Malleck Runner-Up at State Match Play

Husker junior-to-be Reed Malleck from York finished as the runner-up at the 55th annual Nebraska Match Play Championship at Riverside Golf Club in Grand Island on Friday.

Malleck, who played outstanding golf throughout the week, took the final 36-hole match against Bennington's Johnny Spellerberg to the brink before falling 2&1. Malleck, who was the 2020 Nebraska Junior Match Play Champion, advanced to the 2022 men's championship match with a 3&1 win over Matthew Quandt in Thursday's semifinals after defeating Cade McCallum 1Up in Thursday's quarterfinals.

After earning the No. 9 seed in the 32-player match play field with a two-round stroke-play total of 142 (-2), Malleck opened with a 4&3 win over James Olson in the first round of match play on Wednesday. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4&2 win over Porter Topp to close Wednesday's action.

While Malleck enjoyed Nebraska's longest run at the Nebraska Match Play Championship, several other Huskers also represented Coach Brett Balak's program in strong fashion. Senior Caleb Badura from Aurora, who captured the 2019 Nebraska Play Championship, advanced to the 2022 quarterfinals before falling to Spellerberg 1Up on Thursday. Badura earned the No. 7 seed with a 141 (-3) through 36 holes of stroke play, before opening match play with a 3&1 win over Andrew Paquette. Badura moved to the quarters with a win over No. 10 seed Alex Zillig over 19 holes.

Grant Jabenis, a newcomer to Nebraska's program in 2022-23, also earned a spot into the 32-player match play field. The sophomore from Omaha earned the No. 19 seed with a two-round stroke-play total of 147 (+3).

Current Husker assistant coach Travis Minzel, who was the 2004 Nebraska Match Play Champion, claimed the No. 6 seed in the 2022 match play field after posting a 141 (-3) through 36 holes of stroke play. 

Former Huskers Ryan Nietfeldt and Calvin Freeman also earned spots in the field of 32.