Aurora High School Graduate Is Two-Time Recipient
OMAHA (November 16, 2020) - For the second time in as many years, NWAGA is pleased to present Danica Badura with the 2020 NWAGA Golfer of the Year award.
Badura was atop the NWAGA points standings yet again after capping off a dominant season by hoisting the Nebraska Women’s Amateur trophy at The Country Club of Lincoln in early August.
The Aurora High School graduate now plays golf for the University of South Dakota. She kicked off her 2020 NWAGA season with the 97th Nebraska Women’s Match Play Championship at Kearney Country Club. In her opening match, Badura quickly found herself down three through the first three holes to Morrill’s Kenzey Kanno. As the match headed to No. 10 tee, Badura closed the gap to one down. She settled in on the back nine, winning three of the first four holes and closed her opponent out on the 16th hole, 3 and 2, to advance to the quarterfinals. Badura’s quarterfinal match against two-time Nebraska Women’s Amateur Champion Haley Thiele of Wahoo was all square through the first nine holes. Badura fell to Thiele on the 16th hole, 3 and 2.
The crowning achievement of the summer for Badura came at the 46th Nebraska Women’s Amateur Championship at The Country Club of Lincoln. She started the championship off with rounds of 72 (E) and 74 (+2), but did not lead until the first hole of an incredible final round. Badura was still tied with Wahoo’s Lindsey Thiele heading to the 18th hole, and she almost won the championship in walk-off fashion. She lipped out her approach shot into the 18th green, and tapped in for birdie and a two-stroke win. Badura’s final round 67 (-5) is potentially a championship record, earning her a first NWAGA title and third title in 2020. She’s also the first player to win the Nebraska Girls’ Amateur and Nebraska Women’s Amateur in the same year.
In addition to her success at the Women’s Championships, Badura won the Nebraska Girls’ Amateur and Nebraska Girls’ Match Play. She finished with a significant lead in the 2020 NWAGA Point Standings and also won the Nebraska Girls’ Golfer of the Year.
The Nebraska Golf Association’s annual awards banquet will not be held in 2020, but Badura will be honored individually and through social media this month.
