Jacob Niedbalski tees off on No. 4 in the final round of the men’s city golf tournament at Greenbelt, Sunday, July 16, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
Jacob Niedbalski took a five-shot lead into Sunday’s final round of the men’s city golf tournament, but after seven holes, that lead was gone.
Luke VanDeventer, his former teammate and classmate at Columbus North, had pulled even, but Niedbalski kept grinding. He followed his 65 on Saturday with a 1-under-par 71 Sunday to finish at 8-under 136 and pull out a two-shot win for his first city title.
“It was hard for me mentally and physically both,” Niedbalski said. “Luke had an amazing day for him. I hit a tee shot just left on 7 and made a double(-bogey). I thought it was game-over then. I somehow powered back through. I just had to maintain a straight field of vision — just one shot at a time. Not a hole, not a round, just each shot.”
Niedbalski, who will be a junior at Eastern Kentucky, led by one shot at the turn after he shot 38, while VanDeventer put up a 34. Niedbalski still led by one shot with three holes remaining before birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 — the latter on a 35-foot putt — gave him a three-shot lead with one to play.
“I had to grind for my last birdie,” Niedbalski said. “I hit a pretty good drive up the left side, but I was in a dead patch, and there was a chunk of grass right behind the ball. I chunked that one, but made the putt.”
VanDeventer, who is transferring to Huntington after playing the past two years at Vincennes University, birdied No. 18 to close with a 68 and finish second at 138.
“I felt like I was playing good,” VanDeventer said. “I just struggled to make more putts that I needed to today. I just kept on trying to play my own game, trying to make birdies and pars, and it just wasn’t good enough today. Congrats to Jacob getting his win. It’s awesome for him, and I’m happy for him.”
The win was the first in any tournament for Niedbalski. It came on the two-year anniversary of the death of his grandfather Gary Niedbalski.
“This was the day that my grandfather passed away, so I came out here and I won for him,” Jacob said.
Eric Grider closed with a 72 Sunday to move into third place at 145. Danny Holcomb and Ben Luedeke tied for fourth at 146, and Kyle Wieneke finished sixth at 147.
Luedeke, who will be a senior at Columbus East, had the shot of the day, a hole-in-one on No. 12 (No. 3, the second time around Greenbelt’s nine-hole track).
“That was my first hole-in-one, so it’s pretty special,” Luedeke said. “Doing something like that in tournament competition is pretty special. I had a sloppy day all around. I wasn’t hitting the ball well and was just missing shots here and there, so it helps getting a hole-in-one.”
Ryan Kistler won the First Flight with a 150. Jason Rice took the Second Flight with a 174.
Steve Lewis captured his second Senior Division championship. He followed a 74 with a 73 to finish at 147 and win by seven shots over Dee Jones.
“It was an adventure,” Lewis said. “I hit the ball well (Saturday), but didn’t putt good. I putted better today. I played better (Saturday).”
Scores from the Men’s City Golf Tournament at Greenbelt:
Jacob Niedbalski;65-71—136
Luke VanDeventer;70-68—138
Eric Grider;73-72—145
Danny Holcomb;75-71—146
Ben Luedeke;72-74—146
Kyle Wieneke;75-72—147
Nate VanDeventer;74-79—153
Ed Hopkins;74-80—154
Gunner Jones;75-80—155
Jeremy Newland;74-81—155
First Flight
Ryan Kistler;77-73—150
Avery Foist;78-78—156
Brad Luedeke;78-80—158
Scott Ousley;79-80—159
Walker Thomas;81-80—161
Brian Jones;78-NC
Andrew McComb;81-WD
Second Flight
Jason Rice;88-86—174
Mason Reeves;85-90—175
Matt White;94-83—177
Aditya Banerjee;83-98—181
Luke Rice;90-92—182
James Anderson;106-103—209
Travis Starnes;86-NC
James Lane;92-NC
Senior Division
Steve Lewis;74-73—147
Dee Jones;80-74—154
Jim Wright;81-77—158
Jim Smith;81-78—159
Man Sung;84-77—161
Larry Pushor;81-80—161
Keith Owen;80-81—161
Russell Turnbow;8783—170
Steve Chinn;93-85—178
Kelly Daugherty;95-84—179
Bob Welker;9588—183
Carl White;104-86—190
Jerry Duncan;98-102—200
Bob Pearson;NC-90
Marshall Burton;96-NC
Mike Hover;103-NC
