2020 IGA Yearbook

IOWA WOMEN’S AMATEUR J oy Chou, of Ames, rose to the occasion to claim the 96th IowaWomen’s Amateur title. Following a close runner-up finish at last year’s Iowa Women’s Amateur, Chou was in another close battle this year with her sister and Iowa State University teammate, YiTing (Ruby) Chou. Chou entered the final round with a one-stroke advantage at 7-over par, and carded an even-par 70 in her final round to finish with a 54-hole total of 217 (+7). Chou’s younger sister Ruby put herself in contension following a 32 (-3) on the front nine at Elmwood Country Club. Heading into the final hole, Ruby held a one-stroke lead after draining a long birdie putt on the seventeenth. “I wasn’t really paying attention to the scoreboard,” Joy Chou said. “I didn’t want to think too much. I knew Ruby, my sister, was playing well today.” Ruby’s tee shot missed the fairway on the eighteenth, and she was forced to navigate around a tree in an effort tomake par. Joy’s drive nearly reached the green and left her with a short chip, which she executed to tap-in distance. When Ruby’s par attempt came up shy of the hole, Joy cashed in on her birdie putt to earn the victory. Ruby’s stellar final round of 68 (-2) was the low round of the tournament and secured her runner-up finish with a three-day tally of 218 (+8). ELMWOOD COUNTRY CLUB, MARSHALLTOWN JULY 6-8, 2020 Chou rises to the occasion, wins 96th Iowa Women’s Amateur In the scorching summer heat Joy Chou proved she had ice in her veins after birdieing the final hole of the championship to win by a single stroke.