Author: iowagolf

Buerman Captures Third Forever 39 Title

June 16, 20200 commentsChampionships, Forever 39 Match Play

For the second straight event, Julie Buerman (pictured above right) walked away victorious.  The Cedar Rapids resident collected her third Iowa Women’s Forever 39 Match Play Championship with a 2&1 over Nicol Jones of Ankeny after making birdie on two of her last three holes.  Last Saturday (June 6th), Buerman was the winner of the first Women’s Mid-Am series event of the year held at Irv Warren GC in Waterloo.

Buerman defeated Nancy Lorenzini 3 &1 to reach the finals while Jones defeated Creston’s Janis Owens 2 up in the morning match. An IGA ‘rookie’, Jones made the most of her championship debut as she defeated Creston’s Janis Owens 2 up to advance to the championship match.

In the first flight, Sue Harmon (pictured above second from right) defeated Kathy Fortune 3&2 in the finals to capture the bracket title. Harmon advanced to the finals via a 10-hole victory over Jesup’s Michelle Klein. Like Harmon, Fortune’s morning match featured extra holes as she secured an 11-hole victory over Nicki Clayton.

In the second flight, 2019 Forever 39 Champion, Kelly Grimes (pictured above second from left), won the bracket title after a 1 up victory over Noreen Christians. Grimes advanced to the flight finals after she defeated Urbandale’s Ardrae Parmenter 3&2. Christians posted one of the largest margins of victories in the morning matches as she posted a 5&3 decision over Laura Leszczynski.

In the third flight, Clive’s Leighann LaRocca (pictured above left) posted a 2&1 victory over Ankeny’s Becky Schwiete. LaRocca advanced to the finals following a 1 up win against Urbandale’s Cathy West. Schwiete posted a 2 up victory over Karol Hare during the morning matches.

Waterloo’s Kelly Nelson (right), who captured medalist honors during the stroke play qualifying round, defeated Ila Gilbert in her final match of the tournament.

Click here for full results

57th Women’s Forever 39 Match Play Championship underway

June 15, 20200 commentsChampionships, Forever 39 Match Play

The 57th Women’s Forever 39 Match Play Championship began Monday at Urbandale Golf and Country Club with nine holes of stroke play qualifying followed up by first round matches. Waterloo’s Kelly Nelson earned the #1 seed in the Champions Flight after she was the only competitor to shoot below par during the qualifying round. Her -1, 36 was highlighted by birdies on two of her last three holes. Janis Owens, of Creston, earned the #2 seed after she shot +1, 38 in qualifying.

One of the biggest upsets of the day came in the first match out as Nancy Lorenzini, #8 seed, beat #1 seed Kelly Nelson 3&1 in the Championship Flight. Two former Forever 39 Champions battled it out during the first round of match play as well, as Julie Buerman defeated Rose Kubesheski 2&1 to advance to the semi-finals. Buerman closed out the match with an eagle on the par-5 8th hole. Janis Owens and Nicol Jones also advanced to the semifinals of the championship with victories of 1 up and 2&1 respectively.

In the First Flight, Rockwell City’s Kathy Fortune advanced to the semifinals with a 1 up victory over Jennifer Corkrean of Ankeny. Fortune will face Greenfield’s Nicki Clayton, who defeated Jan Sewright 1 up. The other semifinal match-up with feature Michelle Klein, of Jesup, and Sue Harmon, of Slater, who won their matches 2&1 and 3&2 respectively.

The Second Flight bracket featured three run away victories: Urbandale’s Noreen Christians (5&3), Indianola’s Kelly Grimes (4&2), and Urbandale’s Ardrea Parmenter (3&2). Christian’s will face Laura Leszczynski in the first semifinal match while Grimes, the defending Forever 39 Champion, will face Parmenter.

The Third and final bracket will feature Urbandale’s Cathy West and Clive’s Leighann Larocca. Johnston’s Karole Hare, who won her first match 3&2, will face Ankeny’s Becky Schwiete who is coming off a 2&1 victory.

Day two gets underway tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. and live results can be found by clicking here.

O’Brien birdies final hole, wins 2020 Carroll Amateur

June 15, 20200 commentsChampionships

Andrew O’Brien, of Clive, and Nate McCoy, of Ankeny, were neck-and-neck down the stretch of the 2020 Carroll Amateur, with McCoy looking to defend his title after a 9-stroke victory in 2019. After navigating the wind all afternoon, the pair stood tied at 7-under heading into the final hole, where O’Brien seized victory with a birdie. O’Brien posted rounds of 67-69-69 for a three-round tally of 205 (-8).

Rounding out the podium was Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Member Jon Brown, who finished with a three-round total of 208 (-5) and posted the low-round of the weekend with a 64 (-7) during the opening round.

In the Senior Division, Jeff Panek, of Johnston, ousted Gary Ellis, of Norwalk, in a playoff to capture the title after both posted 36-hole totals of 142 (E). Joe Palmer, of Norwalk, finished in third place after rounds of 70-74 for a total of 144 (+2).

In the Super Senior Division, Richard Gorbell, of Cedar Falls, edged out James Blackburn, of Des Moines, for his second Super Senior victory of the summer after winning two short weeks ago at the IGA Senior Match Play. Gorbell rallied after an opening round of 80 to shoot a 75 on Sunday, which set him one shot clear atop the leaderboard at a total of 155 (+13). Blackburn posted rounds of 77-79 for a tally of 156 (+14).

Click here for full results

Snyder scaling the leaderboard at professional event

June 12, 20200 commentsUncategorized

2017 Iowa Women’s Amateur Champion Britta Snyder is one of five amateurs competing in the international field of professionals at the Hurricane Creek Open in Anna, Texas, an event on the WAPT (Women’s All Pro Tour). Snyder, 18 year old Ames Resident, is a recent graduate of Gilbert High School and Baylor University commit.

The event features 81 professionals including 2016 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Brittany Lang, 2-time U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Kristen Gillman, 2019 NCAA Individual National Champion Maria Fassi, and other highly decorated professionals.  Snyder has done more than hold her own in the world class field, as she made the cut and sits T-7 heading into today’s final round after rounds of 75, 73, and 71.

Snyder  is set to tee off Friday morning at 9:10 a.m. (CST). Click here to follow the leaderboard during Friday’s final round.

Ruthey wins 2020 Southeast Iowa Amateur; McCoy, Gorbell capture victory

June 8, 20200 commentsChampionships

Anthony Ruthey (above right), of Port Byron, IL, put together a pair of consistent rounds and survived a playoff with Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member and first round leader Jon Brown, of Adel, to win the 2020 Southeast Iowa Amateur. Ruthey, who made four birdies on  both Saturday and Sunday at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake, shot rounds of 72-70 (-2) for the weekend.

Ottumwa’s Cale Leonard (73-70) made a Sunday charge to come within a shot of the playoff, but a lipped out birdie putt on his last hole left him just shy of joining Ruthey and Brown.

In the Senior Division, Norwalk’s Mike McCoy (right) pulled away from the field on Sunday to win by 10 shots over Dave Gaer, of Des Moines. McCoy, who posted rounds of 69-68 (-7) made only two bogeys on the weekend but was offset by a total of nine birdies.

Cedar Falls’ Richard Gorbell won the Super Senior Division with rounds of 73-74 (+3) to outdistance Randy Studer, of West Des Moines, who posted rounds of 85-84.

HOLE IN ONE – Evan Johnson made a Hole in One Saturday on #9 using a 9 iron.

Click here to view a recap of scoring

 

Buerman wins IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series Event #1

June 8, 20200 commentsChampionships

For the second consecutive year, Julie Buerman (above left) started out her season with a victory. The Cedar Rapids resident successfully defended her title at the IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series Event #1 with a final score of 54 points. The stableford scoring event was played at Irv Warren Golf Course in Waterloo and featured 34 players from around the state.

Buerman’s round featured two birdies, worth four points each, to counterbalance two bogeys. She played flawless on the final nine holes, as she recorded eight pars and a lone birdie coming on the par 4 11th hole.

Rose Kubesheski, of Dubuque, and Janece Schwartzkopf, of Stuart, tied for second with 48 points each. Kelly Nelson, of Waterloo, and Kathy Fortune, of Rockwell City, rounded out the top-five as they tied for fourth with 46 points each.

In the net division, Janece Schwartzkopf (above right) captured first place with 59 points to finish four points ahead of Buermann, while Kathy Fortune finished in third place with 53 total points. Noreen Christians, of Urbandale, Sharon Delgado, of Urbandale, Soni Hansen, of Grimes, and Janis Owens, of Creston, finished in a four-way tie for fourth place at 52 points.

Click here for full results

Sudden-death birdie secures Lake Creek Amateur title

June 2, 20200 commentsNews

Jack Evans, of Brainerd, Minn., pumps his fist as his winning putt falls into the cup, giving the University of Sioux Falls junior the title in the 2020 Lake Creek Amateur held at Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek in Storm Lake over the weekend. Evans birdied the par 4 No. 18 hole to win a sudden death playoff victory over John Spellerberg, of Nebraska, and Jonny Douglas, of England. (photo courtesy of Tim Gallagher)

Storm Lake – Jack Evans sank a 13-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to claim the 2020 Lake Creek Amateur title played at Buena Vista University Golf Creek at Lake Creek on Sunday. Evans, who returned to the 18th tee after finishing the 2-day tournament at even par and knotted in a tie with competitors John Spellerberg and Jonny Douglas, drove a 4-iron to the center of the fairway. He then knocked a 50-degree wedge to the middle of the green from 167 yards out, setting up a winning putt he read with his caddie for the day, Steve Berry.

“I think I knew the putt was in about halfway to the cup,” said Evans, who will be a junior this fall at the University of Sioux Falls. “We had read the putt one cup out to the right. I knew I didn’t have to hit it real hard because it was downwind.”

The wind was the story of the day for “The Am,” a decades-old golf tradition in Northwest Iowa that returned after a 7-year hiatus, welcoming 97 golfers from a host of Midwest states and England. Gusts from the southeast around 25 miles per hour proved to be tricky for most of the field and contributed to scores that, according to BVU Golf Course at Lake Creek Manager Joe Powell climbed five or so strokes on average from Saturday to Sunday.

“THIS is Lake Creek,” said Andrew Zinn, the assistant men’s golf coach at Buena Vista University as he surveyed gusts whipping across the No. 7 tee box.

Evans entered the day tied for the lead after posting a 3-under par 69 in benign conditions on Saturday. Spellerberg, a former Creighton University linkster from Bennington, Neb., shared the first-day lead. Douglas, a native of England who plays for Morningside College, was one stroke back to start the day.

The event would, for all intents and purposes, remain a three-way race throughout the final round. All three golfers had their issues down the stretch, the threesome combining to play the Par 5 No. 16 in four-over-par. Spellerberg had the misfortune of getting caught in some long grass at the end of the greenside bunker. He would take a double-bogey on the hole. Douglas, meantime, three-putted, while Evans’ approach sailed long and left.

“It was a lot of fun,” Spellerberg said. “We had a great, friendly competition today and Jack made a great putt at the end.”

Evans, whose highest finish during his sophomore season at Sioux Falls, was a tie for third place, said he hopes the Lake Creek Amateur title provides a springboard for his competitive season.

“Finishing rounds hasn’t been my strong suit,” said Evans, who hails from Brainerd, Minn. “Today, I tried to keep composed and it paid off. I couldn’t be happier.”

Evans joined Spellerberg in heaping praise on Powell and officials and volunteers at Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek who worked to resurrect “The Amateur” and plant the event on the radar for golfers across the Midwest and beyond. When the tournament idea was hatched in late March, Powell envisioned welcoming an abbreviated field of 40 or so golfers. The timing of the event, occurring as Iowa businesses begin to open in the throes of a pandemic, found a sweet spot for golfers seeking to compete while observing social-distancing behavior.

“We’re thrilled we could bring back ‘The Amateur,’ which has such a long history here in Storm Lake,” said Powell, who doubles as men’s golf coach at Buena Vista University. “The staff put everything in place, Mother Nature cooperated, and we had nearly 100 golfers and probably that many fans who got to enjoy a weekend of being out on the course and competing. We’re thankful for all the golfers who came back to ‘The Amateur’ and we can’t wait to start making plans for the tournament in 2021.”

Place-winners were as follows in each flight:
– First flight: Steve Campbell, 78-74—152; Chase Hough, 80-73—153; Ryan Feauto, 76-78—154.
– Second flight: Ken Slater, 81-79—160; Tom James, 83-78—161; Shane Hess, 81-81—162.
– Third flight: Adam Mickelson, 85-81—166; Matt Stauter, 86-84—170; Mark Eddie, 88-87—175.
– Seniors: Mark Gambaiana, 80-78—158; Tom Bohnenkamp, 81-80—161; Mark Henningsen, 76-86—162.

2020 Ann Griffel Scholarship Award recipients named

June 1, 20200 commentsNews, Scholarships

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is delighted to announce the 2020 recipients of the Ann Griffel Scholarship Award (Griffel is pictured above in sport coat). Ellie Braksiek, Taylor Garvin, Anna Jensen, Allison Nuss and Morgan Nuss will receive a one-year scholarship of $2,000. These girls will join the group of 237 other students to have received this award since 1963.

Ellie Braksiek is the daughter of Rob and Heidi Braksiek. She is a graduate of Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, and will be attending Iowa State University in the fall to study business. She will compete for the Cyclones Women’s Golf Team. She is eagerly awaiting the opportunities ahead of her in Ames.

“I look forward to competing in the game I love while challenging myself in the classroom as well,” Braksiek said.

 

Taylor Garvin is the daughter of Gregg and Kelly Garvin. She is a graduate of Wilton High School and will be attending St. Ambrose University in Davenport in the fall to study biochemistry on a Pre-Dental/Medicine Track. She will play on the Fighting Bees Women’s Golf Team.

“I am honored to be selected for the Ann Griffel Scholarship and will continue to apply the same diligence to my collegiate studies and activities. I will represent her legacy well during my years in college and beyond,” Garvin said.

 

Anna Jensen is the daughter of Leon & Mary Jensen. She is a graduate of Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque, and will be attending the University of Northern Iowa in the fall. She will be a member of the Panthers Women’s Golf Team.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunities that golf has given me and I honestly do not know what my life would be like without it,” Jensen said.

 

Allison Nuss is the daughter of Marty & Carolyn Nuss. She is a graduate of New Hampton High School and will be attending the University of Northern Iowa in the fall, where she plans to study biology or exercise science. She will play on the Panthers Women’s Golf Team. Allison has aspirations to become a college coach or a teaching professional.

“Golf has been a really big part of my life, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities it has presented and for the exciting new adventures it will bring in this next part of my life,” Nuss said.

 

Morgan Nuss is the daughter of Marty & Carolyn Nuss. She is a graduate of New Hampton High School and will be attending the University of Northern Iowa in the fall, where she plans to study Mathematics Teaching. She will join her sister to play on the Panthers Women’s Golf Team. She has expressed an interest in giving back to golf through coaching.

“I have experienced hundreds of memories from competing as a player, and I believe the coaching side would be just as rewarding,” Nuss said.

The Ann Griffel Scholarship was established in 1963. It originated as just one $350 scholarship awarded by the Iowa Women’s Golf Association (IWGA) and has evolved into a $2,000 scholarship awarded to multiple high school senior girls who intend to further their education at an Iowa institution of higher learning, whether a college, university or trade school.

The Iowa Golf Association Foundation (IGAF) was established to preserve the game and develop more programs to promote the future of golf in Iowa. The IGAF awards the Ann Griffel scholarship each year. This scholarship was named after the long time IWGA President, Ann Griffel, who during her 23 year term started the Girls’ State Junior, Forever 39, State Wife-Husband and Senior Women’s Championships.

Palmer wins fourth Senior Match Play, Gorbell captures Super Senior crown

May 31, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Senior Match Play
Richard Gorbell (left) and Joe Palmer took home the big honors at the Senior Match Play at Veenker on Saturday

MAY 30, 2020 – Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines, won his fourth IGA Senior Match Play Championship on Saturday afternoon after a 3 & 2 defeat of Tom Schill, of Gowrie, in the final match at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames. Palmer joins Gene Elliott as the only four-time champions of the event.

Richard Gorbell, of Cedar Falls, won his first IGA Super-Senior championship when he defeated defending champion Steve Kahler, of Marion, in 19 holes.  Gorbell did it with a birdie on the first extra hole.

Palmer and Schill’s championship match got off to a fast start – fast as in time and not necessarily quality of golf. The two played the first 8 holes in 60 minutes before being slowed by some public groups of golfers on 9. Palmer had managed to secure a 1 up lead thru those fast first eight holes. 

“We were going too fast and I think our golf kind of suffered”, said Schill. 

When forced to take a bit of extra time is when Palmer took control. He won that 9th hole to go 2 up, then won 10 and 11 as well. His tee shot on the tough uphill par-3 11th was a thing of beauty. Palmer landed it just past the hole and it ran out to the back of edge of the green. That’s where the natural slope of the green took over and the ball slowly trickled back toward the hole, settling about 4 feet away for a birdie. 

Schill tried to swing the momentum with wins at 12 and 14, but another beautiful iron shot on the par-3 13th by Palmer threw a speed bump in the middle of Schill’s comeback plan. The back and forth across holes 11 thru 14 left Palmer at 3 up heading to the 15th tee. 

The two would tie the 15th after a nifty up and down from Palmer, then tie the 16th, giving Palmer his fourth crown. 

In the Super-Senior championship match defending champion Kahler nearly pulled off the repeat but Gorbell was just a bit too much down the stretch. 

Kahler held a 1 up lead thru 14 holes but Gorbell would birdie the difficult 15th and 16th holes to take a 1 up lead heading into 17. After a tie there the two went to the last where a subpar pitch shot from Gorbell led to Kahler’s par being enough to send it to extra holes. 

The two went to the back 9 for extra holes and it seemed as though Kahler would have the advantage after the tee shots because Gorbell’s ball settled in the right trees.  But a terrific recovery shot left Gorbell with about 50 yards into the hole which he would say later “was basically the same shot I just messed up on 18”. 

He didn’t mess it up this time. He flew his sand wedge to about 10 feet short of the hole, leaving a terrific look at birdie. After Kahler failed on his birdie chip Gorbell stepped up and drained it for the win.

In the President’s Bracket Brian Persson, of Elk Run Heights, defeated Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member Mike McCoy, of Norwalk, 1 up.  Other flight winners included Tim Greteman, of West Des Moines, (First Flight), Greg Kramer, of Urbandale, (Second Flight) and Richard Jones, of Fort Dodge (Third Flight).

Click here to view complete results

2020 Herman Sani Scholarship Award winners announced

May 21, 20200 commentsNews, Scholarships

Herman Sani (right) is seen talking with Gene Sarazen in August, 1950.  Sani served as IGA President in 1929.

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) would like to announce the 2020 recipients of the Herman Sani Scholarship Awards. Kyle Christy, of Orange City, Allison Nuss, of New Hampton, Morgan Nuss, of New Hampton, and Cole Davis, of Marshalltown, will receive a four year scholarship of $2,000 per year. Those individuals will be recognized at the Herman Sani Golf Tournament held at Hyperion Field Club, Johnston, Fri-Sun, Aug 7-9.

Kyle Christy (left), of Orange City, is a graduate of MOC-Floyd Valley Community Schools and is the son of Michelle and Greg Christy. Kyle plans to attend Northwestern College (Orange City) and study accounting or education.

“The game of golf is a large part of my life and has partly made me who I am today. It is a true honor to be called a Herman Sani Scholar, and I am so grateful to all the people that have helped me achieve this honor. I am looking forward to representing what it means to be a Sani Scholar at Northwestern College through academics, golf, and basketball.”

 

Allison Nuss (right), of New Hampton, is a graduate of New Hampton High School and is the daughter of Marty and Carolyn Nuss. Allison plans to study either business of exercise science at the University of Northern Iowa and play on the golf team.

“I feel very honored to have been selected as a 2020 Herman Sani Scholarship recipient. I am very humbled and appreciative, and want to thank the committee for selecting me for this great honor. Golf has provided me with so many opportunities, and I will do my best to represent what it means to be a Sani Scholar and an Iowa Golf Association member as I continue my academic and golf career at the University of Northern Iowa.”

 

Morgan Nuss (left), of New Hampton, is a graduate of New Hampton High School and is the daughter of Marty and Carolyn Nuss. Morgan plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa to study education with a focus on mathematics. She will also play on the women’s golf team

“I am incredibly thankful to be receiving the Herman Sani scholarship. This scholarship is a very distinguished honor in the state of Iowa, and I am truly grateful to have been chosen as a recipient. I will do my best to uphold the standards of the scholarship as I continue on to the opportunities that lie ahead.”

 

Cole Davis (right), of Marshalltown, is a graduate of Marshalltown High School and is the son of Kendra and the late Trent Davis. He plans to attend the University of Houston and pursue a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree in Finance. Cole will play for golf for the Cougars.

“I would like to thank the Herman Sani Committee for selecting me for this scholarship. It is truly an honor to be presented this scholarship and I couldn’t be more appreciative. The Iowa Golf Association has always been special to me, so to be selected for the Herman Sani Scholarship really means a lot to not only me but my family as well.”

 

The Herman Sani Scholarship Program was established in 1958. Herman Sani had a passion for golf and young people. Sani was the first director of the Iowa Golf Association and served the organization for over 30 years. This scholarship was created in his memory with the purpose to assist Iowa students to further their education. As of 2020, 187 college-bound students have been awarded this four-year scholarship.

Most of the scholarship money comes from the generous donations by individuals and corporate sponsors. Since 2013 the Coppola family of Norwalk has contributed $250,000 to the Herman Sani Scholarship Fund. The Iowa Golf Association and point events from around the state also make significant contributions to the fund. For more information about the scholarship visit our website at www.iowagolf.org/scholarships.

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