2019 Yearbook.indd

56 | IOWA CUP MATCHES T he Iowa PGA retained the Iowa Cup for the fourth straight year after the matches ended in a tie. Following multiple delays, officials finally called play on the final day - the singles matches - when the course became unplayable due to rain. The matches conducted at Davenport's Crow Valley Golf Club, on September 26-27, 2019. They are played annually by teams selected by the Iowa Golf Association and the Iowa Section PGA. The one day of play that was conducted was exciting throughout. Both teams accumulated 5 points during the morning's four-ball matches. The IGA's teams of Ethan Mechling & JasonThornbrugh, Nate McCoy & Dusty Drenth, Jordan Even & Matt Weeks, and Ben Epperly & Sterling Mcllravy claimed victories. In the afternoon foursome matches, both teams won four matches and halved two in order to claim 5 additional points. The IGA's duos of Andrew Huseman & Epperly, Drenth & Thornrugh, Jon Olson & Even, Jon Brown & Sam Zoske, and Bret Taylor & Terry Cook won their afternoon matches. For the first time, the IGA and Iowa PGA elected to jointly honor a single individual. That overall honoree was Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Member Lonnie Nielsen (Class of 2010), a tremendous amateur and professional golfer originally from Belle Plaine. The traditional Honorary Captains of each teamwere Bill Eby (IGA) and Mark Lemon (Iowa PGA). Eby is the current President of the IGA and has worked as a volunteer course rater for nearly a decade. He formerly chaired the IGA's Handicap Committee and was awarded the Sean Flanders IGA Volunteer of the Year award in 2014. Lemon has been a member of the PGA for over 36 years. He was the longtime PGA professional and owner of Airport National Golf Course in Cedar Rapids and is a veteran Iowa Cup Matches participant. Mark has served on various Iowa PGA committees throughout the years. He has also served on the IGA's Herman Sani Scholarship selection committee for numerous years. Another change that took place in 2019 was a move back to fall dates for the first time since at least 2000. In addition to increased ability to secure host sites, the weather was cited as a benefit to playing in the fall. However, that did not work out as planned in year one. The event will continue with fall dates in 2020 as the Iowa PGA takes its turn in hosting. CROW VALLEY GOLF CLUB, DAVENPORT SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2019 Iowa PGA retains the Cup