Two Heritage Hills golfers in running for cut at PGA National Championship

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Two golfers with close ties to McCook and Heritage Hills Golf Course are making strong showings in the PGA National Professional Championship golf tournament at Philadelphia's Cricket Club.

As reported Tuesday in the Gazette, Shane Zywiec, a two-time winner of the John Mullen Pro-Am Tournament at Heritage Hills, tied for the first round lead in the PGA National after carding a four-under par 68 in Sunday's play.

Two days later, in the third round of the PGA National, a McCook High School graduate, Chris Wiemers, caught fire, shooting a 68 at the PGA National to shoot up in the standings.

Today, going into the fourth round of the national tournament, Zywiec is in a tie for eighth place with a three round total of 213, while Wiemers is tied for 21st with a three-round total of 215.

That sets the stage for an exciting fourth round today for Wiemers and Zywiec, as the top 20 in the tournament qualify for the last of golfing's four major tournaments, the PGA.

In today's play, Wiemers had a 10:30 a.m. tee time and Zywiec teed off at 11:20 a.m. They are chasing Grant Sturgeon and Ben Pollard, who are in the lead after three rounds with four under par scores of 208.

Wiemers, who has gone on from McCook to become the golf coach at Creighton University, has previously played in the PGA major tournament which he and Shane are again vying to qualify for. Chris has participated in the John Mullen Pro-Am at Heritage Hills for 13 years, winning the professional title in 2006 and capturing championships in the Horse Race in 2006 and 2012.

Zywiec, a former assistant pro at Heritage Hills, has played in the Mullen Pro-Am for 16 years, and has professional division titles to his credit in 2000 and 2009. Zywiec, who lives in Seward and has experience as a teaching pro at Highlands Golf Course, is a two-time winner of the Mullen Pro-Am professional Division. He earned his Mullen titles in 2000 and 2009.