The 37th Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship, hosted by Spencer Golf and Country Club, concluded on Saturday, May 21. After a weekend filled with tough conditions, Nate McCoy (above) etched his name on the trophy that was named after his father, Mike McCoy.

“It is very special to win this tournament that has a trophy named after my dad, who has won the Iowa Mid-Amateur multiple times,” McCoy said. “There is a lot of great names on that trophy that I am happy to have my name next to.”

Winds were gusting, temperatures were low and rain was falling. The task ahead of McCoy was not easy, but mother nature would not deter him from his first Iowa-Mid Amateur Championship.

“Like many other Iowa golfers, I would say I felt comfortable in the cold and windy conditions that were thrown at us this week,” McCoy said.

As the final round came closer to finishing, there were several players still in contention. J.D. Anderson, of Johnston, and the first-round leader, David Combs of West Des Moines, were neck-and-neck with McCoy.

“When I looked at the leaderboard after the 14th hole, I saw that I only had a one-shot lead going into final stretch of holes,” McCoy said “The wind started picking up which made the final three holes very difficult.”

Anderson was in the clubhouse at one-under and one shot back from McCoy. With the final two holes left to play, McCoy needed two pars to seal the championship.

“I was fortunate enough to make a great up-and-down on 17 from short right,” McCoy said. “I thought I heard some cheers and a honk around 18, which I assumed somebody birdied to tie it up. I had to take a breath knowing that I had two very important shots left in me that I needed to pull off.”

That he did, McCoy finished off the championship with a two-putt for par on the final hole. McCoy picked his ball up out of the hole and officially joined his father as an Iowa Mid-Amateur champion.

All McCoy could do after his victory was give credit to everyone that made it possible.

“This was my first time playing Spencer Golf and Country Club,” McCoy said. “I have nothing but good things to say about the golf course and everything that the staff did to make our experience here enjoyable.”

Anderson finished as the runner-up after posting a solid two-under total in the final round. Back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 pushed Anderson back into contention.

The Kramer boys still remain as some of the toughest kids on the block. Little brother, J.P. Kramer concluded his week with a third-place finish in the Mid-Amateur Division, but like most big brothers, they always have to one-up the little brothers.

With a two-shot victory in the Senior Division, big brother Chris Kramer used the home course knowledge to his advantage this weekend.

“We both grew up right on the 16th green, so we have played this course thousands of times,” Chris Kramer said. “We were very blessed to have lived up here, our dad just passed away a few months ago, so it was pretty special to see us both in contention.”

“Old Man Par is a patient soul, who never shoots a birdie and never incurs a buzzard,” stated the late Bobby Jones. That was all Bill Mathers, of Correctionville needed to get it done in the Super Senior Division this weekend.

“I had maybe four bogeys and four birdies this week along with a few up-and-downs,” Mathers said. “I was chipping and putting well and making those par putts, which really helps keep the round going. I did my best to keep the ball in play and tried to hit the greens and make putts.”

Since the beginning of the event, Mathers never let off the gas. Steve Kahler, of Marion, and defending champion, Rob Christensen, gave valiant efforts, but ultimately fell short of Mathers.

Kahler placed second after tying Mathers in the final round, but finished three shots behind after a 75 in the first round set him too far back. Christensen, of Marshalltown, jumped up two spots during the last round to finish in third place.

The IGA Senior Match Play is the next event on the 2022 schedule. The championship will take place on June 1-3 at Fort Dodge Country Club.

Mid-Amateur Division
1. Nate McCoy 72-70=142
2. J.D. Anderson 73-70=143
3. J.P. Kramer 72-72=144
T4. Jon Olson 72-73=145
T4. David Combs 70-75=145

Senior Division
1. Chris Kramer 71-69=140
2. Jeff Collett 72-70=142
T3. Eric Losen 72-72-144
T3. Sean Davis 72-72=144
5. Bob Brummel 70-75=145

Super Senior Division
1. Bill Mathers 72-72=144
2. Steve Kahler 75-72=147
3. Rob Christensen 76-73=149
T4. Harold Hickman 75-76=151
T4. James Blackburn 74-77=151