BEATRICE, Neb. – And then there were eight.

After stroke play qualifying earlier this week, 32 golfers entered the Nebraska Men’s Match Play Championship Wednesday morning.

Golfers competed in the opening round Wednesday morning, followed by the afternoon round of 16, with several high-profile performers moving on.

Southeast Community College golf coach Calvin Freeman, who entered the tournament as the top seed, comfortably beat Lincoln Southeast student Owen Tucker to move into the quarterfinal round.

In a back-and-forth affair, former NFL running back Danny Woodhead topped Nebraska assistant golf coach Travis Minzel.

Omaha’s Matt Quandt, the 12th-seeded golfer in the field, survived a 21-hole slugfest against Husker Reed Malleck of York.

Norfolk native and current Oklahoma Sooner Luke Kluver also moved into the quarterfinals with a victory over Southeast Community College’s Thomas Gatlin. Kluver birdied five holes on the front nine to claim a decisive 6&5 win over Gatlin.

2003 champion Ryan Nietfeldt will be in the quarterfinals after disposing of Graham Southwick.

Former Nebraska Amateur champion David Easley topped Creighton golfer Jackson Thompson to lock up a spot in the quarterfinals.

Also moving onto the quarterfinals are Alex Zillig and former Creighton golfer Johnny Spellerberg.

Freeman will take on Kluver in the quarterfinals Thursday, with the winner taking on Easley or Quandt.

On the other side of the bracket, Woodhead will square off against Nietfeldt, while Zillig and Spellerberg will battle for the other semifinal slot.