Finkbine Golf Course, located in Iowa City, is the host of the 122nd Iowa Amateur and the opening round of play was one for the book…and low scores

J.D. Anderson (above), of Johnston, fired a very impressive 66 (-6) and leads the field. Anderson credited his round to hitting fairways and making putts. 

“I drove the ball really well today and hit fairways, which helped me hit greens,” Anderson said.

Anderson had a bogey free round today and tallied up six birdies.

“I made a couple of 10-15 footers for birdie,” Anderson said. “You have to know where the right spot is to hit the ball on the greens. A 30 footer on the right spot is better than a 10 footer on the wrong spot.”

All carding 67s (-5) is a fierce group of four guys all wanting a piece of the lead. Among the four guys is LeClaire’s own Jack Dumas, West Des Moines’ Tanner Dinnebier, Clive resident Jake Weissenburger, and Bennett Berger from Lake Mills.

Jake Weissenburger has had a summer to remember already. The recent winner of the Des Moines Men’s City tournament contested at Waveland Golf Course, Weissenburger credited today’s round to his putter.

“I putted really well today, made a lot of putts and just kept giving myself looks,” Weissenburger said.

Weissenburger racked up a total of eight birdies on the day, five of which were on the back nine. Headed into tomorrow’s round Weissenburger wants to continue the same game he played today.

“I am going to try not to change anything with the putter and avoid the spots I put myself into that led to bogeys,” Weissenburger also added.

Lake Mills very own Bennett Berger kept his cool which led to five birdies and an eagle on the card today.

“I had some pretty poor shots in there, but I just kept my cool and got it back into position which led to getting it up and down on a couple,” Berger said.

Berger started on the back nine, but capitalized on a couple bad shots on the front nine which led to great things.

“I hit a bad chip on number two and made about an 18-footer for birdie up the hill,” he said. “I felt like that was the putt that kept the round going.”

Round two will continue Monday morning, with tee times starting at 7:30 off holes #1 and #10.

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