2021 IGA Yearbook

IGA MATCH PLAY TALONS GOLF, ANKENY JUNE 29-JULY 2, 2021 J oe Palmer made history at the 33rd IGA Match Play at Talons Golf in Ankeny, Iowa. Palmer became the first player in IGA history to win an IGA Senior Match Play Championship and an IGA Match Play Championship in the same year. As a 58-year-old, Palmer also became the oldest IGA Match Play winner and the third player in IGA history to win the IGA Match Play more than once (Palmer won back in 2002). "It is a great feeling to win both IGA events; this was a terrific field and I got through some pretty good matches," Palmer said. "I played great and drove the ball terrific and that sets up your game and I took it from there." At the start of the event, Palmer came out of the stroke play portion as the No. 30 seed. Palmer, who was on the side of the bracket named after the late Jim Hasley (an Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member that passed away earlier this year) was faced with an uphill battle right away as he played against the No. 35 seed Henry Weresh. His next opponent was not an easy test either, facing off against the No. 3 seed and two-time IGA Match Play winner, Jon Olson in the round of 32. "Match play is different," said Palmer. "You have to play your competitor instead of the golf course at times and I knew this course was going to yield some birdies, so I tried to score when I could and I took it one match at a time. If you don't make bogeys, which has always been a strong point in my game, you start getting up in matches." Palmers next two opponents were the No. 14 seed, and 2020 Iowa Amateur champion, Dennis Bull and a two- time player of the year in J.D. Anderson. The key to Palmer's success was to limit the mistakes, and that is exactly what he did the entirety of the tournament. In the semifinals, Palmer had a grinding match against the red-hot Kelly Brown. The No. 39 seed caught fire and was winning his matches by margins of three, four and six holes. Brown took Palmer to the 21st hole, where Palmer was able to gain the edge off the tee box and ultimately won the hole by concession after Brown was unable to find his tee shot and provisional ball deep in the rough. Palmer Makes Histor y With Win At 33rd IGA Match Play Joe Palmer of Norwalk