Schulte / Dunn catch fire on back nine, win 24th IGA Four-Ball Championship
After going out in 37 (+1) in the final round of the 24th IGA Four-Ball Championship at Pella’s Bos Landen, Justin Schulte and Nate Dunn (pictured above) knew they needed to get going if they wanted any chance at the trophy.
Get going they did – In the tune of a back nine of 29 (-7) to win the championship by a shot over the hard-charging side of Jamie Faidley / Patrick Breitbach, who shot a nifty 65 (-7) of their own on Saturday. Schulte / Dunn made birdies on #10-14 and #16-17.
“We finally started getting looks (on the back nine),” Dunn said. “We had a couple on the front we didn’t make. Justin made a nice 15-footer on #12. We just started hitting them close.”
Schulte commented the putt on #16 that put them back into the lead was a good one as well. Schulte / Dunn would finish the two-day event at a 133 (-11).
“I made about a 40-footer there,” Schulte said. “We didn’t know (at the time) where we were (in relation to the lead).
A trio of teams would finish three shots back at 136 (-8).
In the Senior Division, Gene Elliott / Todd Rose (above) put together a round of 65 (-7) on Saturday to win by four shots over the side of Terry Cook / Joe Palmer and Jay Slings / Andy Burton. Elliott / Rose posted rounds of 66-65 – 131 (-11) in victory.
“That’s all we needed,” Elliott said after Rose made his par putt on their last hole.
By way of a playoff that ultimately lasted three holes, the side of Jim Butler / Rob Christensen (above) outlasted Dave Sergeant / John Peters and Jim Campbell / Richard Gorbell. All three teams finished at 141 (-3) for the championship. Christensen’s par on the third playoff hole proved to be the difference. Campbell / Gorbell were eliminated after the first playoff hole when they failed to make par.