Author: iowagolf

Bermel grabs lead at 97th Iowa Women’s Amateur

July 26, 20210 commentsChampionships, Iowa Women's Amateur

After round one at the 97th Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship hosted by Dubuque Golf & Country Club, Hannah Bermel (right), fifth-year senior at the University of Northern Iowa, will head into the second round with a two-shot advantage over the defending champion, Joy Chou. 

Bermel recorded two birdies to go along with her 3-over round of 73 today. Chou, a senior golfer at Iowa State University, posted a five-over round of 75 and recorded two birdies. A costly double on the 10th hole puts Chou at a two-shot disadvantage. 

Coming in third place is Tabitha Schumacher, who is new face to the IGA this season. Schumacher carded a 76 and is only three shots behind after she birdied her last hole of the day. Fourth place is the 15-year-old, Eden Lohrbach of Ames. Lohrbach fired a seven-over round of 77 and is only four shots back of Bermel.

Rosalie Kubesheski, of Dubuque, sits at the top of the Open Division leaderboard heading into round two. The 2020 Senior Women’s Player of the Year has a one-shot lead over Kelly Nelson, of Waterloo. Kubesheski carded a 10-over round of 80 and will look to improve her one-shot lead in tomorrow’s round. 

You can follow the live leaderboard by clicking this link. Stay up to date with the latest Iowa Golf Association information by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Championship Division
1. Hannah Bermel +3 – 73
2. Joy Chou +5 – 75
3. Tabitha Schumacher +6 – 76
4. Eden Lohrbach +7 – 77
5. Emily Snelling +8 – 78

Open Division
1. Rosalie Kubesheski +10 – 80
2. Kelly Nelson +11 – 81
3. Kim Fensterman +14 – 84
T5. Michelle Klein +15 – 85
T5. Amy Olberding +15 – 85
T5. Janece Schwartzkopf +15 – 85
T5. Laura Leszczynski +15 – 85

Lindenman takes home amateur title at Waterloo Open, ‘Big Mike’ cashes big check

July 19, 20210 commentsNews

Trent Lindenman (on left holding flag) earned his first victory of the season in the Open Flight of the Waterloo Open over the weekend. Lindenman ran away with the tournament during the final round where he fired a four-under 66 to win by four shots over Minnesota’s Muzzy Donohue. 

On the final back nine, Lindenman could not miss. He recorded five birdies and had four consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 15. After submitting his round of 66 with a 30 on the back nine, Lindenman’s 13-under total was enough to claim the Open Flight. 

The well-known Floridian they call, “Big Mike” went low in the Professional Stroke Play Division. Michael Visacki led all three days and carded a 23-under tally, winning the tournament by one shot with a six-foot, $50,000 par save on the 18th hole. 

Photo courtesy of Waterloo Courier

Visacki (left) bested a fellow Floridian, Justin Hueber, who fired a 62 to push himself into contention on the final day. Hueber moved up nine spots to give himself a shot at the prize money, but pars on the last three holes kept Hueber one shot back.

Bruce Westemeier posted a four-under total with a 69 in his final round to win the Senior Flight. Westemeier defeated Joe Bates, who was the leader heading into the final round, by two shots. Bates went two-over in his last four finishing holes, while Westemeier carded a 33 on his back nine. 

The Super Senior Player of the Year leader, Pat Ryan, won another event. Ryan won the Super Senior Flight by one shot over Steve Kahler. Ryan and Kahler were battling all weekend, but Ryan held on to his one-shot advantage going into the final round. Now, another trophy will be going home with Ryan this season.

Professionals
1. Michael Visacki 62-64-67-193
2. Justin Hueber 67-65-62-194
3. Brady Calkins 66-65-64-195
T4. Thomas Walsh 64-68-64-196
T4. Patrick Williams 65-64-67-196

Open Flight
1. Trent Lindenman 70-67-66-203
T2. Muzzy Donohue 69-71-67-207
T2. Dusty Drenth 69-69-69-207
T2. Glenn Walls 69-68-70-207
5. Ian Johnston 72-71-67-210

Senior Flight
1. Bruce Westemeier 73-70-69-212
2. Joe Bates 71-69-74-214
T3. Jeff Ott 71-77-68-216
T3. Jay Slings 66-76-74-216
Rob Dickerman 71-75-71-217

Super Senior Flight
1. Pat Ryan 71-73-77-221
2. Steve Kahler 69-76-77-222
3. Joe Ward 74-72-81-227
4. Harold Hickman 77-72-81-230

Jahn makes final round charge, wins 119th Iowa Amateur

July 14, 20210 commentsChampionships, Iowa Amateur

The 119th Iowa Amateur came to an end after an electric finish at Wakonda Club. Charles Jahn (above) and Nate McCoy battled until the very end, giving the gallery an unforgettable finish. At the 2019 Iowa Amateur, Jahn fell short by one shot, but that experience assisted Jahn during his final holes today. 

“A couple of years ago I was tied for the lead going into the last hole and I three putted,” Jahn said. “I knew the last four or five holes I needed to finish strong instead of coasting in. I bogeyed 16 and that kind of woke me up. I wanted to finish out with pars and was able to do that. I learned from what happened two years ago and applied it to today.”

Jahn’s weapon of choice this week was the driver (shown right), and Wakonda Club wasn’t prepared. On the first hole during Jahn’s final round, he was able to get within 50 yards of the green by hitting over the trees lining the left side of the hole. That was not the only corners he was cutting today, Jahn drove the 11th hole, which played at about 400 yards on the day, setting himself up for an eagle putt. 

“I have been hitting my driver well lately,” Jahn said. “The practice round this week allowed me to determine what holes I was going to hit driver. On hole five, most players had 260 going into that hole and today I had 180. My driver was my key club this week.”

Finding the trees on 18, Jahn was able to secure the win over McCoy with a clutch up-and-down to win the championship by two shots. McCoy played amazing golf and only recorded two bogeys this week. After posting a one-over 37 on his front nine in the final round, McCoy was able to finish strong and card a 34 on his back nine, but it was not enough to overcome the hard-hitting Charles Jahn.

Six-time Iowa Amateur Champion and Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member, Mike McCoy, raced up the leaderboard after firing a red-hot 63, including a 29 on the back nine. Mike was the clubhouse leader at seven-under for a short period of time, but Mathew Garside snuck up behind him.

Garside carded a 66 with a 31 on his back nine. Ian Johnston also played tremendous golf this week, finishing in a tie for third place with Garside at eight-under. 

Defending champion, Dennis Bull, stayed close to the top all week firing a 209 and finished tied for fifth alongside the two Iowa Golf Hall of Famers, Mike McCoy and Jon Brown. Brown played two groups behind the final pairing and finished his tournament with a one-under 71.

A dramatic finish to a tournament filled with history is the only way to cap off this week. The field was filled with strong golfers from all across the state, but Charles Jahn was the man holding the trophy at the end of it all.

Sani connection – Charles Jahn, a 2016 Herman Sani Scholar joins Steve Spray, a 1969 Herman Sani Scholar, as the only two ‘scholars’ to win the Iowa Amateur. Spray won his Iowa Amateur in 1963 at Clinton Country Club.

 

119th Iowa Amateur Championship
1. Charles Jahn 67-70-67-204
2. Nate McCoy 67-68-71-206
T3. Mathew Garside 71-71-66-208
T3. Ian Johnston 70-67-71-208
T5. Mike McCoy 69-77-63-209
T5. Dennis Bull 71-70-68-209
T5. Jon Brown 69-69-71-209

McCoy takes lead into final round of 119th Iowa Amateur

July 13, 20210 commentsChampionships, Iowa Amateur

He’s in familiar territory.

Heading to the final round of the Iowa Amateur Championship at Wakonda Club Nate McCoy (right) continues to pile on the birdies and leads. McCoy, who recently captured the 2021 Iowa Masters to bring his IGA career win total to 10, fired a four-under 68 today to add to his first round five-under total.

“Getting to 10-under was kind of my goal for today,” McCoy said. “The birdie on seven got me back to four-under on the day. I was thinking it would be nice to get one more and I gave myself a chance on eight, but it did not drop.”

Giving McCoy any sort of confidence going into the final round can lead to low scores, and he is filled with confidence right now.

“My game plan for tomorrow is to keep doing what I am doing,” McCoy said. “I have a really good swing thought right now and I am very comfortable with the golf course. I am comfortable being in the lead and I am just looking forward to going out there and playing with Sterling (McIlravy).”

The final pairing tomorrow will be McCoy and Sterling McIlravy, who carded a five-under 67 to get him within one shot of McCoy. The Solon native posted a first round 69 and knows how to fire a low round.

“I am going to trust the process and continue to play the game I have been playing all week,” said McIlravy. “I birdied all the par fives today which really helped my round and looking forward to bringing that into tomorrow’s round.”

Charles Jahn and Ian Johnston will play ahead of McCoy and McIlravy tomorrow. Jahn had many birdies and recorded an eagle, but bogeys continued to pop up on his scorecard. Johnston tied the low round of the day (67) and recorded a 31 on the back nine.

Jon Brown kept his name near the top of the leaderboard after back-to-back rounds of 69. Don’t count Brown out yet, the Iowa Golf Hall of Famer currently sits at six-under and knows how to fire a low final round.

The final round will begin at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow morning with groups of two teeing off on hole one. You can follow the live leaderboard by clicking this link.

119th Iowa Amateur Championship
1. Nate McCoy 67-68-135
2. Sterling McIlravy 69-67-136
T3. Charles Jahn 67-70-137
T3. Ian Johnston 70-67-137
5. Jon Brown 69-69-138

Gaer leads 119th Iowa Amateur, several within striking distance

July 12, 20210 commentsChampionships, Iowa Amateur
Photo courtesy of Guy Cook

Scores were low today during the first round of the 119th Iowa Amateur Championship at Wakonda Club (pictured above). First-round leader, Willis Gaer (right) fired a round of six-under 66 that included a 30-yard hole-out for eagle on the 18th hole. Gaer maintained a bogey-free round at a course that is crowded with them.

Tied for second place heading into round two tomorrow is the recent Iowa Masters champion, Nate McCoy and Sperry’s long-hitting Charles Jahn. McCoy carded a bogey-free 67 and Jahn’s 67 included six total birdies. Setting yourself up during the first round is crucial in this environment, and that is exactly what McCoy and Jahn did. Kyle Yerington sits in fourth place alone following the opening round after posting a 4-under 68 with a 34 split. 

There is a four-way tie at three-under par between Iowa Golf Hall of Famers, Jon Brown and Mike McCoy, and Ross Johnson and Sterling Mcllravy. Mike McCoy, who just finished up at the U.S. Senior Open in Omaha over the weekend, recorded five birdies in his round today. Brown played consistent golf with four birdies. Johnson had four birdies and an eagle to help him get into contention and Mcllravy fired a 69 with a 33 on the back nine. 

The second round of the 119th Iowa Amateur Championship will begin tomorrow morning. Follow the live leaderboard by clicking here. 

119th Iowa Amateur Championship
1. Willis Gaer -6 66
T2. Nate McCoy -5 67
T2. Charles Jahn -5 67
Kyle Yerington -4 68
T5. Jon Brown -3 69
T5. Ross Johnson -3 69
T5. Mike McCoy -3 69
T5. Sterling Mcllravy -3 69

Nate McCoy wins third career Iowa Masters crown

July 11, 20210 commentsNews

After postponing the first round of the Iowa Masters, Veenker Memorial Golf Course was able to move forward. Normally a three-round tournament turned into a two-round championship after storms took over on Friday.

The Iowa Masters committee and Veenker Memorial Golf Course’s staff were able to continue one of Iowa’s most loved championship. Ankeny’s Nate McCoy (left), is now a three-time Iowa Masters Champion after claiming the trophy this weekend at Veenker Memorial Golf Course.

“It feels great,” McCoy said. “I love Veenker and I love the Iowa Masters. I grew up playing Veenker as a young kid when I went to Iowa State Golf Camp and loved it ever since. There have been some great champions over the years so to have my name listed with theirs means a lot.”

With this win, McCoy now has two first place finishes on the season and will cruise into first place in the IGA Player of the Year race over Jon Brown, who finished in third place this weekend, and Connor Peck. McCoy’s confidence continues to grow, and this win will be an extra push for tomorrow’s Iowa Amateur.

“I definitely have a little more confidence going into the Iowa Amateur considering I have a couple extra tournaments under my belt,” McCoy said. “Wakonda will be a blast and I am excited to play.”

Sam Lockhart finished in second place, three shots behind McCoy. Lockhart was just down one shot to four-time Iowa Masters winner, Jon Brown, after round one. Lockhart played well in the final round, but McCoy’s final-round of 68 shot him up the leaderboard to earn the win.

In the Senior Flight, Jay Gregory (right) came back and won after being down three shots going into the final round. Ron Peterson was the solo leader after round one, but had some struggles in the final round. Joe Palmer and Kirk Macumber came racing up the leaderboard, but ultimately fell to Gregory by one shot.

Gregory Lee took the win in the Super Senior Division after firing rounds of 75 and 79 for a two-round total of 154. Lee’s two shot lead after the first round grew into a three-shot win after the final round. Lee went one-under in his last four holes to take the victory.

 

Masters Flight (Championship)
1. Nate McCoy 72-68-140
2. Sam Lockhart 71-72-143
3. Jon Brown 70-74-144
T4. Cole Davis 75-73-148
T4. Tyler Sansgaard 73-75-148

Cyclone Flight
1. Caleb Peters 80-74-154
2. Samuel Vertanen 81-76-157
3. Trenton Sann 80-80-160
4. Collin Tjepkes 81-81-162
T5. Evan Krause 80-85-165
T5. Drake Ellgren 81-84-165

Senior Flight
1. Jay Gregory 73-71-144
T2. Joe Palmer 74-71-145
T2. Kirk Macumber 73-72-145
4. Bob Brooks 76-70-146
5. Dave Gaer 71-76-147

Super Senior Flight
1. Gregory Lee 75-79-154
2. Dick Stuntz 77-80-157
3. Pat Ryan 78-82-160
4. Rick Gorbell 77-84-161

Defending champions repeat at 11th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship

July 9, 20210 commentsChampionships, IGA Women's Four-Ball

The 11th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship concluded Friday afternoon at Sioux City Country Club in Sioux City. Defending champions, Paige Hoffman and Kylie Carey repeated the same success that they had in 2020. Hoffman and Carey fired rounds of 70 and 73 to claim first place over Fiona Watson and Tish Boothe by three shots.

Watson and Boothe were consistently at the top of the leaderboard for the entirety of the tournament. Two late bogeys in their final round put an end to their run at the Open Division. First timers, Allison and Morgan Nuss, came in third place after rounds of 77 and 75.

For the first time in IGA Four-Ball history, the defending champions in each division won again. Rosalie Kubesheski and Margene Grady fended off Kathy Fortune’s and Laura Leszczynski’s late final round charge. Kubesheski and Grady have now won this event four times together and this is Kubesheski’s fifth total time winning it.

Fortune and Leszczynski shot up the leaderboard in the final round after the team recorded a total of four birdies. The duo carded scores of 78 and 74 and missed a playoff by one shot. Kubesheski finished off a four-footer for par on the 18th hole to close out the tournament. Ila Gilbert and Janis Owens took third place with back-to-back rounds of 77.

Open Division
1. Kylie Carey / Paige Hoffman 70-73-143
2. Fiona Watson / Tish Boothe 71-75-146
3. Allison Nuss / Morgan Nuss 77-75-152

Open Net Division
1. Allison Nuss / Morgan Nuss 70-70-140
T2. Fiona Watson / Tish Boothe 71-76-147
T2. Kylie Carey / Paige Hoffman 72-75-147

Senior Division
1. Margene Grady / Rosalie Kubesheski 76-75-151
2. Kathy Fortune / Laura Leszczynski 78-74-152
3. Ila Gilbert / Janis Owens 77-77-154

Senior Net Division
1. Ila Gilbert / Janis Owens 66-68-134
2. Carroll Dethrow / Janece Schwartzkopf 70-68-138
T3. Jackie Warrick / Shirly Rochelle 64-75-139
T3. Kathy Fortune / Laura Leszczynski 71-68-139

Packed leaderboard at 11th IGA Women’s Four-Ball

July 9, 20210 commentsChampionships, IGA Women's Four-Ball

After the first round of the 11th IGA Women’s Four-Ball hosted by Sioux City Country Club, Kylie Carey and Paige Hoffman are leading the Open Division at 2-under. In the Senior Division, Rosalie Kubesheski and Margene Grady are tied with Jackie Warrick and Shirly Rochelle at the top of the leaderboard.

Fiona Watson and Tish Boothe (Open Division) were the first group off this morning and posted a 1-under 71 to head into the final round in second place. Allison and Morgan Nuss currently sit in third place and are six shots back after carding a 77.

Ila Gilbert and Janis Owens (Senior Division) will play alongside Beth Duenow and Nancy Olberding in tomorrow’s final round after tying for third place. Gilbert and Owens recorded a 77 with a 36 on their front nine and Olberding and Duenow carded a 77 with a 38 on their back nine.

The final round will begin tomorrow with an 8:30 a.m. starting time off the first tee. You can follow our live leaderboard using this link.

Open Division
1. Kylie Carey / Paige Hoffman 70
2. Fiona Watson / Tish Boothe 71
3. Allison Nuss / Morgan Nuss 77

Senior Division
T1. Jackie Warrick / Shirly Rochelle 76
T1. Margene Grady / Rosalie Kubesheski 76
T3. Ila Gilbert / Janis Owens 77
T3. Beth Duenow / Nancy Olberding 77

Three advance to U.S. Amateur from Lake Panorama National Resort

July 7, 20210 commentsNews, USGA, USGA Qualifiers

Harrison Ott (right), of Brookfield, Wisconsin, claimed the medalist honors at U.S. Amateur Qualifying hosted by Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora. Ott went low in the first round, firing a 6-under 66 and was able to follow it up with a 5-under 67 in the final round.

“My goal was to get to 10-under par,” Ott said. “I got to 10-under, but then I bogeyed six. I came back and birdied seven and nine to get to 11-under and finished my round. “I thought 10 would do it, but I just had really good speed on my putt on nine and it ended up dropping.”

Ott wasn’t the only player to post a low score today, Cecil Belisle (left) carded a 70 and a 6-under 66 in his final round to earn second place. Belisle, who is from Red Wing, Minnesota, knew he had some work to do to qualify.

“My mom told me I was in a good spot, and she told me to stay focused and that is what I did,” Belisle said. “I said to myself that you have to make at least one more coming in and I ended up making two more.”

The third qualifying spot went to Dennis Bull (right), of Norwalk, who posted rounds of 68 and 70. Bull stayed inside the top-three for the entirety of the day. Bull recorded a birdie on 14 and 17 to take the third-place finish and the last ticket to Oakmont Country Club, site of the 2021 U.S. Amateur.

“It feels really good to qualify for this thing,” Bull said. “I have been playing well, but my putting has been struggling lately. We got off to a good start today by making a 15-footer for birdie on the first hole. My group played amazing today which really pushed me.”

A playoff was needed to decide the first and second alternates. Connor Peck defeated Nate McCoy on the fourth playoff hole to become the first alternate for the U.S. Amateur. Peck made birdie after just missing the green short with his second shot.

U.S. Amateur Qualifier
1. Harrison Ott 66-67 – Medalist
2. Cecil Belisle 70-66 – Qualifier
3. Dennis Bull 68-70 – Qualifier
4. Connor Peck 70-69 – 1st Alternate
5. Nate McCoy 71-68 – 2nd Alternate

Smith wins 10th Iowa Women’s Match Play, defends her crown

July 2, 20210 commentsChampionships, News, Wmn's Match Play

Leanne Smith (pictured above) did it again at the 10th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship at Talons Golf in Ankeny. Smith has now won the last four IGA match play events she has entered (2019, IGA Women’s Match Play, 2020 IGA Women’s Match Play, 2021 Forever 39 Match Play and now the 2021 IGA Women’s Match Play).

“I really enjoy match play,” Smith said. “I know that I am going to mess up some holes and that I can recover on the next hole, so I just take it one hole at a time.”

The journey to back-to-back titles was not easy for Smith. In her earlier matches, she defeated Jolee Belzung, Kelly Grimes and Laura Leszczynski. Smith continued to dominate the competition as she made her way around the course.

Up next after dispatching Leszcynski on Thursday afternooon, Smith had to play two young competitors, Hannah Bermel and Anna Jensen, in her last two remaining matches. Smith was able to save par on the 18th hole to close out the match against Bermel in the morning after a back and forth battle.

“Hannah was so fun to play with and it is fun to watch her, and other players grow into who they are now,” Smith said.

After the match against Bermel, Smith knew would be playing Anna Jensen (right), who was the youngest player in the field (19). Jensen won her match against the No. 1 seed and stroke play medalist, Brooke Newell, and advanced to the final round.

The Smith and Jensen match started to heat up right away after Jensen won the first hole. This showed Smith that Jensen was there to compete, and that was exactly what she did. The two players battled back-and-forth all the way to the 16th hole where Smith made par to seal the victory and win her second straight IGA Women’s Match Play.

“Anna is super talented and will be a tough competitor for a long time and she is great for Iowa golf,” Smith said.

Smith’s match play record continues to grow in a positive manner, as she has added three new trophies to her collection in the last two years. However, her match play record is not the only thing growing as the Iowa Golf Association continues to host more and more talented women golfers.

Next up on the IGA schedule will be the U.S. Amateur Qualifier at Lake Panorama Golf Course in Panora This event will take place on Tuesday, July 6th with the IGA Women’s Four-Ball to follow.

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