2024 IGA Yearbook

48 A fter a long, intense week, Clive's Blake Cronin was the one left standing when the dust had settled at the 36th IGAMatch Play Championship hosted by Talons Golf in Ankeny. Cronin, the #55 seed into match play following a 75 (+3), which left him one shot clear of a playoff for the remaining spots in the bracket, worked his way through Cody Weaver (2&1), Alec Fuhs (4&2) Jon Olson (19 holes) and Owen Sawyer (1 up) to reach the final against Des Moines’ Ethan Mechling, who earned the #36 seed. Mechling’s path to the finals included victories over Hogan Hansen (1 up), Wade Pettitt (3&2), Sam Vertanen (6&4), Grant Smith (5&3), and Trent Lindenman (1 up). The final match between the two saw a back-and- forth tilt, with either Cronin or Mechling winning 9 of the first 12 holes. But that was the end of anyone gaining ground, as the last six holes of the match were tied. With wins on holes 10-11, Cronin grabbed a 2 up lead midway through the match. While Mechling would win the 12th hole with a par putting him 1 down, thats as close as he’d get as birdie efforts failed to find the bottom of the cup. Both players would make pars the rest of the way, leaving Cronin with a 1 up victory after 18 holes. “I tried to stay in it the whole time and not worry about making the big number,” Cronin said. “I tried to make as many birdies out there as possible. With match play, I try not to worry too much, I just imagine I am on the range and hit the best shot possible.” Cronin, who admitted the putter had been bulky for him lately, found a little magic on the greens during the week, and that was the difference. “My putting hasn’t been the greatest, but I have been working on it,” Cronin said. “It was nice to see that come through this week. This means a lot for sure (to win this event).” Talons Golf was a venue Cronin, now the youngest winner (16 years old) in the event’s history, thought he might have some success at after a look at it prior to the stroke play portion of the championship. “I played a practice round and played pretty well, which gave me some confidence coming in," he said. "Ethan would never give up (in our match). He made some nice putts and I tried to keep fighting back and do my best.” Cronin the Soul Sur vivor IGA MATCH PLAY Talons Golf, Ankeny June 25-28, 2024 Blake Cronin is the youngest player to win the Match Play and the smile says it all!