2019 Yearbook.indd

28 | Jon Olson (Ankeny) capped off a great weekend with a victory at the 2019 IGA Match Play Championship IGA MATCH PLAY TOURNAMENT CLUB OF IOWA, POLK CITY JUNE 24-27, 2019 Olson wins 31st IGA Match Play, joins el ite company C oming into the 31st IGA Match Play Championship at Tournament Club of Iowa, Jon Olson didn't have any expectations. After a solid qualifying round and six match victories later, Olson found himself hoisting the trophy after a 1 up victory over Tyler Smith. Olson, who also won this event in 2011, joins Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member Jon Brown as the only other player to win the event more than once. “I found something this week,” Olson said. “I had no expectations. This week was good.” Olson reached the final match after defeating Ben Epperly (3 & 2) earlier on the final day. Olson closed that match by putting together a stout back nine en route to victory. Olson was impressed with Smith’s game during the wire to wire finale. Smith defeated upstart Dylan Ellis (6 & 5) in the semifinal round to reach the final match. “Tyler is a really good player,” Olson said. “I played about as good as I could the last nine holes (in the morning match against Epperly). It’s an exclusive club with Jon Brown, so this means a lot to me.” To say the final match was back and forth would be an understatement.