Month: May 2017

Elliott, McCoy win 22nd IGA Four-Ball; Palmer, Cook fire 60 to win Senior Division

For the third year in a row and fourth overall Gene Elliott and Mike McCoy were victorious at the IGA Four-Ball Championship. This year, the duo used a second round 63 (-9) to storm back from two strokes back entering the final round. Their 128 total (-16) was two ahead of the team of George Qian/Jack Kennedy.

Council Bluffs’ Bent Tree Golf Club, which hosted this year’s IGA Four-Ball, Has been special place for McCoy.

“I won the State Amateur here (in 2010,” McCoy said. It’s a great course. It has a lot of links feels to it, which is fun.”

McCoy commented he got off to a good start in the final round, but gave credit to his partner, Elliott.

“Gene was terrific today,” McCoy said. “He made a beautiful birdie on our last hole, which we felt we needed.”

Elliott, who was literally just coming off his win at the Trans-Miss Senior Championship in California, flew into Omaha the morning of the first round.

“He was tired (yesterday) from traveling across the country,” McCoy said. “He was hitting golf shots (in the final round) like Hale Irwin out there. Just like on the PGA Tour, the don’t hit them any better than he did.

Elliott said he wouldn’t of made the trip for anyone else besides his partner, McCoy.

“This is the only guy in the world I would fly halfway across the country to play in a golf tournament with,” Elliott said.

Staying aggressive and keeping the pedal down in the second round was the key McCoy commented.

“We were bold today, we were trying to get in the left lane and honk the horn. We wanted to go right by people. That’s what we were trying to do.”

When asked if they would ‘give it a go’ again next year, their answer was simple.

“Absolutely,” McCoy said.

In the Senior Division, the team of Joe Palmer/Terry Cook made a comeback of their own. Posting a score of 60 (-12) and 127 overall (-17), the pair stormed back after being six strokes of the pace entering the final round.

“I owe a lot of credit to Terry,” Palmer said. “The turning point was when we made eagle on #12 and they made bogey. We went from two down to one up and we put the pedal down. We birdied three of the next four and never let (opening round leaders Curtin Holck/Bill Watson) them up.”

Holck and Watson, who led after an opening round 61 (-11) would finish second, two strokes back at 129 (-15).

Cook admitted he was just trying to do everything to keep the pressure off of Palmer, who was riding a hot putter during the final round.

“I was just trying to hit fairways and greens,” Cook said. “That loosened him (Palmer) up and he kept making putts. All I as trying to do was making sure he got the right read of the green, because he was putting it so well. It was fun to watch.”

Palmer said he never felt pressure to make putts as Cook was continuing to make pars.

“That’s the kind of partner you want in these if you want to go low,” Palmer said. “I helped myself out (in the Senior Player of the Year points race) and kept my partner in the game.”

Palmer said he thinks the team will stay in tact for next year too.

“I think we’ll be partners again,” Palmer said.

Brown, Olson compete at U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

Jon Brown, of Clive, and Jon Olson, of Ankeny, begin the stroke play portion of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship today at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Village of Pinehurst, N.C. Courses No. 2 and 8 will be used during stroke play. The low 32 teams from stroke play will qualify for match play.

Brown, an Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member, won the 2006 Iowa Amateur and was named Iowa Golf Association Player of the Year in 2004 and 2006. Brown captured the Iowa Mid-Amateur title last year (2016).

Olson, the head men’s golf coach at Central College in Pella, has won several IGA titles, including three IGA Mid-Amateurs (2011, 2014 and 2015), the IGA Amateur (2012), the IGA Open (2007), and the IGA Public Links (2001).

Click here for full coverage of the championship.

Allison, Dye open with 63, lead 22nd IGA Four-Ball

Norwalk’s Brian Allison and Des Moines’ Jordan Dye put on a show coming in at Bent Tree Golf Club during the opening round of the 22nd IGA Four-Ball Championship.

In fact, their whole day was something to watch. The duo from Central Iowa, who played early on Friday, penciled in a total of nine birdies, including four straight (all by by Dye) to finish off the day with 63 (-9).

Allison and Dye will see several teams in their rearview mirror lurking close behind. The teams of Aaron O’Brien/Matthew Walker, Scot Cook/Scott Hart, Dusty Stewart/Jeff Collett, George Qian/Jack Kennedy and three-time champions Gene Elliott/Mike McCoy all sit two strokes back with 65 (-7).

In the Senior Division the team of Curtis Holck/Bill Watson blistered the course for a ten under-par 61. Their round included nine birdies and an eagle. Chasing in second place is the team of Joe Palmer/Terry Cook and Bob Brummel/Todd Sapp who shot 67 (-5).

Click here for a full recap of scores.

Gilbert High School’s Snyder set to play at U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship

Britta Snyder, of Ames, has made quite a name for herself.

Snyder, who has won over 100 junior golf tournaments, is just a freshman at Gilbert High School and has already committed to Baylor University to play golf in college.

In a couple weeks Snyder will head to the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, being played May 27-31 at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

As you might remember, there is an interesting story of how Snyder and to her partner, Sarah Beqaj, teamed up and qualified in Minnesota for the championship. An impressive feat considering the two had never played a team event with each other prior and came to the Twin Cities early to get a couple practice rounds in to build some quick chemistry. Even more remarkable is the fact that both were (at the time) just 14-years-old.

Beqaj, who hails from Toronto, Canada, and Britta Snyder, from Ames, Iowa, met three years ago when playing in the same group on the final day of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships in North Carolina.

Click here to watch the feature on We Are Iowa

Click here to follow Synder at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship

Elliott wins Trans-Miss Senior Championship

ELLIOTT WINS TRANS-MISS SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – Click here for full recap

Round two recap…

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Gene Elliott shot a brilliant 5-under-par 66 on Wednesday at Eldorado Country Club to take the 36-hole lead of 2017 Trans-Mississippi Senior Amateur Championship. The bogey-free effort propelled him into a six-shot lead in the 54-hole stroke play event.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, the 55-year-old Elliott owns an equipment company that serves municipalities throughout seven Midwest states. He’s also one of the more accomplished senior amateurs in the entire country. Paired with his opening round 72, Elliott’s second round 66 moved him to 4-under 138 for the championship.

Click here to read more here, including live scoring.

2017 Herman Sani Scholarship Winners Announced

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is pleased to announce the 2017 recipients of the Herman Sani Scholarship Awards. Anne Gradoville of Des Moines, Willis Gaer of Des Moines, Jesper Holke-Farnam of Grundy Center, and Ryan Feauto of Carroll, will receive a four year scholarship of $2,000 per year. The individuals will be recognized at the Herman Sani Invitational Golf Tournament held at Echo Valley Golf Club in Norwalk on Friday, August 11, 2017.

Anne Gradoville is the daughter of Bernard and Kathleen Gradoville. She plans on attending the University of Northern Iowa this fall. There she plans on studying speech pathology. She will also be playing on the University of Northern Iowa Women’s Golf team.

 

 

Willis Gaer is the son of Dave and Anne Gaer. He will be attending Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky in the fall. There he plans on studying Business with a focus on Economics or Finance. He will also be playing on the Eastern Kentucky Men’s Golf team in the fall.

 

 

Jesper Holke-Farnam is the son of Corrine and Rod Holke-Farnam. He will be attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas to studying in the PGA Golf Management Program.

 

 

Ryan Feauto is the son of Jim and Janet Feauto. He will be attending Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa where he will be on the Defender’s Men’s Golf team. There he will be studying Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary.

 

 

The Herman Sani Scholarship Program was established in 1958. Herman Sani (pictured at the top of the page) had a passion for golf for golf and young people. Sani was the first director of the Iowa Golf Association and served the organization for over 30 years. This scholarship was created his memory with the purpose to assist Iowa students to further their education. As of 2016, 170 college-bound students have been awarded this four-year scholarship.

Most of the scholarship money comes from the generous donations by Hyperion member and corporate sponsors. The Iowa Golf Association and point events from around the state also make significant contributions to the fund. For more information about the scholarship visit our website at www.iowagolf.org/scholarships/.

The Iowa Golf Association serves as the governing body of golf for the state of Iowa. Run by amateur golfers the IGA provides a variety of programs and services that benefit everyone who plays the game.

Moorman, Cook, Studer win titles at Southeast Iowa Amateur

Players faced difficult scoring conditions all weekend at The Preserve at Rathbun Lake, but in the end Alex Moorman, Terry Cook & David Studer handled the tough setting the best.

Moorman, of Centerville, won the title in the Open Division by six shots. He opened with a 3-under 69 on Saturday and then shot a 2-under 70 on Sunday morning.  The tournament format calls for a final 9 holes on Sunday afternoon for those that make the championship flight, and Moorman fired a 1-under 35 on the front 9.  J.D. Anderson, of Johnston, finished in second (70-75-35).

Cook, of Johnston, earned his title in the Senior Division with a playoff victory over Joe Bates, of Albia.  Cook went 76-73 (seniors don’t play a final 9 holes) while Bates reversed that with a 73-76.  Cook then won on the first playoff hole.

David “Doc” Studer won the inaugural playing of the Super Senior Division (65+) at the Southeast Iowa Amateur. “Doc”, of West Des Moines, opened with a 2-over-par 74 and closed with a 77 on Sunday.  He finished well in front of second place Tim Taylor (85-77) of Ankeny.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL RESULTS

Grand View University captures NAIA Men’s Golf Championship

With two players finishing in the top 10 individually, Grand View University won the 2017 NAIA Men’s Golf Championship today at TPC at Deere Run, Silvis, IL. Myles and Mitch Pfingsten finished 3rd and T6th respectively for GVU.

The Vikings posted rounds of 296-315-291-299 – 1197 to outdistance second place Cardinal Stritch University by five strokes.

Click here for a full recap of scoring from the event.

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