Johnson Closes with 64, Wins Nebraska Open; Constable Ties for 2nd

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Neil Johnson put on a show in the final round of the Nebraska Open last week. The former Gustavus Adolphus All-American from River Falls birdied seven of the last 13 holes at Elks Country Club to shoot a final-round 64 (7 under par) and claim a two-stroke victory.

That final round turned into a shootout. Shane Zywiec, a pro from Seward, Neb., birdied six of his last 13 holes on the way to a 65 and a tie for second with Donald Constable, the former Minnesota State Amateur champion from Minnetonka. But it was Constable who really lit up the course Having started his round with four consecutive pars, he went on to make 10 birdies -- and one bogey -- in his last 14 holes, which worked out to a 62. 

Johnson was 13 under par for the weekend (65-64). That gave him a 54-hole total of 197 -- and a check for $13,000. 

This was his second victory of the summer. He earned $10,500 for a Dakotas Tour event that he won at Sioux Center, Iowa, in July. 

Constable and Zywiec both finished at 199. They made $7,475 each.

It's been a profitable summer for Constable, who's been near the top of the standings in almost every tournament he's entered. And in one spectacular burst, he went 52 under par in a seven-round stretch over two tournaments on the Dakotas Tour, won them both and made $50,000 for his efforts. 

Luke Kluver, a local high school kid, opened with a 64 at the Elks and ended up tied for fourth at 201, along with Chris Thompson.

Johnson started his final round with a birdie at the first hole, but he followed it with a bogey at the second. He got going again with a birdie at the sixth, the first of three in a row. On the back nine, he birdied the 12th and 15th and concluded his round with birdies at the 17th and 18th holes.

Constable's four pars on the opening four holes were more than he made (three) in the last 14. The former University of Minnesota star rattled off three birdies in a row at 5, 6 and 7, then bogeyed the eighth. He bounced back with a birdie at the ninth and turned in 32. He got to 4 under with a birdie at the 11th, and made three more in a row from the 13th through the 15th and capped off his day with birdies at the 17th and 18th.   

MEN'S PROFESSIONAL GOLF

Wells Fargo Nebraska Open

At Elks Country Club

Par 71

Columbus, Neb. 

Final results 

1. Neil Johnson, River Falls              $13,000      68-65-64--197

T2. Donald Constable, Minnetonka    $7,475      67-70-62--199

T2. Shane Zywiec, Seward, Neb.         $7,475       61-72-66--199

T4. Luke Kluver (A), Norfolk, Neb.                          64-70-67--201

T4. Chris Thompson, Lawrence, Kan. $4,600        68-64-69--201

6. Justin Herron, Omaha                      $3,900       64-73-65--202

T7. Jeff Bronkema, Wayland, Mich      $3,115        69-69-65--203

T7. Tom Whitney, Ft. Collins, Colo.     $3,115        67-68-68--203

9. Jace Long, McKinney, Texas           $2,455       69-67-68--204

10. Hunter Sparks, Edmond, Okla.      $2,065       68-71-66--205

T39. Hudson Carpenter, Stillwwter     $410        74-67-71--212

T39. Yarri Bryn, Minneapolis               $410        72-71-69--212

T43. William Leaf (A), Winona                             68-73-72--213

Missed cut (143)

Jose Mendez, Minneapolis                                   71-74--145

Devon Johnson, Eden Prairie                              73-73--146

Cameron White, Wayzata                                     73-76--149

Ross Miller, Maple Grove                                     76-75--151

Trey Fessler (A), Hanover                                    78-74--152