Luke Gutschewski of Omaha walked up the 18th fairway and spotted his dad Scott.
Two days after going to the emergency room for pancreatitis, Scott made it to Indian Creek to support Luke in the Pinnacle Bank Championship.
Scott was set to play in the ninth annual Korn Ferry Tour event, but withdrew Thursday morning. Luke said his father made an effort to try to play in his hometown tournament, but decided against competing.
“That stunk,” Luke said. “You never want to see anybody you love in pain. He did everything he could to play.”
Luke shot 70 to finish1-under. Although the score was two strokes better than how he started in 2024 when he missed the cut as an amateur, he didn’t think his round was anything to write home about.
“I don’t think it was anything special,” Luke said. “I don’t think I scored great.”
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Alex Schaake had the best round of the four players in the field with Nebraska connections.
In three previous PBC starts, Schaake rarely had a round under par. Last year, Schaake missed the cut after shooting 1-over through 36 holes.
This year, the 27-year-old opened up the tournament with a 2-under 69.
“Each year it gets better and better,” Schaake said. “The player I am now is a lot different than the player that I've been in the past.”
Schaake only had one bogey, on No. 11 that plays as a par-4 for only the tournament. He made it up on the next hole with a birdie.
The Omaha Creighton Prep and Iowa graduate said he wasn’t frustrated with a bogey, adding that he thinks 11 is the hardest hole on the course.
Brandon Crick of McCook matched par 71. The Husker alum shot 38 on the front nine but responded with three birdies on the back nine to claw his way back.
Rudy Sautron, the only amateur in the field, shot 72.
Sautron, who returned two days ago from playing two tournaments in his native France, struggled a bit playing among the professionals but did birdie the last hole on the front and back ends. The current Husker golfer won the Indian Creek Invitational in July to qualify for the tournament.
“It is what it is, just the first round,” Sautron said. “We got another round of golf tomorrow, we’ll see what can happen.”
Photos: Final round of the 2024 Pinnacle Bank Championship
Matt McCarty celebrates after winning the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Danny Walker tees off on the third hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Austin Greaser tees off on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Spectators watch as Danny Walker and Brandon Crick putt on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
A pontoon boat floats between the seventh and 17th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Roberto Díaz tees off on the eighth hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Spectators watch as Scott Gutschewski and Roberto Díaz putt on the eighth green during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Scott Gutschewski tees off on the ninth hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Trevor Cone putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Alistair Docherty putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Isaiah Salinda tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Ricky Castillo chips onto the green on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Tag Ridings putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
William Moll hits the ball on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
William Moll putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
William Moll putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Cole Hammer putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
William Moll tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
S.Y. Noh chips out of a bunker on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Christo Lamprecht and his caddy read their notes on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Christo Lamprecht hits the ball on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Thomas Rosenmueller chips onto the green on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Quade Cummins chips the ball on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Aldrich Potgieter hits the ball on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Quade Cummins tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Zecheng Dou chips the ball onto the green on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Rick Lamb putts on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Spectators walk along the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty hits the ball on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Spectators walk along the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Spectators watch as Danny Walker and Brandon Crick putt on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Brandon Crick tees off on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Danny Walker chips the ball onto the fairway on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Brandon Crick chips the ball onto the green on the second hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Brandon Crick tees off on the third hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Rick Lamb hits the ball on the fourth hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Spectators watch as Danny Walker hits out of a bunker on the fourth hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Brandon Crick chips onto the green on the fourth hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Kyle Westmoreland hits out of a bunker and onto the green during the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matthew Riedel tees off on the first hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty celebrates after winning the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty celebrates after winning the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Kids wait for golfers to walk off the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Trey Mullinax reacts after missing the putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Trey Mullinax walks to the 18th fairway during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Quade Cummins putts on the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty chips onto the green on the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty lines up his putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty reacts after winning the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Brandon Crick and Danny Walker line up their putts on the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Danny Walker reacts after missing a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Walker finished second in the Pinnacle Bank Championship.
Brandon Crick reacts after missing his putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
Matt McCarty celebrates after winning the Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek in Omaha on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
