Author: iowagolf

Iowa Golf Hall of Fame, Lifetime IGA Board Member George Turner passes away

July 25, 20190 commentsNews

Iowa Golf Hall of Fame and IGA Lifetime Board Member George Turner passed away on the morning of July 25th at Taylor Hospice.

Services will be Monday Aug 5th, 3:00 p.m – St. Lukes Church – Forrest Ave in Des Moines, with a reception following service at Waveland Golf Course Clubhouse. Click here to read an obituary for Turner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Iowa Golf Foundation (1605 N. Ankeny Blvd, Suite 210, Ankeny, IA 50023) or Taylor House Hospice (3401 E Douglas, Des Moines, IA 50317).

Turner’s contributions to Iowa golf have come both on and off the golf course. From his victories in two designated major championships — the 1965 Northwest Amateur and the 1969 Fort Dodge Amateur — to countless other amateur events, Turner’s name is well-known in Iowa. Turner’s other wins include the Iowa Golf Association State Seniors title in 1989, the Iowa Golf Association State Masters title in 1990, the Iowa Golf Association State Senior Amateur title (70 years-over) in 2002, and the Des Moines Senior Open title in 2005. Turner qualified for and played in the 1981, 1984 and 1993 U.S. Senior Open and the 1988, 1990 and 1991 U.S. Senior Amateur.

Turner was a lifetime member of the IGA Board of Directors and was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Off the course, George has been an Iowa Golf Association volunteer for decades, helping run numerous events. George and John Nervig took over operations of the Iowa Masters from the late Harry Burrell 30+ years ago.

The Iowa Golf Association named its distinguished service award after Turner in 2003. It is given annually to individuals who – like George – have given back to the game through years of volunteer service.

Des Moines Mens City, Junior Am Championship Entries Open

July 24, 20190 commentsNews, Uncategorized

Entries to the Des Moines Mens City Championship and the Des Moines Junior Championship are now being accepted.  Click the links for more info on each.

Click here to view information on the Junior Championship.

Junior Metro Championship
August 12-13
Bright-Grandview Golf Course
Des Moines

Click here to view information on the Men’s City Championship.

Men’s City Championship
August 16-18
Waveland Golf Course
Des Moines

Hoffman fires final round 68 (-3), wins 95th Iowa Women’s Amateur by four

July 24, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Women's Amateur

West Des Moines’ Paige Hoffman (pictured right) left little to chance in the final round of the 95th Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship. Hoffman, who entered the final round at Otter Creek Golf Course, fired a 68 (-3) to pull away from the field and win by four shots.

“It was just one of those days when everything works out,” Hoffman said. “Actually on the front nine I was hitting my irons really well and missed a couple birdie putts (I should of made). I didn’t get mad, I was one under on the front and was still happy.”

Hoffman, who admitted she made some putts when she really needed to, especially on the back nine to keep her momentum going, made a total of five birdies on the day.

“The (birdie) putt on #10 got me to -2,” Hoffman said. “I was starting to think I could win this, but then I remembered I needed to just take it one shot at a time. It wasn’t time to think about winning. You can’t get ahead of yourself, that’s where the big numbers come from.”

A trio of players tied for runner-up, including defending champion Sierra Hargens (Cedar Rapids), Joy Chou (Ames) and Amelia Mehmet-Grohn (Ames), who all shot +1 for the three-day event.

In the Open Division, Waterloo’s Kelly Nelson (right) posted a final round 78 to finish two strokes ahead of Janece Schwartzkopf, of Stuart.

Click here for a full recap of scoring

Six from Iowa qualify for 53rd PGA Professional Championship

July 24, 20190 commentsNews

Judd Gibb (pictured above left) of Lakeside Municipal GC, winner of the Iowa PGA Professional Championship, July 23, 2019, at Amana Colonies Golf Club will lead a total of six Iowa Section PGA Professionals to compete in the 53rd PGA Professional Championship, April 26-29, at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas.

Gibb turned in a winning total of 2-under-par 214 to capture the Iowa PGA Professional Champion title. Jeff Schmid was runner-up, finishing at 2-under-par 214 but fell in the playoff. They are joined by Sean McCarty, Jay Giannetto, Chad Proehl, and Ryan McClintock. Jeff Schmid qualified to the PGA Professional Championship due to his performance 2019 PGA Professional Championship.

The PGA Professional Championship and 41 PGA Section Championships feature a total purse of more than $1.5 million. The PGA Professional Championship purse is $550,000, distributed among those who make the cut in the 312-player field. Golf Channel will televise all four rounds of the national Championship. If eligibility is met and maintained, the low 20 scorers in 2019 will earn berths into the 102nd PGA Championship, May 14-17, at Harding Park Golf Club, San Francisco, California.

Hoffman leads 95th Iowa Women’s Amateur, several give chase

July 23, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Women's Amateur

Paige Hoffman had never played in the Iowa Women’s Amateur prior to this year. It didn’t take long for the rookie to in a groove – One she didn’t even expect.

Hoffman, following consecutive rounds of 71, leads the way at Otter Creek Golf Course in the 95th playing of the event.

“It was definitely a different of a 71 today,” Hoffman said compared to her round yesterday. “There was no wind practically through the whole round. I didn’t hit my irons as well today, so it was more of a scramble. I made a lot of longer putts. It was nice to have the wind die down.”

Hoffman said a win tomorrow would be mean a lot.

“I am just going to stay focused,” Hoffman said. “It would mean a lot (to win). I would be surprised as I wasn’t expecting to play this well. It would be an experience I would never forget.”

Sitting just a shot back of Hoffman’s lead is defending champion Sierra Hargens. Hargens, who shot 72 (+1) in the second round, said she is ready to go out and defend her title tomorrow in the final round. Ames’ Joy Chou is tied with Hargens and trails by just one stroke heading into the final round.

“I hit my irons really close yesterday and today I didn’t hit them as close,” Hargens said. “I had a lot more 15-footers. I managed to two-putt those and went on with my game. I knew it was playing hard out there. It was hard to club today, you didn’t know which way the wind was going at time, but I was able to manage (it). I am going to just keep chipping away and not put any results in my head. I know I can do this.”

In the Open Division, Kelly Nelson of Waterloo leads Janece Schwartzkopf of Stuart by four shots. Nelson posted a round of 73 (+2) on Tuesday, which included an eagle 2 on her opening hole.

Final round action will conclude tomorrow.

Click here for a full recap of 36-hole scores.

Hargens, Hoffman lead 95th Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship

July 22, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Women's Amateur

A pair of even par rounds lead the 95th Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship being held at Ankeny’s Otter Creek Golf Course.

Cedar Rapids’ Sierra Hargens and West Des Moines’ Paige Hoffman posted 71 to take an early lead in this year’s championship. Both players admitted the wind was tough to handle during their round.

“I started off bogey-bogey,” Hargens said. “I hit a couple bad iron shots. I was tense and winning this event last year I felt (early on) like I had to play perfect. I settled down after a little bit. I tried to pay good attention to the wind. I actually clubbed down (on some holes). I just played my game.”

Hoffman also commented that wind was a factor in today’s play.

“You definitely had to think about (the wind) it on every shot,” Hoffman said. “The course played completely different that it normally does. It played longer today I thought. It seemed the holes that were already short, were downwind. I made some long putts and my lag putting was good.”

Ames’ Joy Chou sits just a shot off the lead, shooting 72 (+1) today.

Waterloo’s Kelly Nelson leads the Open Division following a round of 78 (+7). Janece Schwartzkopf, of Stuart, gives chase, just a shot back of Nelson in the three-day event.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Feldick, McCoy qualify for U.S. Amateur at Wakonda Club

July 16, 20190 commentsUSGA, USGA Qualifiers

When the dust had settled at Wakonda Club after 36 holes of golf, Cedar Falls’ Jonathan Feldick (69-72) and Ankeny’s Nate McCoy (71-71) grabbed the two spots available into the U.S. Amateur on Monday.

Each player took different roads to earn their spot to Pinehurst however.

Feldick (pictured above), who was medalist, rode a rollercoaster for most of the afternoon finishing with 11 birdies over his 36 holes. Meanwhile, McCoy settled for a bushel basket of pars, making 32 on the day. McCoy then survived a playoff against Sam Vincent, of Ames, to secure his spot into the U.S. Amateur.

“I just tried to keep it in play off the tee,” Feldick said. “I struggled with that though, but I putted well today and I finished strong. I birdied the last two holes (this afternoon). It has been a life-long dream of mine to qualify for the U.S. Amateur. Wakonda Club has been good to me, I qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur when I was 17 here. I can’t be happier, I am shocked to be honest.”

Feldick, who opened with 69 (-3) in the morning, said he didn’t really have a number in mind in the afternoon, he just knew he couldn’t let up.

“I didn’t have a number in mind,” Feldick said. “Luckily I birdied the last two holes to finish even (for the afternoon round). I just wanted to get back to even and finish strong, other than that I was just trying to make as many birdies as I could.”

McCoy (right) admitted he simply could not get a birdie putt to find the bottom of the cup

“I had 32 pars today,” McCoy said. “I was getting frustrated out there actually, I just couldn’t get a putt to fall. When you’re stuck around even par you feel like people are passing you. I gave myself a lot of opportunities, but I just couldn’t get any to drop. The greens were tough and I was grinding a lot.”

McCoy admitted that playing with Vincent (1st Alternate via the playoff loss) was enjoyable and kept his mind sharp the whole day.

“I had a ton of fun playing with Sam,” McCoy said. “I knew he was going to be tough. I just tried to stay even with him most of the day.”

Nate will also join his dad, Mike, who is exempt into the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst. It is believed to be only the fourth time a father/son dou has played in the same U.S. Amateur. Nate commented that it will be a special week for sure in North Carolina , August 11-18.

“He (my dad) kept telling me to go punch your ticket,” Nate McCoy said. “I hope we can play a few practice rounds together. Hopefully it will make my hotel rental a little cheaper. It might be a win-win for me.”

Earning Second Alternate was Ankeny’s Jon Olson.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Bermel sisters win 9th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship, Leszczynski/Webb take Senior crown

July 14, 20190 commentsChampionships, IGA Women's Four-Ball

Hailey and Hannah Bermel (pictured right) followed up their opening round 65 (-7) in the 9th IGA Women’s Four-Ball with a solid round of 68 (-4) at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course to win the title by nine shots. The Bermel’s father, John, is the Head Golf Professional at Pheasant Ridge GC, so the victory was extra sweet for the duo.

“It was fun getting to play together and bounce the energy off of each other,” Hailey said.

Hannah admitted the game plan for the second round was fairly simple.

“We wanted to hit them close and knock the putts in,” Hannah said with a smile. “(We just wanted) to find the fairways.”

Finishing runner-up was the side of Janelle Carter / Julie Buerman, who posted two solid rounds of golf (69-73) to finish under par for the championship (-2).

In the Senior Division Laura Leszczynski and Robin Webb (pictured right) teamed up for post scores of 70-67 (-7) for the two-day event and cruised to an eight shot win. Leszczynski commented the two meshed well together and complimented her partner’s play.

“I think our games and approach to playing are very similar,” Leszczynski said. “Robin is an aggressive and steady player. She’s brings out the best in my game. She also helped me with all my key putts. We each had a lot of birdies today and we took turns on scoring them fortunately. To top it all, we had a lot of fun together. She’s a great player and a person, that combination makes these kind of events so much fun.”

The side of Kelly Grimes / Sue Harmon finished runner-up in the Senior Division, posted rounds of 74-71 (+1).

Click here for a full recap of scoring, including Net Division results

Bermels lead 9th IGA Women’s Four-Ball, Leszczynski/Webb pace Senior Division

July 12, 20190 commentsChampionships, IGA Women's Four-Ball

Hannah and Hailey Bermel put on a show at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in the opening round of the 9th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship. The pair teamed up to shoot 65 (-7) to lead by four shots over the side of Janelle Carter / Julie Buerman.

“Hannah made a lot of putts,” Hailey Bermel said. “If her ball was on the green, it was going in the hole (today).”

Hannah, who shot an opening nine holes of 30 (-6) on her own ball, admitted the flatstick was working and knowing the course helped – Their dad, John, is the Head Golf Professional at Pheasant Ridge GC. Hannah was able to make a total of eight birdies on the day, finishing the round with a 69 (-3) on her own.

“Putting was huge (in my success),” Hannah Bermel said. “There were some tough pins out there, so it’s nice to know the course.”

In the Senior Division, the side of Laura Leszczynski / Robin Webb posted a round of 70 (-2) to lead by four strokes over four other teams.

The final round will conclude tomorrow, with tee times starting at 8 a.m.

Click here to see a full recap of scoring from Round One.

 

 

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