at Indian Creek to host the Tour for five years covering 2020, 2021 and 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Championship date has been moved to run July 27-August 2, 2020, two weeks later than the 2019 dates.

“I have awesome memories of my first Korn Ferry Tour win, played at Indian Creek. It’s great to hear that the Pinnacle Bank Championship will continue to be played there! The course sets up perfectly for a tour event. I remember being impressed with the great spectator turnout there too,” said 2017 Champion Sam Ryder.

The Club at Indian Creek, owned by brothers Bill and Brett Gottsch, has been the home of the Korn Ferry Tour event since the PGA TOUR returned to Omaha in 2017.

Professional golfers still have an opportunity to compete in the Pinnacle Bank Championship by earning a spot through the Korn Ferry Tour Monday Qualifier at Bent Tree Golf Club in Council Bluffs, Iowa or at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb., on Monday, July 15.

The state’s top amateur golfers can earn one of the unrestricted spots through the Indian Creek Invitational July 13-14 at The Club at Indian Creek or through the Korn Ferry Tour Monday Qualifier.

ABOUT THE PINNACLE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

The Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Chevrolet is a stop on the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry Tour and will be held July 15-21, 2019 at The Club at Indian Creek. The event features a purse of $600,000 and was awarded the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour’s Truck Award and 2017 Korn Ferry Tour’s Rookie of the Year Award in its inaugural year. The 2017 champion, Sam Ryder, went on to compete in the PGA TOUR, following in the footsteps of previous winners of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Omaha event, including Bo Van Pelt, Johnson Wagner, Heath Slocum and Jason Gore. The 2018 champion, David Skinns, is currently on the Korn Ferry Tour money list. The tournament’s charity partner, TeamMates Mentoring Program, receives proceeds from the event to help fund education and mentoring programs for Nebraska youth. In 2018, that donation totaled $40,000, bringing the tournament’s total charitable contribution amount to more than $140,000 since its inception.

Vermeer To Compete at Pinnacle Bank Championship

OMAHA, (Neb.), May 23, 2019 – The 2018 PGA Professional Player of the Year, Ryan Vermeer, will compete in the 2019 Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Chevrolet at The Club at Indian Creek.

The Board of Directors, who administer the Pinnacle Bank Championship, has decided to award Vermeer one of the unrestricted spots into the competition.

The spot comes from the Nebraska Qualifier that was scheduled for Thursday, June 27 at ArborLinks in Nebraska City. The Nebraska Qualifier will not take place this year.

Vermeer, who is also director of instruction at Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, recently competed in and made the cut at the 101st PGA Championship last week at Bethpage State Park Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. He is the first Nebraska PGA Professional to have accomplished that feat and follows his win at the 2018 PGA Professionals of America Championship and his honor as 2018 OMEGA PGA National Player of the Year, awarded by the PGA of America.

“What Ryan has accomplished on the golf course in the past 12 months is unprecedented in Nebraska golf history and he continues to perform at the highest level of his professional career,” said David Honnens, CEO of the Nebraska Section PGA.

There will be a Nebraska Qualifier in future years. Professional golfers will still have an opportunity to compete in the Pinnacle Bank Championship by earning a spot through the Korn Ferry Tour Monday Qualifier at Bent Tree Golf Club in Council Bluffs, Iowa or at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb., on Monday, July 15. The state’s top amateur golfers can earn one of the unrestricted spots through the Indian Creek Invitational July 13-14 at The Club at Indian Creek or through the Korn Ferry Tour Monday Qualifier.

“We’re happy that we are able to provide Nebraskans and amateurs the opportunity to compete in one of the Korn Ferry Tour’s premiere events in the Pinnacle Bank Championship,” said Jessica Brabec, the Pinnacle Bank Championship tournament director. “Securing arguably the top golfer in the state in Ryan Vermeer just adds to the growing excitement surrounding the tournament.”

ABOUT THE PINNACLE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

The Pinnacle Bank Championship, presented by Chevrolet, is a stop on the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry Tour and will be held July 15-21, 2019 at The Club at Indian Creek. The event features a purse of $600,000 and was awarded the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour’s Truck Award and 2017 Korn Ferry Tour’s Tournament Rookie of the Year Award in its inaugural year. The 2017 champion, Sam Ryder went on to compete on the PGA TOUR, following in the footsteps of previous winners of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Omaha event, including Bo Van Pelt, Johnson Wagner, Heath Slocum and Jason Gore. The 2018 champion, David Skinns, is currently 111 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. The tournament’s charity partner, TeamMates Mentoring Program, receives proceeds from the event to help fund education and mentoring programs for Nebraska youth. In 2018, that donation totaled $40,000, bringing the tournament’s total charitable contribution amount to more than $140,000 since its inception.