Year: 2018

Eaton wins 7th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship

Mason City’s Sydney Eaton (above), a sophomore at the University of Northern Iowa, made the trek south to The Preserve on Rathbun Lake, near Moravia, and left with the trophy from the 7th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship.

Eaton, the #2 seed into match play following a qualifying score of 72 (E), defeated Michelle Klein (9&7) and Karli Kerrigan (19 holes) before dispatching Tenley Moretti in the finals, 3&2.

“I knew coming into this event there was such great competition,” Eaton said. “To win holes, you would have to make birdie. I felt good about all part of my game (coming into this week) and my putting has been as good as ever. I felt really conformable on this course, I never had to really scramble this week.”

Click here for a full recap of the event.

Iowa Golf Association Partners With Affinity Travel Benefits

Now Offering Massive Discounts On Hotel Lodging, Movies & More!

The Iowa Golf Association announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Affinity Travel Benefits, a leading edge, online travel aggregation platform providing exclusive discounts up to 70% off retail rates at hotels and resort properties.

Affinity has obtained heavily discounted rates that are not available to the public on travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, Trivago, and Orbitz so your next hotel booking is guaranteed to be the lowest rate on the internet. As a member of IGA you will now have access, in addition to hotel price savings, other discounts include different theme and water parks across the country, movie tickets, sports and concert tickets, and, of course, hotel deals, both national and international.

“We are delighted that the International Association Of Golf Administrators put together an over-arching agreement allowing each State Association a simple and quick path for bringing travel discounts to members and players. Members of golf associations travel for many reasons. Offering a guaranteed low-price hotel room adds immense value to a growing association and its membership benefit programs. Our philosophy is to promote our client’s brand, deliver exceptional service, and share revenue to make this partnership win-win”, says Stephen Boyd, President of Affinity.

ABOUT THE IOWA GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Iowa Golf Association is the governing body for golf in the state of Iowa and exists as a non-profit organization that works to preserve, protect and promote the best interests and spirit of the game. As “caretakers” of the game we work to preserve the rich history of golf in our state and to provide numerous services that benefit all that play the game in Iowa.

ABOUT AFFINITY TRAVEL BENEFITS
Affinity Travel Benefits operates a leading-edge, online travel and entertainment aggregation platform with travel opportunities available to over 700,000 hotels and vacation rental properties globally. Leveraging a vast and established network of hospitality properties, travel wholesalers, and bulk travel buyers, Affinity’s data center delivers real-time streaming of highly discounted, “unpublished” and exclusive rates on hotels and resort properties. Affinity is a one-stop shop for its partners and members and always operates under a Lowest Rate Guarantee Policy.

Follow the 81st Iowa Masters

One of Iowa’s oldest and most prestigious tournaments gets underway this weekend when Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames hosts the 81st Iowa Masters.  Gene Elliott will look to defend his title in the Open Division while Ron Peterson looks to win the Senior title for the second straight year.

Elliott’s 2017 title was his third overall in the Iowa Masters, all coming since 2009.  His 11-under par total of 205 was two shots clear of four-time champion Jon Brown.  Brown recently won the IGA Match Play for the third time in his career.  Both Elliott and Brown are members of the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame.

Peterson’s win in 2017 was a runaway.  He posted 5-under par 211 while his closest pursuers were 12 shots back.

The tournament kicks off with round 1 on Friday, July 6th and wraps up with the 3rd and final round on Sunday, July 8th.  There is a cut after 36 holes.

Follow all the action by clicking here.

Missouri wins 50th Girls’ 4-State Championship

ROUND 1

The 50th Junior Girls’ 4-State kicked off July 2, at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames.  The top five junior girls’ from the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska came together to play 36-holes of golf over a two-day period.  

The opening round brought beautiful weather and light wind, perfect for 18 holes.  Amber Wilson shot a 71, an even par and the lowest score of the day, to pave the way for Team Missouri. Danica Badura carried Team Nebraska with a 72. Abby Glyn shot a 74 to lead the way for Team Kansas along with Sarah Nacos for Team Iowa.

After the first day of team stroke play team Nebraska sits at the top of the leaderboard with +23 while team Kansas is only one stroke back, with +24.  Team Missouri is in third with +28 and Team Iowa has a +41.

ROUND 2

With a prompt tee off at 7:30 a.m., the second day of the Junior Girls’ 4-State tournament started early. 

Team Missouri and Team Kansas were neck and neck all day.  Ultimately Team Missouri pulled away for the win with a two-day score of 620, Team Kansas finished four strokes back with a 624.  Team Nebraska ended with a 630 and Team Iowa posted a 634.

Sarah Bell (Team Missouri) was the medalist of the tournament with a score of 144.  Bell’s round included an eagle and three birdies. Amber Wilson (Team Missouri) took second with a 148.

Brooke Boardman (Team Iowa) finished with a solid 149 to secure third place.  Sarah Nacos was not far behind with a 150. Paige Hoffman fired a 73 in the second round, 18 strokes better than her opening round score.

Team Missouri takes home the trophy for the first time since 2015.  The 2019 Girls 4-State Championship will be held next year in Nebraska.

Click here to see a recap of scoring

Snyder named to American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Golf Team

The 2017-18 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Golf Teams were selected based on performance, level of competition and strength of schedule. Junior golf success was a secondary consideration, and those who did not compete regularly for their high school were not considered. Players from states that play in the fall or spring were eligible for selection.

Britta Snyder (pictured above – photo by Kelsey Kremer, The Register), a First Team selection, played 15 matches for Gilbert High School this spring and won them all, including a runaway victory at the Iowa Class 3A state tournament where her 2-under-par 142 left her 13 shots clear of the field. The No. 50-ranked player in the country by the American Junior Golf Association, she also won the Iowa Women’s Amateur last summer by 13 strokes.

Youth is served on this year’s team with five sophomores, including repeat ALL-USA Golfer of the Year Rachel Heck from Tennessee, and two freshmen dotting the teams.

North Carolina is the only state with multiple members, including three-time selection Jenny Chang. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey and Washington also are represented on the team.

Click here to read more.

IGA Match Play, Women’s Match Play Championship begins

The 30th IGA Match Play and 7th IGA Women’s Match Play Championships is underway at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake. With a perfect blend of great golf and natural landscapes, the 7,000-yard course meanders through scenic prairie and oak savannas, and is Audubon-certified in recognition of its sustainable practices, The Preserve should provide competitors with an exceptional golfing experience during the championship.

A new champion will be crowned in both championships as the defending champion Tripp Kinney and Emily Snelling are not in the field this week.

Click here to follow the 30th IGA Match Play

Click here to follow the 7th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship

Doak, Peterson & Sergeant take home titles at Fort Dodge Amateur

Niel Doak (above left) and Ron Peterson (right in blue shirt) were sporting first-timer smiles after securing championships at the 70th Fort Dodge Amateur golf tournament here on Sunday.

And while Dave Sergeant may be an old hat at winning on his home Fort Dodge Country Club soil, the end of an eight-year drought in this event made the 73-year-old local attorney grin from ear-to-ear as well.

Doak earned the open division title by finishing at even-par 213, which was four strokes clear of defending champ Joe Urbanek and first-round leader Willis Gaer. Peterson prevailed in the senior standings by defeating Terry Cook and Dave Henry in a two-hole playoff, and Sergeant fought through iron trouble to come out on top in the super senior bracket.

Click here to read more from Eric Pratt of the Fort Dodge Messenger’s recap

Schwartzkopf prevails at Women’s Forever 39 Match Play

Due to severe storms hitting Mason City and producing over 1.5 inches of rain overnight the front nine was closed for day two of the 55th annual Women’s Forever 39 Match Play.  Luckily the back nine was playable and used for the last two rounds of the tournament.

After nine holes Waterloo’s Kelly Nelson (above left) was 3 up with only two holes to go against Nancy Olberding, good enough to advance her to the final match against Janece Schwartzkopf (Stuart).  Schwartzkopf (above right) took the lead early on and never looked back, winning 2 & 1.

The first flight championship match included Jennifer Corkrean of Ankeny versus Carroll Dethrow of Nevada, who was the 2012 Forever 39 Match Play champion.  Corkrean ultimately prevailed, winning 2 up through nine.

Nicki Clayton and Becky Schwiete battled it out in the second flight bracket.  Never losing a hole, Clayton ended up winning 2 & 1 to be named champion of the second flight.

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