In a thrilling battle to the finish, Jon Brown of Adel successfully defended his IGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year title. Brown is no stranger to the Iowa golf scene, as this is his fourth career Player of the Year honor. With three victories and a pair of USGA and R&A Championship appearances this season, Brown proved that he is yet again a force to be reckoned with.

Brown’s outstanding play began in May at the Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship contested at Whispering Creek GC, Sioux City where he notched a top-five finish in his season debut. This strong showing would set the tone for his runner-up finish at the Iowa Senior Amateur held at Coldwater GC, Ames the following month.

From there, Brown kept the momentum going throughout June and July where he collected crucial points as a quarterfinalist in the IGA Match Play Championship at Talons of Tuscany GC, Ankeny and as a top-20 finisher in the Iowa Amateur Championship at Des Moines Golf & CC, West Des Moines, proving that he could still keep up with the younger fields.

In July, Brown took his talents overseas to the R&A Senior Amateur Championship contested at Walton Heath Golf Club in Tadworth, Surrey, England shooting rounds of 73-73-73 (+6) to make the cut. Brown’s travel didn’t just stop there, as he continued his impressive play in the U.S. Senior Amateur held at Oak Hills Country Club, San Antonio, Texas where he made it to the Round of 32 before falling just short to Juan Angel of Columbia in a battle of 22 holes.

With few events remaining in the 2025 season, Brown knew he needed to make a charge if he wanted to defend his Senior Player of the Year title–and he did just that. Brown went on a heater during August where he earned clutch points as a quarterfinalist in the IGA Senior Match Play Championship held at Veenker Memorial GC, Ames and notched a top-three finish at the Northwest Amateur at Spencer Golf & CC, Spencer. It was at the Herman Sani Tournament where Brown finally struck gold, adding a Senior division victory to his already highly-decorated summer.

In September, Brown sealed the deal after earning two more victories at both the Briarwood Amateur played at Briarwood GC, Ankeny and the IGA Senior Four-Ball Championship held at Burlington GC, Burlington,  with his partner, Gene Elliott, showcasing his ability to perform when the stakes are high.

Brown’s IGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year title is a testament to his competitive spirit and gritty mentality.

In a breakthrough season, Humboldt’s Tony Malizia claimed his first IGA Super Senior Men’s Player of the Year title. With four victories, four runner-up finishes, and a pair of top-five finishes, Malizia proved his dominance across the 2025 season.

Malizia’s strong play began in May at the Lake Creek Amateur at BVU GC at Lake Creek, Storm Lake where scored rounds of 70-71 (-3) to claim his first victory of the year. He followed up this performance with a runner-up finish at the Iowa Senior Amateur Championship at Coldwater GC, Ames only a few weeks later, shooting rounds of 72-76-75 (+10).

Throughout June and July, Malizia was on a roll. He collected two more runner-up finishes at the Carroll Amateur and the Fort Dodge Amateur. These strong finishes then gave him momentum heading into the 88th Iowa Masters where he found himself back in the winner’s circle after shooting rounds of 75-72-76 (+7).

Malizia’s phenomenal play didn’t just stop there. In August, he added two more wins to his highly-decorated summer resume, the first being at the Northwest Amateur where he shot rounds of 75-68 (-1) and the second at the IGA Senior Match Play Championships at Veenker Memorial GC, Ames where he defeated Pat Ryan 6&5 in a thrilling duel. Along the way he collected another runner-up finish at the Herman Sani Tournament at Hyperion GC after shooting rounds of 77-76-72 (+9).

With only a few events remaining in the 2025 season, Malizia needed to post a strong finish if he wanted to claim his first Player of the Year title–and he did just that. In September, he closed with two top-three finishes at the Briarwood Amateur and the IGA Senior Four-Ball Championship to ultimately get the job done.

Malizia’s Super Senior Men’s Player of the Year title is the perfect accolade for his outstanding season of play.

After finishing runner-up in last year’s standings, Grant Smith of West Des Moines finally broke through to claim the 2025 IGA Men’s Player of the Year title. Smith collected two victories, four top-five finishes, and a USGA Championship appearance en route to his Player of the Year honor.

Smith’s phenomenal season began in May, where he collected a pair of top-five finishes at the IGA Four-Ball Championship with partner Willis Gaer at Finkbine GC in Iowa City, and at the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Whispering Creek GC in Sioux City. He also turned in a strong showing at the Southeast Iowa Amateur at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake in Moravia, carding rounds of 72–70 (-2) to secure a top-ten finish.

Throughout June, Smith stayed consistent, posting a top-five finish at the Carroll Amateur at Carroll National GC posting rounds of 65-75-69 (-1) and advancing to the Round of 64 at the IGA Match Play Championship at Talons of Tuscany GC in Ankeny.

In July, Smith continued his steady play with a top-10 finish at the Iowa Amateur Championship at Des Moines Golf & CC in West Des Moines posting rounds of 71-71-73 (E) and earned second-alternate status for the U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying at Glen Oaks GC, also in West Des Moines.

Having just fallen short of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship, Smith sought redemption at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Local Qualifying at Minnehaha CC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in August. He dominated the field, earning medalist honors and securing his spot in the national event with a seven-under total, highlighted by a remarkable 29 (-6) on the front nine. Once he arrived at Troon CC in Scottsdale, AZ in late September, he delivered a remarkable performance, advancing to the Round of 32 before narrowly falling to Justin Hueber of Fort Wayne, IN, in a 20-hole battle.

Along the way, Smith picked up two clutch victories at The Classic at Elmwood CC, Marshalltown earning 83 Stableford points and at the Briarwood Amateur at Briarwood GC, Ankeny shooting rounds of 68-69 (-7). These wins would ultimately secure Smith’s Player of the Year berth.

Through unwavering determination and grit, Smith proved himself a true champion this season, a title underscored by his IGA Men’s Player of the Year honor.

In her Iowa golf debut, Pimkwan Chookaew of Ames claimed the IGA Women’s Player of the Year title in dominating fashion. From outstanding collegiate play to a remarkable showing at the state amateur, the Iowa State Cyclone made a name for herself this season.

Chookaew’s incredible performance began in May with a postseason run at the Big 12 Conference Championship where she notched an individual top-five finish and helped her team secure a spot in the NCAA Lubbock Regional. From there, she finished inside the top-ten and led her team to a national championship berth.

After wrapping up her college season, Chookaew set her eyes on the Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship contested at Wakonda Club, Des Moines in early August. She fired rounds of 69-70-71 (-6) to claim the victory after edging her teammate Keeley Marx in a playoff. Chookaew’s victory marked the third time in the last five years that a Cyclone has hoisted the coveted Fladoos Trophy.

With her senior season already in full swing, Chookaew has continued to display incredible play at the highest level. She opened the fall by winning an individual title at the Wolverine Invitational with scores of 69-67-72 (-5) and secured two top-five finishes at the Schooner Fall Classic and the Windy City Collegiate Classic. She is currently ranked 20th in the nation.

Chookaew’s IGA Women’s Player of the Year victory is a well-earned accolade for her decorated year of golf.

In her first year eligible, Julie Buerman took the senior women’s division by storm and claimed IGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year honors. With two victories, two runner-up finishes, and one top-five finish, Buerman proved that she’s a competitor.

Buerman’s outstanding season began in May at the IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series Event #1 contested at Irv Warren GC, Waterloo. She earned 45 points in the stableford format which was good for fifth place. Her top-five finish was only a preview of what was to come in the following months.

Throughout June and July, Buerman went on a tear. She began by claiming runner-up honors at the IGA Women’s Forever 39 Match Play Championship contested at Grinnell College GC, Grinnell. She then kept the momentum going at the IGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship held at Rice Lake GC, Lake Mills where she emerged victorious, shooting rounds of 73-74 (+5) to win by a landslide.

If these performances weren’t incredible enough, Buerman added a runner-up finish in the Open Division at the Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, and capped off the season with another victory at the IGA Women’s Club Team Championship at Bos Landen GC in Pella.

Buerman made her presence known throughout the Iowa senior women’s golf scene, and her IGA Player of the Year title proved just that.