2019 Yearbook.indd

44 | HERMAN SANI TOURNAMENT A mes’ Ricky Costello knew after he was two- over through eight in the final round of the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises at Echo Valley Country Club he had nothing to lose. Costello birdied 9 and carded three more birdies on the way in, posting a (-3) 33 on his back nine to claw his way to 5-under-par and into a playoff. The playoff included Charles Jahn (Sperry), Frank Lindwall (Cedar Rapids) and Lachlan Barker (Ames), who all finished at 211 (-5) for the tournament. Costello, Lindwall and Barker are all teammates on the Iowa State men’s golf team. Costello, who led the field after the opening round with 68 (-4), admitted he wanted to play more aggressively in the final round. His aggressiveness paid dividends, after all four players made par on the first playoff hole (#18), he pulled driver and launched it to within 10 yards of the green (#10) and cozied his ball right up to the hole with his chip. His tap-in birdie was good enough to win and take home the title after his competitors were unable to convert their birdie putts. “The first day I had a conservative approach to the course,” Costello said. “I made a lot of putts that day. Coming into today I told myself I am coming here to win. I wanted to play more aggressive than I had the first couple of days and I did. I tried to put confident swings on the ball. I figured I didn’t have much to lose (by hitting driver on #10 in the playoff).” Costello closed out his final regulation round in great form, rolling in a 25-footer for birdie on 18 to give himself a chance. “I was able to make a couple birdies down the stretch to get it to -5,” Costello said. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough. I had a rough start (today) and was two-over par after seven holes. I was able to birdie #9 and I thought let’s see what we can do those last nine holes. I couldn’t have asked for anything more than that.” In the Senior Division, Gene Elliott (West Des Moines) was the player to beat and put together rounds of 69-67-72 (-8) ECHO VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB, NORWALK AUGUST 9-11, 2019 Costel lo wins in dramat ic fashion Ricky Costello (Ames) reads a putt during the first playoff-hole