Month: September 2017

Team Iowa finishes 19th at USGA Women’s State Team

iowagolfSeptember 26, 20170 commentsUSGA

From left – Leanne Smith, Britta Snyder, Jenny Heinz and Team Iowa Captain Katelynn Hogenson.

Round 3 Recap

Team Iowa concluded the final USGA Women’s State Team at The Club at Las Campanas, Santa Fe, N.M., in 19th place.

Britta Snyder led the way for Iowa in the final round with 71 (-1). Her round included five birdies. Snyder was the low score for Iowa all three rounds of the event and finished T19th individually.

Leanne Smith posted 80 (+8) in the final round and Jenny Heinz rounded out the scoring with an 84 (+12). Iowa was quite consistent with their team totals each day, shooting 155-151-151 for a 457 total (+25). The best two scores from each team count towards the team total each day.

Tennessee won the event with a total of 431 (-1).

Click here to see a full recap of scoring.

Round 2 Recap

It was moving day for Team Iowa at the 2017 USGA Women’s State Team at The Club at Las Campanas, Santa Fe, N.M.

Leading the effort for Iowa was Britta Snyder, who posted 72 (E) in the second round. Leanne Smith added to the total with her 79 (+7), to give Iowa a team score of 151 (+7). Jenny Heinz shot 80 (+8). The best two scores from each team count towards the team total each day. Team Iowa is at 306 (+18) after two days of play.

Iowa was one of the first teams out on the course today, leaving several teams left still to finish this afternoon. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 21 teams and ties, plus any individual whose team missed the cut but is within five strokes of the individual lead.

Click here to follow scoring from the championship and to see if Iowa makes the cut.

Round 1 Recap

Thanks to some solid golf on the back nine holes, Team Iowa sits in T19th place (155, +11 total) after the first round of the 2017 USGA Women’s State Team at The Club at Las Campanas, Santa Fe, N.M.

The event is being conducted over 54 holes of stroke play with two of the best three scores counting for each team.

Jenny Heinz posted a back nine score of 35 (-1) to record a 76 (+4, T31st overall) after the first round. Meanwhile, Britta Snyder put together a 36 (E) of her own on the back nine to finish with 79 (+7, T53rd overall). Leanne Smith shot 86 (+14, T105th overall).

New York leads with a team score of 142 (-2).

Click here to see a recap of scoring.

Click here to read more about Team Iowa.

Two sides move on from U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Sectional

iowagolfSeptember 25, 20170 commentsUSGA

From left – Scott Gustafson (Chaska, MN), Jordan Ryan (Minneapolis, MN), Andrew Price (Lake Bluff, IL) and Dennis Bull (Norwalk).

Dennis Bull, of Norwalk, and Andrew Price, of Lake Bluff, IL, have known each other for some time now.

“We’ve known each other since junior golf,’ Bull said.

The pair teamed up for an impressive 64 (-7) at today’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Sectional at Echo Valley Country Club – good enough for medalist honors.

The pair combined made a total of 9 birdies (two of them on the same hole) and never had to count a bogey in route to advancing to the championship proper to be played at Jupiter Hills Club, in Tequesta, Fla., May 19-23, 2018.

Securing the second and final spot from today’s qualifier were Scott Gustafson (Chaska) and Jordan Ryan (Minneapolis) from Minnesota, firing 65 (-6), two shots clear of Bret Taylor / JD Anderson. A total of 15 teams broke par in the four-ball format.

Click here to view a recap of the day’s scores.

Iowa set to go at USGA Women’s State Team

iowagolfSeptember 21, 20170 commentsUSGA

Jenny Heinz, Leanne Smith and Britta Snyder head south to represent the state of Iowa at the final USGA Women’s State Team Championship.

These talented women will represent Iowa at the final U.S. Women’s State Team Championship next week at The Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The biennial Championship will be conducted over 54 holes of stroke play with two of the best three scores counting. The Championship will be held September 26-28. Heinz, Smith and Snyder are excited to represent the state at such a high level and do their best to bring home a championship.

Jenny Heinz (Cedar Falls)
University of Northern Iowa Women’s Golf Team Letterwinner
3 Time Iowa Women’s Amateur Champion (2003, 2009, 2015)
Runner-up IGA Women’s Match Play (2016)
2 Time Iowa Junior Girl’s Amateur Champion (1998, 2000)
4 Time IGA Women’s Four-Ball Champion (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
3 Time IGA Woman Player of the Year (2014, 2015, 2016)
5 Time USGA Women’s State Team Member (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship (2001)
U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship (2015)

Leanne Smith (Indianola)
Iowa State Women’s Golf Team Letterwinner
Drake University Women’s Golf Coach (ast. 2006-2010) (Head 2010-2015)
Pioneer Highlands Medalist (2002)
2 Time US Women’s Amateur Contestant (2001, 2004)
U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship (2004)
Des Moines Women’s City Champion (2002. 2004)
Runner up in the 2009 Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship
Turned Professional in 2005 and played on the Futures Tour for 2 seasons.

Britta Snyder (Ames)
IGA Women’s Amateur Champion 2017
U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Participant (2017)
2 time AJGA Champion
Ranked #46 on Rolex/AJGA Rankings
Player of the Year Honors on the Plantation Tour (2015)
Won the Hurricane Tour Junior Girl’s National Championship (2015)
Won over 100 Junior Golf Tournaments

The Championship is open to players from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. State associations may use any criteria of their choosing in selecting their teams, which comprise three amateur, non-college golfers. The Championship format consists of the best two scores of each state’s three players over the course of 54 holes.

The Club at Las Campanas’ has two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses, both consistently rated among the very top courses in New Mexico by Golf Digest magazine. Be sure to check out live scoring at www.USGA.org once the Championship begins.

Iowa gives a valiant effort, comes up 1/2 point short of Nebraska

iowagolfSeptember 19, 20170 commentsDirector's Cup

Trailing by 4.5 points heading into Sunday’s Singles Matches in the 2017 Director’s Cup, Team Iowa (pictured above) gave it a valiant effort but came up just short of capturing the cup. Nebraska’s 20 total points was good enough to capture the victory over Iowa 20-19.5.

Kansas (17.5 points) and Missouri (15 points) finished third and fourth respectively.

Winning three points each on Sunday to help the Iowa cause were Dusty Drenth and Scot Cook. In total Drenth won 7.5 points (Four-Ball, Foursome and Singles).

Representing this year’s team from Iowa were:

Jon Brown
J.D. Anderson
Dennis Bull
Dusty Drenth
Scot Cook
Sam Zoske

Click here to view a recap of all matches.

Team Nebraska – 2017 Director’s Cup Champions

Burkholders win Wife-Husband title by eight shots

iowagolfSeptember 18, 20170 commentsChampionships, Wife-Husband

Forest City’s Julianna and Reed Burkholder (pictured above) played 36 holes of fantastic golf to win the 57th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship contested at Lake Panorama National Golf Club. The Burkholders posted back-to-back rounds of 69 to win by eight strokes over Jeff and Molly Cleven of Cumming (+2 overall). Chris and Peggy Garrett and Aaron and Julie Stevens tied for third place at 149 (+5)

Following their opening round 69 (-3), which included six birdies, the Burkholders got off to a quick start in round two, going birdie-eagle on the first two holes. From there the couple cruised to their eventual six-shot victory. This marks the first outright victory in the event for the Burkholders as they shared the title in 2015.

In the Super Senior Division, Jeanette and Raymond Fredericksen (pictured above) defeated Char and Steve Maaske on the first hole of a playoff for the title. The Fredericksens posted consistent rounds of 79-80 (+15). Opening co-round leaders, Carroll and John Dethrow finished third at +18.

Click here to see a full recap of scores from the event.

Elliott wins 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship

iowagolfSeptember 14, 20170 commentsNews

(Photo by Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault)

– Iowa native cards even-par 70 to claim the John Rankin Memorial Trophy and earn an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur –

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – Iowa’s Gene Elliott carded an even-par 70 during the final round to claim the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Kanawaki Golf Club and hoist the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The native of West Des Moines,, finished at 3-over (283) for the championship, which was good enough for a 2-shot win over third-round leader Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA.

“I am so thrilled – this is tough competition,” said Elliott, who recently competed in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship where he fell in the round of 32. “Senior golf is tough; these guys are good. You win very little in golf at all and when you do it’s very special. To win in Canada, I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

(Photo by Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault)

Elliott may be new to the senior circuit having just turned 55 in February, but he’s enjoyed a stellar competitive golf career throughout the years. Among his many accomplishments, he’s amassed more than 20 titles in his home state of Iowa and also won the prestigious Porter Cup in 1998.

The veteran had high praises for the host club of Kanawaki.

“I hit the ball well today. I hit a lot of greens this week. I didn’t have many 3-putts,” he added. “But this Kanawaki, it’s a tough little bugger. It looks like you can get after it, but it gets after you. It’s a wonderful place to host a championship.”

With the win, Eliott earns an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from August 25^th to 30^th.

He’s also committed to returning to Canada to defend his title at next year’s Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, which will take place September 4-7 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.

“I can’t wait to get to New Brunswick,” he laughed. “I have no idea where it is or how to get there, but I’ll be there.”

Hanzel, who finished runner-up, never could get things on the right track during Thursday. His 5-over round of 75 included four bogeys, a double bogey and just a single birdie.

A trio of Americans tied for third. Allen Barber of Yorktown, VA, Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC and Jack Hall of Savannah, GA, all finished at 7-over (287).

Doug Roxburgh, an honored member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, was the top Canadian finisher. The Vancouver native finished tied for 6^th at 8-over (288). Roxburgh won the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship in 1970 and Canadian Amateur titles in 1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988. He also claimed the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2014.

Additional information, including complete scoring info for the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

Gene’s wife, DaLena, served as his caddie during the event. (Photo by Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault)

Listen to Elliott’s post-round interview below

IGA Director’s Cup Team announced

iowagolfSeptember 12, 20170 commentsDirector's Cup

2017 DIRECTOR’S CUP WEBSITE (see results, pairings, team rosters, etc)

The 2017 IGA Director’s Cup Team has been finalized. The Director’s Cup Matches are goodwill matches that began in 2000. Originally they were called the Tri-State Director’s Cup Matches and featured teams from Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. In 2015 Missouri was added, thus dropping “Tri” from the name of the event. They are held on the years opposite the USGA Men’s State Team Championship.

Teams are made up of six individuals. The top four players in the standings automatically are invited. The remaining two players are chosen as “Director’s picks” by the IGA Executive Director. Points are calculated using 50 percent of the prior year’s Player of the Year point totals and 100 percent of the current year point total. Points were accumulated through August 13 (end of Herman Sani Tournament).

Representing this year’s team from Iowa are:
Jon Brown
Brown won the 2017 Carroll Amateur, qualified for the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship and was runner-up at the 2017 Iowa Masters. He also finished in the top 5 of this year’s IGA Match Play and Briarwood Amateur.

J.D. Anderson
Anderson has had a very successful 2017 campaign including wins at the 32nd Iowa Mid-Amateur and 2017 Briarwood Amateur. Most recently Anderson qualified as co-medalist for the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Other top finishes for Anderson this year were Southeast Iowa Amateur (2nd), 115th Iowa Amateur (T8th) and a pair of T4th finishes at the Herman Sani Tournament and Northwest Amateur.

Dennis Bull
Bull put together a trio of top 5 finishes this summer including 115th Iowa Amateur (T2nd), Herman Sani Tournament (3rd) and 32nd Iowa Mid-Amateur (T3rd). Bull was also in the top 10 of the Briarwood Amateur, finishing T8th place.

Dusty Drenth
Drenth played very consistently in 2017, finishing 2nd in the 32nd Iowa Mid-Amateur, T4th at the Waterloo Open and T10th at the 115th Iowa Amateur. Most recently, Drenth shared medalist honors with Anderson and qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

Scot Cook
Cook found himself in the top 10 of many events this year including Southeast Iowa Amateur (T2nd), 22nd IGA Four-Ball (T4th) with partner Scott Hart and at the Carroll Amateur (T9th).

Sam Zoske
Zoske was a quarterfinalist in this year’s IGA Match Play Championship and notched top 15 finishes in the 32nd Iowa Mid-Amateur and Iowa Masters.

The 2017 Director’s Cup Matches will be hosted by the IGA at the Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City on September 18-19. Due to NCAA rules, college players are not eligible to compete.

Click here to view Iowa Director’s Cup Standings.

Click here to view results from the 2015 matches.

Kubesheski plays U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, misses cut into match play

iowagolfSeptember 11, 20170 commentsUSGA

Rosalie Kubesheski (pictured above), of Dubuque, participated in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur over the weekend. Kubesheski posted rounds of 84-83 (+23) at Waverly Country Club, Portland, Ore., which was four strokes off a playoff for the last remaining spots into the match play portion of the event. Kubesheski qualified at Greenbriar Hills Country Club in St. Louis, MO, on August 7th.

Click here to read more about the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

Drenth, Anderson qualify for U.S. Mid-Am

iowagolfSeptember 6, 20170 commentsUSGA

Dusty Drenth (left) and J.D. Anderson (right) earned the two U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying spots at Davenport Country Club on Monday. Both players posted 72 (+1), two clear of the next best finishers.

Drenth’s day included five birdies, while Anderson made just three birdies but also had 13 pars.

The 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur will use both Capital City Club (Atlanta) and Atlanta National Golf Club (Milton) in Georgia for stroke play qualifying into match play, Oct. 7-12. Match play will be contested over the Crabapple Course at Capital City Club.

The IGA Player of the Year race will once again come down to how players finish at the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Anderson, with his medalist performance at Davenport CC, leads Gene Elliott, who also has qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, by 260 points. Both players can earn bonus points if they qualify into match play and for additional match wins.

Anderson, Drenth and Elliott, will join Iowa’s Mike McCoy and Jay Gregory at the championship in Georgia.

Click here to see a recap of scores from Davenport CC.

Click here to view more information on the national championship.

Elliott posts final round 66, wins third Iowa Senior Am title overall

iowagolfSeptember 1, 20170 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Amateur

West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott (pictured above) got off to a hot start and never looked in the rear view mirror until late in the day in the final round of the 39th Iowa Senior Amateur. Elliott blistered Burlington Golf Club for a 66 (-6) to win by eight shots over Burlington’s Scott Briggs and Muscatine’s Tom Norton.

“I played very well today,” Elliott said. “I have played nine days in a row (counting rounds at the U.S. Senior Amateur in Minnesota). That’s a lot of golf for me. I am not a guy who does that, but that’s the way things worked out.”

Truth be told, Elliott, after being defeated in the round of 32 on Tuesday at the U.S. Senior Amateur, forgot he was actually still entered in the Iowa Senior Amateur, which began on Wednesday.

“I almost wasn’t here for several different reasons,” Elliott admitted. “I totally forgot it (Iowa Senior Amateur) after I got beat. I was so shellshocked from losing my match. If I would of won that match I wouldn’t of been here. My wife and a good friend John Harris told me to just come down here and get it out your system and forgot about what happened up in Minneapolis. Fortunately things worked out.”

The win marks a second consecutive victory, third overall for Elliott in this event.

“I felt good about my game all day,” Elliott said. “I missed a couple of birdie putts that I thought I made or made good putts on. I got on a roll and felt like I could birdie every hole, which was nice. I didn’t check the leaderboard until the 16th fairway. I saw a good lead and figured just stay upright and I would be ok.”

In the Super Senior Division Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen held off a charging Jim Butler (Ft. Madison) to win. Christensen posted a 73 (+1) in the final round to finish at 220 (+4) for the one stroke victory.