By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University golf star Andrew Beckler is now a professional champion after wrapping up the title in the 33rd Wells Fargo Nebraska Open Sunday in Columbus, Neb.
Former Washburn Rural and Washburn University golf star Andrew Beckler captured his first professional championship on Sunday in Columbus, Neb., posting a six-stroke victory in the Wells Fargo Nebraska Open. [Photo by Nebraska Open]
Topekan Andrew Beckler earned $13,200 for his victory on Sunday in the Wells Fargo Nebraska Open. [Photo by Nebraska Open]
Beckler shot a sizzling final-round 62 to finish at a tournament-record 19-under-par for the 54-hole event, posting a six-stroke victory over Zach Burry (Appleton, Wisc.), Luke Kluver (Norfolk, Neb.) and Robert Bell (Minneapolis, Minn.), who tied for second place at 13 under.
"Getting this win means I never gave up on myself,'' Beckler said. "I've had a lot of close calls and wondered if it would happen and today it did. To hoist a trophy and win in that fashion is quite satisfying.''
Beckler's 62 on Sunday came after an opening-round 65 and a second-round 67 in the event, sponsored by the Nebraska Section of the PGA.
"I have been hitting the ball well all season but the putter was a little cold,'' Beckler said. "My dad saw something in my stroke and I decided to switch the way I grip the putter for the first time ever this week, the day before the tournament.
"I made a few putts early in the round Friday and just kept building on that the rest of the tournament. Turned out I had the best putting week I've had all year.''
Ironically, Beckler's dominant performance came while he was battling a physical issue.
"I wasn't feeling the best physically,'' he said. "I was battling an eye infection this week. My left eye was almost swollen shut the morning of the final round. Fortunately, I'm right-eye dominant and found a way.''
Beckler won Class 6A individual and team state championships for Jared Goehring's Washburn Rural team, and after beginning his college career at Kansas State, transferred to Washburn, where he finished second in the NCAA Championship as a senior and was the recipient of the 2021 Jack Nicklaus Division II National Player of the Year Award.
Beckler qualified for the U.S. Open in 2022.
Beckler has been competing on the ATP All Pro Tour this summer and ranks second in earnings at $38,243.75 while posting a tour-best five top-10 finishes in nine starts.
