McCoy surges to the lead at 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur
Our second-round leader at the 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship is Iowa Golf Hall of Famer, Mike McCoy (above) of Norwalk. The conditions were tough for everyone, but the players seemed to be on point. In today’s windy round, McCoy put together a low round of 67, and managed to make five birdies. Out of 36 holes, McCoy has only recorded one bogey.
After a slow start to yesterday’s round, McCoy been seven-under in his last 28 holes at The Preserve on Lake Rathbun. McCoy, who leads the IGA in total career wins (35) has never held the Senior Amateur trophy. Tomorrow could be the day he takes the trophy home with him.
Iowa Golf Hall of Famer, Jon Brown of Adel, is tied for second place alongside Indianola’s, Tim McKnight. Both McCoy and Brown fired rounds of 67 today and Brown is only two shots back. Neither Brown nor McCoy have won this event and doing so would just add to their already impressive resumes.
McKnight was tied for the lead after yesterday’s round, but three bogeys in the middle of today’s round slowed him up. A confidence booster of back-to-back birdies at the end of his round today should fire him up going into tomorrow’s round.
A man who has won this championship five times sits alone in fourth place. Gene Elliott, of Norwalk, was tied with McKnight for the lead after today’s round, but the wind played a factor for both players. Elliott had a rough patch in the beginning of his round, but a two-under back nine helped get his round back to even figures. Elliott knows what it takes to win this event, even if he is down three shots.
In the Super Senior Division, the leaderboard is shuffled, and Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen currently leads at one-under through 36 holes. Christensen was able to find success in today’s round, recording three birdies and an eagle on the final hole of the day. A round of 68 pushed Christensen into first place with a two-shot lead heading into the final round tomorrow.
Not far off the lead is Joe Ward, of Polk City, and Robert Pomerantz, of Des Moines. Ward and Pomerantz are tied for second place at one-over-par and are two shots back. Ward posted a 73 in today’s round and had two bogeys on his final holes. Pomerantz recorded four birdies today, but three bogeys set him back to one-under on the day.
In fourth place is Pete Kelly, of Marshalltown, who shot a 75 today. Kelly’s first round 71 put him in second place, but a 39 on the back nine today pushing him back. Not out of the race by any means, Kelly will still have some work to do to pick up three shots on Christensen.
Tied for fifth place is our overnight leader, Jim Butler and the current leader in Super Senior Player of the Year, Pat Ryan. Butler fired a 69 in the first round but made too many early mistakes today and carded a 78. Ryan started quick with two straight birdies, but those would be his final birdies of his round today. Both players. Are four shots back and will have to come out strong in the final round tomorrow.
You can follow the Seniors and the Super Seniors as they push for the 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship title. Click this link to view the live leaderboard!
Senior Division
1. Mike McCoy 70-67-137
T2. Jon Brown 72-67-139
T2. Tim McKnight 68-71-139
4. Gene Elliott 68-72-140
T5. Curtis Holck 71-71-142
T5. Joe Palmer 70-72-142
Super Senior Division
1. Rob Christensen 75-68-143
T2. Joe Ward 72-73-145
T2. Robert Pomerantz. 74-71-145
4. Pete Kelly 71-75-146
T5. Jim Butler 69-78-147
T5. Pat Ryan 72-75-147
Though Anderson (left) fell short of medalist honors, he did walk away with a qualifying spot to the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Anderson also had a clean score card and posted seven birdies to take second place by two shots. He made three straight birdies on holes 12, 13 and 14 to push him into a qualifying position.
Gary Ellis (right) is headed to Detroit following his first attempt at qualifying for a U.S. Senior Amateur. The qualifier was held in Williamsburg at Stone Creek Golf Club and it played long, which suited the big-hitting 56-year-old of Norwalk.
In the Team Net Division home course knowledge won out, as Elmcrest Country Club (above) won the title by one shot over Echo Valley CC. Elmcrest CC, who shot 205 (-5) in the net portion of the event, was led by Julie Buerman (69 net). The team from Elmcrest CC included Buerman, Bailey Hammerberg, Amy Worden and Mary Hoefle.
Earning medalist honors in the Individual Net Division was Joanie Steinmetz (above) of Des Moines Golf & Country Club. Steinmetz had a great day on the course, shooting five-under par 65, good for a one-shot victory over Cathy West, of Urbandale Country Club.
Finishing in a tie for third with a final score of 14-under, Lachlan Barker (left) claimed the low-amateur honor this week after a three-player playoff. Barker, a fifth-year player at Iowa State, carded rounds of 64, 71 and 67 and was just four shots off the lead.
There was a battle in the Senior Division between Jay Gregory (right), of Lineville, and Joe Palmer, of Norwalk. The. The two competitors ended up in a playoff and Gregory was able to win it on the first hole. Palmer, who has had one of his best seasons, could not get it going during his back nine.
A first-time winner, Bill Tank (left) of Bettendorf, took the Super Senior Division. Tank shot rounds of 74, 75 and 72 and won the playoff over Jim Madsen. Tank’s tee shot on the first playoff hole went left, but he stayed focused and was able to tie the hole.
