Catching Up With 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Champ, USNJT Member Trevor Gutschewski

Omaha, Neb., native Trevor Gutschewski made history by winning the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur title last July at Oakland Hills Country Club, in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. He became just the second player from Nebraska to win a USGA championship (Johnny Goodman) and the first to capture the U.S. Junior Amateur title. Gutschewski will graduate from Westside High this spring and has signed to play at the University of Florida this fall.

Some of Gutschewski’s accolades include being recognized as Nebraska’s Junior Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, and the 2024 Amateur Player of the Year. Earlier this year, Trevor was named to the U.S. National Junior Team as part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program that aims to identify the country’s rising talents. Golf is deeply rooted in the Gutschewski family. His father, Scott Gutschewski, competes on both the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, while brother, Luke, plays for Iowa State and was the co-medalist at the 2022 U.S. Amateur.

USGA summer communications intern Taylar Paige recently chatted with Gutschewski about what life has been like since winning his biggest golf event to date: 

Question: Can you walk us through more of your journey leading up to last year’s U.S. Junior Amateur, and did you get a sense it was going to be your week?

Gutschewski: I wasn't really feeling much. I put together two solid rounds for qualifying [in stroke play] and got in the match play, which is really your only goal. Your seed, in my opinion, doesn’t really matter that much; you are just trying to get to match play. Once you get to match play everyone is really good.

My first match [against Rich Willis] was great. We went to 23 holes, and I played very well. That made me feel good and then I just thought about winning the next match [against medalist Blades Brown]. It got so routine, we were out there for so long that I just kept playing good and winning matches. I never thought too far ahead, which was key. I kept winning and that's kind of what you just have to do in those weeks. There wasn't really any moment where I was thinking, “Oh I got it this week, or I’m hot this week” I played solid golf and kept winning matches.

Question: How did you remain calm and focused for the 36-hole championship match against Tyler Watts?

Gutschewski: On the final day, I got off to a good start in the morning and then fizzled off on the back nine. I had my good buddy (Jackson Benge) on the bag, and we just kept it lose all week. I was one down going into the afternoon and I was sitting at lunch just thinking this is right where you want to be. There are 262 other guys (the week begins with 264 competitors) who would love to be in your position right now. So, let's just go out and play, have fun with it and get off to a good start, and that's exactly what I did.

Question: How did you celebrate last year’s Junior Amateur win?

Gutschewski: We had a good time; my family and I celebrated and had a party. I got a lot of “congratulations!” In the fall during one of the football games at my school, they asked me to bring the trophy. They had me go out on the field at halftime and honored me, which was pretty sweet. Everyone at school pretty much knew I golfed and that I was kind of good. It was weird coming back after winning the Junior Amateur because everyone was like, “Holy crap you're like really good.”

Question: Describe your favorite memory in the past year that has stemmed because of your winning the Junior Amateur?

Gutschewski: Getting into more tournaments and being able to travel a bit more. Before the Junior Amateur, I got to travel a decent amount. Since I've qualified for more tournaments, I have been able to see more of the country. I love getting to see other parts of the country, especially now. We used to travel a bit with my dad, but I don't remember that as much because I was younger. Getting to explore other places is pretty neat to me.

Question: Can you share what it's been like to be on the U.S. National Junior Team and what you have learned from this short experience with the group?

Gutschewski: It’s been fun. Camp [in Arizona] was great and so was our match with Canada [in Houston]. It was a great idea to build a team of the best juniors in the country and bring us together to compete with each other. I’ve learned a lot, but the nutrition concepts stood out to me the most. Keeping up with your nutrition and hydration has a huge impact on your golf game.

Question: One of the perks of winning the U.S. Junior Amateur is getting an exemption into the following year’s U.S. Open. How are you feeling now that you're about to make your major championship debut at Oakmont?

Gutschewski: I am really pumped; I don't think it has sunk in yet that I am going to play in the U.S. Open. I'm sure it will all feel super real once I get there. Standing on the first tee on Thursday will be super insane. I don't even know how to describe it. Having that kind of opportunity from earning your way there is pretty special. I’m pretty excited about it. I'm not sure what to expect or how to feel, but I like to think I will handle it better than I probably will. I'm sure I will be super nervous.

Question: You got a little taste of professional by playing in the Pinnacle Bank Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour with your dad and brother. What was that week like?

Gutschewski: It was probably my favorite golf memory I've ever made. They put us in the same group as well and we all qualified. My dad said, “I thought maybe I would cross paths with Luke in a tournament, but I never thought I would cross paths with Trevor.” To have an experience that I'm not sure anybody else has had before was a once in a lifetime surreal moment. (NOTE: Scott and Luke are both entered in U.S. Open qualifying)

Question: Is there some sibling rivalry between you and Luke?

Gutschewski: We're pretty competitive, but it's not like you want to see each other play badly so you can beat him. We both want each other to play well. I want him to have success, but I just want to have a little more success.

Question: With golf so much a part of your family, did you always want to play? Did you play any other sports growing up?

Gutschewski: I played lots of sports. A lot of people think since my dad played that's all I've done, but I played basketball, football and baseball. I played basketball up until my freshman year of high school. I played football until eighth grade, and golf has always been there, too. I have always loved golf the most and I was the best at it. All the other sports kind of fizzled out, [but] my dad never made it imperative that we play golf. He has always just had it available to us, which I really appreciate. He let us find our own way and do what we like.

Question: Have you beaten your dad before and when was it?

Gutschewski: Yeah, I have! Not as much as I would like to admit, but I have beaten him before and I'm proud of that. It was 2022 at Prairie Club in Valentine, Neb., and I beat both Luke and my dad. I was pumped and I was like, “Hey I beat both of you guys today,” and they were both like, “Oh, good job!”

Question: How would you describe life in Omaha?

Gutschewski: We have better golf courses than people would think. It's cold for five months out of the year, November through March it's not very nice. During those months we are kind of just stuck inside for the most part. Every once in a while, we will have a day where you can go out and play, but the courses aren't in good shape.

Question: Besides the obvious – Gainesville is a lot warmer in the winter than Omaha – what stood about the University of Florida?

Gutschewski: I was never tied to a college before I committed. Florida was my sixth visit, and I walked into every visit with a pretty open mind. I like the coaches a lot down there and the team was full of good dudes, I knew I would have a good time. Being able to golf year-round was a big plus for me, since that’s not the case in Nebraska. Overall, it was a combo of the coaches, the weather, the team, and the facilities.