Whittaker Named Nebraska Amateur of the Year

Nebraska women’s golfer Megan Whittaker was named the Women’s Amateur Golfer of the Year by the Nebraska Golf Association (NGA) on Monday, Nov. 22.

Whittaker, a graduate student from Elkhorn in her fifth season as a Husker golfer, accomplished the 13th sweep of the NGA’s women’s championships in the summer of 2022. She won her third and fourth NGA titles and her first Women’s Golfer of the Year award.

Whittaker, who won the 2016 and 2018 Nebraska Girls’ Match Play titles, had a breakthrough summer of 2022, beginning with the 99th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship at Elks Country Club in Columbus. Whittaker was exceptional throughout the championship, starting with a round of 71 (-1) to share medalist honors and earn the No. 2 seed. She then needed just 55 of a possible 72 holes to win her four matches in the bracket, which included three wins of 6 and 5, and another 3 and 2 win. Whittaker saved her best golf for last, facing Husker teammate Lindsey Thiele of Wahoo in the Final. Whittaker won five of the first seven holes and went on to her third 6 and 5 victory.

Whittaker’s performance at the 48th Nebraska Women’s Amateur Championship at Wilderness Ridge Country Club in Lincoln was nearly as impressive. She opened with rounds of 70 (-1) and 69 (-2) to jump out to a three-stroke lead, and was the only player to have two rounds in red figures for the championship. Whittaker came home with a final round 74 (+3) to win by two strokes with a 213 (E) total, pulling off the first sweep since Wahoo’s Hannah Thiele in 2016.

In addition to her success at the state level, Whittaker produced on the national stage as well. She earned a spot in the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship through a qualifier at Eagle Bend Golf Course in Lawrence, Kan. She eagled the 18th hole to shoot 70 (-2) and get into a 3-for-2 playoff for the final qualifying spots, before securing her spot in the playoff. In the championship at Chambers Bay in Washington, Whittaker shot two rounds of 76 (+3) and missed the cut to match play by just two strokes.

Whittaker will be honored at the Nebraska Golf Association’s annual awards banquet on Friday, Dec. 2 at The Field Club of Omaha. In addition, the NGA will recognize its Amateur Golfer of the Year, Girls’ Amateur Golfer of the Year, Junior Amateur Golfer of the Year, and Senior…