2022 Yearbook

6 FROM THE PRESIDENT H ello fellow Iowa golfers! I remember reflecting on all the accomplishments in our state in 2021 and thinking, “How can we ever top this?”. We had record levels of play throughout the state, and the accomplishments of our top players seemed impossible to ever match. Then 2022 started to play out, and I was reminded of the depth and talent in Iowa. Let’s start with likely the biggest honors ever bestowed on any golfers in our state. Earlier this year, Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Zach Johnson was named Ryder Cup Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup Matches in Rome, Italy. Around two weeks later, Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Mike McCoy was named Captain for the 2023 USA Walker Cup team which will play at The Old Course in St Andrews in September. There may have been another year where two players from the same state captained these two teams, but I sure can’t think of one. Zach and Mike – congratulations on your selections and we’re all excited to cheer you and your teams on this fall! On the competitive front, our men’s 2022 Player of the Year once again was Nate McCoy. Most of you know Nate is the IGA’s Director of Handicapping and Course Rating. I think most of you who’ve met Nate would also agree that he is one of the most genuinely nice guys you’ll ever encounter. What some of you may not realize is that Nate set a pace this year that may never be matched in our state. Coming into the spring as the defending IGA Player of the Year, all Nate did was go out and win the Iowa Amateur, the IGA Match Play, the Iowa Mid-Amateur, the Iowa Masters, and The Classic at Marshalltown. Let’s try to put that into perspective. While we don’t officially have a “Grand Slam” here in the state, one could argue that if we did, it would likely be comprised of the State Am, the State Match Play, the Mid-Am, and the Iowa Masters. Nate won all four this past summer. By contrast, there are only three other players in the history of the state who have won all four of those tournaments throughout their entire careers. In addition to his five victories this season, Nate finished in the top four in the other four events he entered. What a season! Another McCoy took home the Senior POY trophy this year for the third time in his decorated career to go along with the 11 Player of the Year trophies he’s already won. Mike McCoy made our state proud by heading across the pond and bringing home the R&A Senior Amateur Championship in early July. STEVE JERMIER, IGA PRESIDENT Nate McCoy