Semifinals set at IGA Match Play Championships
All comes down to two matches.
Talons Golf in Ankeny, home of the 36th IGA Match Play started with 130 players. After the cut 64 players into match play were left, now just four players remain. Among the players left, two of them are some of the highest seeded players.
After shooting 71 (-1) in qualifying, Trent Lindenman from New Sharon was seeded 17th. In the first wave of matches Lindenman took down Colby Creger 6&4 along with breezing past Tanner Wachtl 8&6. During yesterday’s matches Lindenman defeated defending champion Zach May 2&1 along with Cale Leonard 1 up. In the semifinals he will face Ethan Mechling.
Des Moines’ Mechling is one of the two highest seeded players still left as well. After shooting 74 (+2) during qualifying and being seeded 36th, Mechling has not looked back. In the first two matches Mechling took down Hogan Hansen 1 up and Wade Pettitt 3&1. During yesterday’s matches Mechling still showed no signs of slowing down blowing past Sam Vertanen 6&4 and Grant Smith 5&3.
Clive’s Blake Cronin, was seeded 55th after the qualifying carding 75 (+3). Along the way Cronin took down Cody Weaver 2&1 and Alec Fuhs 4&2 in the first two matches. During yesterday’s matches Jon Olson put up a fight but Cronin ultimately won in 19 holes. Cronin later took down Ben Pettitt 2 up to advance to the semifinals where he will face Owen Sawyer.
Seeded 11th after shooting 71 (-1) Cedar Falls resident Owen Sawyer has played steady and is ready for the semifinals. Along the way Sawyer defeated Josh Janeczko 3&2 along with Jack Winkel 1 up. Yesterday’s matches Sawyer still kept his foot on the gas taking down Jackson Overton 8&7 and Preston Billy 1 up.
In the 13th IGA Women’s Match Play the field started with 25 players and now four remain. Among the four players is past champion Anna Jensen (’22) who is looking for her second IGA Match Play title.
Stroke play medalist and top seed Amber Henson from Marshalltown carded a 71 (-1) in qualifying and has not looked back since. Along the way Henson has gotten a bye, taking down Chase Donald 7&5 along with Leanne Smith 5&4. Henson will face Annkia Powell in the semifinals.
Annkia Powell from Alta shot an 84 (+11) and is seeded 12th is still fighting her way to a spot in the finals. Powell has defeated Laura Leszczynski 6&5, Yoo min Archer 2&1, and Maura Peters in an exciting 20 holes.
Anna Jensen from Dubuqe was seeded 2nd after carding a 73 (+1) in qualifying. Jensen Match Play Champion in 2022 is quite familiar with the semifinals. Jensen has gotten a bye, defeated Lindsay Burry 5&4, along with Addison Berg 2&1. Jensen will face Fiona Watson in the semifinals.
Des Moines’ Fiona Watson is competing for her first IGA Match Play crown. Watson is the #6 seed after carding a 78 (+5). Along the way Watson has topped Tatum Depudyt along with Erika Holmberg 3&2.
Following the Semifinal matches the finals will be played and a champion both on the Mens’ along with the Womens’ side will be crowned.