2021 IGA Yearbook

IGA FOUR-BALL THE FALLS, LARCHWOOD MAY 21-22, 2021 El l iott /Brown Go Low In Final Round, Win Four-Bal l By Two I owa Golf Hall of Fame members Jon Brown and Gene Elliott teamed up at the 25th IGA Four-Ball Championship at The Falls in Larchwood. Brown and Elliott put together a solid 4-under first round of 68 to get within two shots of the lead going into the final day. The partners knew they had a challenge in front of them to claim the victory. After each player recorded five birdies, the two posted a 10-under 62 for their final round score. With Brown’s pair of birdies on the final two holes Brown and Elliott stayed 2 shots clear of the second-place team, Ethan Mechling and J.D. Anderson. Brown and Elliott commented that they continued to push and tried to get one more birdie on the card. “We each made five birdies and didn’t double-up,” Brown said. “We just kept plugging away and didn’t give up. I felt like we left a couple (shots) out there yesterday, but not today. Teaming up with Gene I had a tremendous amount of trust. I knew he would never be out of the hole and be there when I needed him.” The Falls gave the players a challenge with the strong winds, but a bogey did not appear on the scorecard during the two-day championship for Brown and Elliott. “In 36 holes we really didn’t scare making bogey,” Elliott said. “We had to make a few 4-5 foot putts, but we were never in trouble where we weren’t going to make par and gave ourselves a lot of chances. I hit first on every hole and tried to get it into play. With Jon being so long, I wanted him to be able to feel free to go after it. Now we have to go defend next year unless he dumps me.” Brown jokingly said he thinks he will keep Elliott on the team for next year. Elliott now holds six IGA Four-Ball titles and Brown claimed his second victory in the event. The two forces had never teamed up in the past. Terry Cook and Joe Palmer won their third title together in the Senior Division, and fourth overall with the win in the Open Division in 2004. Even with a first round score (L to R) Gene Elliott and Jon Brown, Open Division Champs