COUNCIL BLUFFS — Three birdies in a row Sunday started Ryan Nietfeldt to his third title in a row at the Metro Omaha Golf Championship.
Nietfeldt shot 69 in the final round at Bent Tree to finish the 36-hole tournament at 6-under 138 to win by six strokes over four golfers.
The former pro golfer, who was reinstated as an amateur in 2008, is the first to win three consecutive titles in the city tournament's 14 years. Four-time winner Patrick Duffy has had two pairs of titles.
After starting the day one stroke behind 1987 World-Herald Publinks winner David Evans, Nietfeldt seized the lead by making putts of 10, 15 and 4 feet on the first three holes.
"I was feeling pretty good,'' Nietfeldt said. "I hit 15 or 16 greens both days. I had a lot of birdies and not too many bogeys.''
The hot start got him playing conservatively, he said, and he tried to fight it off. He was even par over the final 15 holes.
Nietfeldt, who works as director of finance for ACI Worldwide, said his putting has improved the past month since he tied for second at the Nebraska Amateur. He could see it two weeks ago at the Midwest Cup four-state tournament at Erin Hills, the Wisconsin club that is hosting the 2017 U.S. Open.
Evans, whose 68 on Saturday was the low round of the tournament, shot 79 in the final round.
"I know he can play a lot better than today,'' Nietfeldt said.
In the second-place tie at even-par 144 were Creighton University's John Rasmussen, Papillion-La Vista South golfer Mike Takacs, former Iowa all-state baseball player Cole Grandfield and 2002 city champion Trent Morrison.
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