Year: 2017

Iowans at USGA Senior Amateur

August 24, 20170 commentsNews, USGA

Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, and Sam Billmeyer, of Ankeny, are in the field this weekend at the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, being played at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis.  This marks the first year Elliott was eligible to play in the 55 or older event.

While Billmeyer made it through the qualifying round held at Briarwood Golf Club, Elliott was exempt due to his top-500 ranking in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.  An additional Iowan has at least a chance of getting into the field as well – Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines, is first on the alternate list for the USGA and could possibly be asked to play if someone is forced to withdraw.  Palmer plans to be on-site and ready should that happen during the first day of play.

The championship begins with stroke play qualifying on Saturday, August 26th.  The top 64 after 36 holes of qualifying make the match play draw.

You can follow all the scoring by clicking here.

2017 Solheim Cup Breaks Previous Attendance Record

August 22, 20170 commentsNews

Above – Thousands cheering for their team at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on #17.

After a full week of incredible golf, celebration and patriotism at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, the official attendance for the 2017 Solheim Cup has been tallied. The global golf event attracted 124,426 fans from August 14-20, 2017. This number surpasses the last attendance record for the Solheim Cup, set in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois. Additionally, the large crowds on Friday broke the event’s single-day attendance record.

“Watching the crowds stream into Des Moines Golf and Country Club was a thrill,” said Chris Garrett, Tournament Director. “Running the Solheim Cup was a dream realized for me. Knowing we were able to bring in record crowds and create more fans of golf, the LPGA and the Solheim Cup make the success of the event even sweeter.”

The record-breaking crowd was comprised of thousands of ticket holders from around the globe. More than 50 percent of attendees came from outside of the state of Iowa including fans from more than 25 countries. Those patriotic fans were big spenders too. Fans purchased more than $2 million in merchandise – breaking yet another event record.

Click here for more on the 2017 Solheim Cup

Elliott birdies four holes coming in, qualifies for U.S. Mid-Amateur

August 22, 20170 commentsNews, USGA

West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott (pictured above) continued his great play this summer with a 69 (-3) at White Deer Run Golf Club, Vernon Hills, IL, to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

Elliott’s score was good enough to tie for the final two qualifying spots. Elliott now moves on to the Atlanta area where the championship proper will be held (Capital City Club and Atlanta National Golf Club), October 7-12.

Elliott’s round at White Deer Run Golf Club included five birdies, with four of those coming in a five-hole stretch on his way in (#13-17).

Click here to see a recap of scoring from the qualifier.

What a week – Team USA wins 2017 Solheim Cup

August 21, 20170 commentsNews

Team USA won the 2017 Solheim Cup for a second year running, as they refused to let the European’s create history by not letting their five point lead slip.

Wins from Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Lizette Salas, Gerina Piller, and Danielle Kang, combined with halves from Lexi Thompson and Angel Yin and were enough to see USA win 16 ½ – 11 ½.

However, early in the day, there was plenty of blue on the board to cause Juli Inkster some concern, as the European’s looked to re-write the record books. However, Inkster’s team remained calm and ultimately Sorenstam’s side had left themselves too much to do heading into the singles.

Click here to read more

Five things you need to know about the Solheim Cup

August 14, 20170 commentsNews

 

Photo Credit: 2015 Getty Images

This week, the Solheim Cup returns to the United States for the 15th edition of the matches. This year, Des Moines Golf and Country Club hosts the matches between Teams U.S.A. and Europe as they square off for the coveted crystal that the Americans brought back to the States in 2015. In the last match up, Team U.S.A. mounted the largest comeback in the history of the event, overcoming a 10 – 6 deficit heading into Sunday’s single matches, to win 14 ½ to 13 ½. The Americans look to retain the cup for the first time since 2009 when they picked up their third consecutive win.

Click here to read more about you need to know this week.

Voke storms back to win 68th Herman Sani Tournament

August 14, 20170 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

You would expect a Cyclone to storm back.

New Zeland’s Nick Voke (pictured above), who just completed his eligibility at Iowa State University this spring, stormed back to win the 68th Herman Sani Tournament at Echo Valley Country Club.

Voke, who posted an impressive 66 (-5) in the final round,  shot 204 (-9) over the three-day event to win by three over former teammate Denzel Ieremia.

“I struck the ball pretty well all week,” Voke said. “I did a little bit of work before today’s round trying to get the speed of the greens.”

Voke admitted that he didn’t even play a practice round, let alone have any prior experience at EVCC.

“I walked the course before round one,” Voke said. “I had a good gameplan and was able to come away with (the win).”

Voke birdied three of the last four holes to pull away.

“I was able to make a nice putt on #17,” Voke said. “Then I made a seven-footer on #18 to finish.”

In the Senior Division Joe Palmer, who won the Senior Division in 2013, made birdie on the last hole to take home the title by a shot over Curtis Holck and Rob Dickerman.

Palmer finished at 210 (-3) for the event.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Jennings grabs lead to himself at Herman Sani Tournament

August 12, 20170 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

The weather was basically perfect and it was a day for scoring at the 68th Herman Sani Tournament.

Players found favorable conditions at Echo Valley Country Club today as many birdies were to be had. First round co-leader Matthew Jennings (pictured above) followed up his opening round 66 with a 68 (-3) and sits at 134 (-8) through two days. Zach Steffen, who fired the round of the day (65), sits just one back of Jennings. Denzel Ieremia, who co-led with Jennings after yesterday’s round, posted 69 (-2) and is also at 135 total along with Steffen.

A total of 7 players are under par after two days of play in the Open Division.

In the Senior Division Joe Palmer (140) took the lead thanks to his 68 (-3) today. He leads Curtis Holck by one shot. Terry Cook and Rob Dickerman are just two shots off the lead. Dickerman shot 67 (-4) today to climb back into the chase.

Click here for scoring recap.

Ieremia, Jennings lead after opening day of 68th Herman Sani Tournament

August 11, 20170 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Denzel Ieremia (a) and Matthew Jennings (p) lead after the opening round of the 68th Herman Sani Tournament being played at Echo Valley Country Club (pictured above). Both players fired 66 (-5) to take jump out to a share of the lead.

Playing the Ridge and Vale course rotation during the tournament this weekend, Ieremia (7) and Jennings (6) found plenty of birdies on their card. Jennings at one point strung for in a row together.

Nick Voke (a) and Mitch Tucker (p) both shot 69 (-2) and sit just three of the pace.

In the Senior Division, Curtis Holck (71) will take a one shot lead over Joe Palmer and Jay Gregory.

Click here for a recap of scoring.

Inkster announces Solheim Cup replacement for Jessica Korda

August 8, 20170 commentsNews

Photo courtesy of The Solheim Cup/LPGA Communications.

USA Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster announced today that six-time USA Solheim Cup veteran Paula Creamer will replace the injured Jessica Korda at the 2017 Solheim Cup, being conducted next week in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Inkster chose Creamer as her alternate when she selected her team on Sunday night and informed the European team as required by the captain’s agreement. However, she did not publicly reveal her choice until after Korda withdrew on Monday due to a forearm injury.

Click here to read more

A transcript of today’s announcement will be posted at https://asaptext.com/orgs/lpga/210

Hunters Ridge Golf Course wins 56th IGA Women’s Club Team Championship

August 8, 20170 commentsChampionships, IGA Women's Club Team

The team from Hunters Ridge Golf Course (pictured above) captured the 56th IGA Women’s Club Team Championship at Marshalltown’s Elmwood Country Club with a score of 239 (+26). Led by Julie Buerman, who was the individual gross score winner with 71 (E), HRGC outdistanced Briarwood Golf Club by 9 shots. HRGC’s team consisted of Katie Wenthe, Mollie Lorenz, Carol Klocke and Buerman.

In the Net Division, Des Moines Golf and Country Club (above) edged out HRGC by a single shot, 217-218. DMGCC was led by overall Individual Net Division winner Kelly Dettbarn, who posted a net 65 (-6). DMGCC’s team included Barb Burley, Amy Fox, Leighann LaRocca and Dettbarn.

The format of the event similar to a college or high school event, in which an IGA Member Club submits a team of four women to play. There was both a gross and net competition, with the best 3 of 4 18-hole gross or net scores counting for the team score, respectively. Overall a total of 16 IGA Club Member teams participated in the event.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Gross – Individual Champion -Julie Buerman (71)

Net – Individual Net Division winner Kelly Dettbarn (65)

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