2018 Yearbook

54 Iowa Senior Amateur Des Moines Golf & CC, W. Des Moines August 20-22 Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines, won his third Iowa Senior Amateur title in dramatic fashion. Palmer entered the final hole of regulation at Des Moines Golf & Country Club with a one stroke lead over Jon Brown of Adel. After both had hit their approaches to the 18th green on the South course, it was looking increasingly likely that there would be a playoff. Palmer had hit a so-so approach to about 30 feet while Brown had stuck his to within 15. And, even better for Brown, he was on an identical line as Palmer, meaning he would know exactly what his putt was going to do. But Palmer didn’t even give him an opportunity, as he stepped up and ended things by rolling in his long putt for birdie and the win. That rendered Brown’s putt essentially meaningless and his resulting two-putt par left him two shots behind the champion. “The bomb on #18 was awesome,” Palmer said. “It looked good about 10 feet out.” Palmer joined John Jacobs, John Peters, and Gene Elliott as the only three-time winners of the Iowa Senior Amateur. No one has won four. Palmer’s other victories came in 2013 and 2015. Heading into the final round, Palmer and Brown were tied for third, two shots behind Des Moines Golf mem- bers Chris Kramer and Matt Weresh. Kramer and Weresh came into the final round at 1-under par 143, but Palmer and Brown took control during the opening nine of the final round after both shot a 3-under par 33. And halfway through the back nine it looked like it was Brown who would come out on top. Palmer suffered a bogey on the 13th hole while Brown made birdie, seizing a two-shot lead. But Palmer would come back, making a clutch deuce on the par-3 15th then making a birdie to Brown’s bogey on the par-5 16th. That gave him the one shot lead he enjoyed heading into the final hole. His subsequent birdie on 18 meant that he made birdie on three of the final four holes for the win. Palmer would have to leave early the next morning to get to Oregon where he had qualified to play in the USGA Senior Amateur at Eugene Country Club. And while playing in the Iowa Senior Amateur meant one less day of practice rounds in the Pacific Northwest, he could not have been more excited about his decision to compete. “I don’t want to ever miss this event if I can,” Palmer said. “I wanted to commit to our senior major (event) and that was as good a warm up as any. I still have time to get to Oregon.” In the Super-Senior Division (65+), David Sergeant of Fort Dodge came out victorious. Sergeant, who was 73 at the time of the championship, bettered his age in the second (72) and final rounds (71) to earn a two shot win over Jim Butler of Fort Madison. Sergeant posted a three round total of 2-over par 218. Butler made a hard push over the final nine holes, shooting a 3-under 33 to get close to Sergeant, who admitted that he wasn’t exactly sure where he stood down the stretch. “I thought Jim was leading with all the birdies he was making,” Sergeant said. “I am really happy to win.” Palmer’s putt on final hole seals win