Author: iowagolf

Rain doesn’t dampen great golf at 58th IGA Women’s Club Team

August 14, 20190 commentsChampionships, IGA Women's Club Team

On Monday, a talented field of women from across the state (shown above) gathered at Coldwater Golf Links to compete in the 58th IGA Women’s Club Team Championship. This year was Coldwater’s first time hosting the Women’s Club Team, and the course along with the mixed in rain provided the ladies with a strong test.

The format for the championship includes teams of four ladies from IGA Member Clubs. Each club fields a team of 4 amateur golfers, with one golfer designated as a Team Captain. A club participates in both the net and gross divisions. Each golfer plays her own golf ball throughout the competition. A club records the best 3 of 4 scores on each hole for both the gross and net competition.

Low Gross Team – Echo Valley Country Club: Robin Webb, Leanne Smith, Valerie Weis and Laura Fulton.

Echo Valley Country Club, of Norwalk, were champions in the Gross Division for the second time, also winning in 2016. Echo Valley posted a 10-over 223 total, led by Leanne Smith’s even par-71 round that included five birdies. Laura Fulton and Valerie Weis finished with a pair of 81’s, and Robin Webb came in nicely with an 82.

Low Net Team – Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course: Mary Kroeger, Kelly Nelson, Margene Grady and Michelle Klein.

Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course, of Waterloo, sealed the victory in the Net Division for the second time, also winning in 2014. The team separated themselves from the field by posting 13-under net total. Irv Warren was led by Kelly Nelson who shot a four-over par 75 (net 70) and Michelle Klein who posted a 78 (net 72). Margene Grady and Mary Kroeger rounded out the squad with net scores of 71 and 78, respectively. LPGA Amateurs Golf Association came in second with an 11-under total, and Sunnyside Country Club and Urbandale Golf & CC tied for third with a 10-under total.

Briarwood Golf Club’s Hadley Morgan fired a 2-under 69 to win the Individual Gross Division. Hadley carded four birdies and played each nine under par on the day. Leanne Smith of Echo Valley was Runner-Up with an even par 71.

Noreen Christians of the LPGA Amateurs Golf Association and Renee Buckner of Ankeny Golf & Country Club tied for first in the Net Division, with both players playing well and finishing with 4-under par net totals of 67.

Low Gross Individual – Hadley Morgan, Briarwood Golf Club.

Low Net Individual – Noreen Christians, LPGA Amateurs – Des Moines.

Ricky Costello wins 70th Herman Sani Tournament on second playoff hole

August 12, 20190 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Ames’ Ricky Costello (pictured above) knew after his opening nine holes in the final round of the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises at Echo Valley Country Club he had nothing to lose.

Costello put together a bogey-free 33 (-3) on the back nine to get into a playoff with three others including Charles Jahn (Sperry), Frank Lindwall (Cedar Rapids) and Lachlan Barker (Ames), who all finished at 211 (-5) for the tournament. Costello, Lindwall and Barker are all teammates on the Iowa State men’s golf team.

Costello, who held the lead after the opening round with 68 (-4), admitted he wanted to play more aggressively in the final round. His aggressiveness paid dividends, after all four players made par on the first playoff hole (#18), as he almost drove the green on the second playoff hole (#11) and chipped up to tap-in range. His birdie was good enough to win and take home the title after birdie attempts failed from the other three players.

“The first day I had conservative approach to the course,” Costello said. “I made a lot of putts that day. Coming into today I told myself I am coming here to win. I wanted to play more aggressive than I had the first couple of days and I did. I tried to put confident swings on the ball. I figured I didn’t have much to lose (by hitting driver on #11 in the playoff).”

Costello, even after making a 25-foot birdie putt on #18 thought he was probably a shot or two short.

“I was able to make a couple birdies down the stretch to get it to -5,” Costello said. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough. I had a rough start (today) and was two-over par after seven holes. I was able to birdie #9 and I thought let’s see what we can do those last nine holes. I couldn’t of asked for anything more than that.”

In the Senior Division Gene Elliott (West Des Moines) put together rounds of 69-67-72 (-8) to win by three over Jon Brown (Adel). West Des Moines’ Joe Palmer and Terry Cook (-2) tied for third place.

Rob Christensen (Marshalltown) won his second Super Senior Division title in a row in this event with a five shot victory over Jim Campbell (Albia). Polk City’s Stephen Larson finished third, eight shots back of Christensen.

Jewell’s Trevor Ullestad (-3) finished at the low professional for the event.

Click here for a full recap of scores.

Jahn overtakes lead at 70th Herman Sani Tournament

August 10, 20190 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Sperry’s Charles Jahn, with rounds of 69-70 (-5), leads the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises. Jahn, who leads by a shot over Lachlan Barker (Ames) and Frank Lindwall (Cedar Rapids), made four birdies to vault into the lead during the second round at Echo Valley Country Club.

Barker and Lindwall play golf for Iowa State University, while Jahn, a 2016 Herman Sani Scholar, is a men’s golf team member at Bradley University.

Opening round leader Ricky Castello (Ames), professional Trevor Ullestad (Jewell), and Nick Pittman (Urbandale) sit just two shots back of Jahn’s lead at -4. Pittman is a 2019 Herman Sani Scholar. Ullestad posted a bogey-free 67 (-5) in the second round.

In the Senior Division Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, fired a 67 (-5) that included eight birdies in his second round. Eillott sits at -8 for the tournament, one shot clear of Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines. Palmer shot 66 (-6) in the second round that included seven birdies against just a lone bogey. Jon Brown, Adel, sits at -2 through two rounds.

Rob Christensen (+3 overall), of Marshalltown, continues to lead the Super Senior Division following a second round of 76. Jim Campbell, of Albia, and Dave Sergeant, of Fort Dodge, are tied for second at +8, five shots off the lead.

The final round will will be played tomorrow with the field will be cut to the low 45 & ties in the Open Division, low 24 & ties in the Senior Division and low 9 & ties in the Super Senior Division after 36 holes.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Ames’ Costello leads 70th Herman Sani Tournament

August 9, 20190 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Ames’ Ricky Costello put together a fine round of golf, posting 68 (-4) to lead after the opening round of the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises being played at Echo Valley Country Club. The Ridge and Creek rotation are being used for this year’s event.

Costello, who will be a junior on the Iowa State men’s golf team this fall, made five birdies to go against just a single bogey. Following closely behind Costello, just a shot off the pace, include amateurs Charles Jahn (Sperry), Nick Pittman (Urbandale), Dylan Ellis (Parkersburg), Cody Holck (Grimes) and professional Darin Fisher (Albia). A trio of players sit at -2, just two back of the lead.

Pittman, a 2019 Herman Sani Scholarship recipient, captured the Frohwein Award for the low score after the first round of the scholarship winners, who play as a group to start the tournament. All scholarship recipients were honored at a dinner following the opening round.

In the Senior Division, Terry Cook shot 68 (-4) to lead by a shot over Gene Elliott and Jon Brown by two shots.

Rob Christensen (Marshalltown) leads the Super Senior Division at -1, four shots ahead of Jim Campbell (Albia). John Kinsey (Alleman) is tied by Stephen Larson five strokes off the lead. Kinsey’s opening round included three eagles on the day.

Round two will be played tomorrow with the field will be cut to the low 45 & ties in the Open Division, low 24 & ties in the Senior Division and low 9 & ties in the Super Senior Division
after 36 holes.

Click here for a full recap scoring.

 

Grady makes history, wins both divisions at 54th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur

August 6, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Women's Amateur

It took extra holes, but Margene Grady (pictured above) of Cedar Falls made history.

Grady captured her first Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur title. Grady found herself tied with first round co-leader Beth Duenow, of Saint Ansgar, and Kathy Fortune, of Rockwell City, with a two-round total of + 10, 154. A par on the first playoff hole was all Grady had to do as both Duenow and Fortune made bogey.

Along with the Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur title, Grady also captured the Super Senior Division title. This was her second Super Senior Division title and marked the first time in Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur history where the same woman won both division titles.

Finishing in a tie for fourth, at +13, 157, were defending champion Laura Leszczynski, of Saint Mary’s, Michelle Klein, of Jesup, and Jeanette Fredericksen, of Cedar Falls.

Both Duenow and Fortune were members of the Super Senior Division, as they finished tied for second. Finishing fourth in the Super Senior Division was Frederickson, with Janis Owens, Creston, finishing in 5th place at +15 159.

Janis Owens won the net portion of the tournament with a two-day total of -11, 133.

Complete results can be viewed by clicking here.

Cooney wins Northwest Amateur by four strokes, makes 25 birdies

August 5, 20190 commentsChampionships, News

JJ Cooney, of Pickstown, SD, (above left) put together four under-par rounds to win the 2019 Northwest Amateur Golf Tournament at the Spencer Golf and Country Club. Cooney, who shot rounds of 71-66-68-66 (-17), made a total of 25 birdies en route to a four stroke victory over Justin Kolb, of Sioux Falls, SD, and Trent Peterson of Eagen, MN. Cooney trailed by four strokes of the lead entering the final round.

A quartet of players finished in a logjam for fourth place at -11, including Joe Hunter (Altoona), Jon Brown (Adel), Matt Tolen (Eau Clarie, WI) and Loagan Schweinefus (Ossian).

In the Senior Division, Jon Brown edged out Booneville’s Brett Taylor. Brown posted rounds of 72-68 (-4) to win the division. Ankeny’s Curtis Hock finished third, four shots back of Brown.

Dick Vetter, of Charlotte, NC, also captured a one stroke victory in the Super Senior Division. Ron Eilers, of Columbia, MO, and Rob Pomerantz, of Des Moines, finished in a tie for second place.

Click here to view a full recap of scores and flight results.

Matthew Walker wins 2019 Iowa Open in playoff over Gavin Hall

August 5, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Open

Ottumwa native, Matthew Walker (pictured above) in his third Professional event of his career won the Iowa Open. Walker is the first Ottumwa product since Bob Moreland won the championship in 1981.

With two holes to go, Walker held a comfortable two-stroke lead against the field. Gavin Hall of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, came blazing into the clubhouse making birdie on the 17th hole and holing out from 122 yards on the par-4 18th hole to force the playoff.  Hall shot a 9-under par 63 to Walker’s 7-under par final round 65.

In the playoff, Hall hit first into a fairway bunker.  Walker put his drive down the middle of the fairway and applied pressure to Hall’s 2nd shot. Hall had an awkward stance in the bunker and could only advance the ball 100 yards. Walker threw a dart to the backside of the green. Hall pitched his third shot to 15-feet. Hall two putted from there to make a bogey 5. Walker etched his name into the history books with a two-putt par from 10-feet. Walker and Hall finished the three-day tournament 13-under-par.

Click here to read more from the Iowa Section PGA

Leszczynski, Duenow share lead 54th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur

August 5, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Women's Amateur


The first round of the 54th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur took place today at Oneota Golf and Country Club in Decorah. Perfect weather allowed for ideal scoring conditions as two women stand atop the leaderboard. Defending champion, Laura Leszczynski (pictured above), Saint Mary’s, and Beth Duenow, Saint Ansgar, each fired 4 over par 76’s. Leszczynski’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 8th, where she holed out from 100 yards.

In the Super Senior Division, Beth Duenow leads the way with a 76. Jeanette Frederickson, Cedar Falls, and Janis Owens, Creston, are close behind after carding first round 78’s. Duenow birdied the par-5 18th to extend her lead to two going into tomorrow. Frederickson also had an exciting finish of her own after making a birdie on both 17 and 18.

For complete scoring, click here. Round two will take place on Monday, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Elliott finishes runner-up at British Senior Amateur, Palmer & McCoy tie for 19th

August 2, 20190 commentsChampionships

Iowa’s Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, Mike McCoy, of Norwalk, and Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines, all competed in the 2019 Senior Amateur Championship this week which began on Wednesday. The championship was held July 31-August 2 at the historic North Berwick Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland. The field of 144 played 18 holes both Wednesday and Thursday, with the low 60 players & ties advancing to the final round on Friday.

All three Iowans not only made the cut but finished well, with Elliott finishing runner-up after a three-hole playoff with eventual champion Craig Davis. Davis made birdie on the third playoff hole to win the title. Elliott posted rounds of 70-67-70 – 207 (-9). McCoy and Palmer both finished at 214 (-2) to tie for 19th place.

Elliott, Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Member, finished as the low amateur last week at the 2019 British Senior Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club. He has excelled in this event in prior years, finishing in third place in 2018 at Royal Porthcawl and as the Runner-Up in 2017 at Sunningdale. He has won the Iowa Men’s Player of the Year title four times, and the Senior Player of the Year title three times.

McCoy, 11-time Iowa Men’s Player of the Year, was the low-amateur at this year’s US Senior Open in South Bend, Ind. He is Iowa’s most decorated amateur, with his career highlights including his victory at the 2013 US Mid-Amateur Championship, competing in the 2014 Masters Tournament and earning a spot on the 2015 Walker Cup Team. He has won the Iowa Amateur Championship six times, and was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

Palmer, 2018 Iowa Senior Player of the Year, competed in the Senior Amateur Championship for his first time. He placed third in the stroke play qualifying and advanced to the Round of 32 in the US Senior Amateur Championship in 2018 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore. He has won the Iowa Senior Amateur title three times and has made multiple USGA Championship appearances, including the 2006 US Mid-Amateur and the 2014 US Senior Open.

To see a recap of championship scoring click here.

U.S. Senior Amateur, Senior Women’s Amateur Sectional Qualifier held at CRCC

July 31, 20190 commentsUSGA, USGA Qualifiers

Sam Billmeyer (above), of Ankeny, IA, punched his ticket to the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur after firing an even par 72 at Cedar Rapids Country Club. Billmeyer’s round was highlighted by four consecutive birdies on holes three through six which helped him make the turn in 3 under par 33. James Butler, of Fort Madison, IA, also shot 72. Butler had two birdies on the day, coming on the 3rd and 8th holes. With his runner-up finish, he claims the first alternate spot.

The U.S. Senior Amateur will take place August 24-29 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

 

From left – Leeann Fairlie, Therese Quinn and Susan Marchese.

Heidi Person (left)

Sixteen women from across the United States teed it up today for a chance to make it to the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur. With four spots on the line, Therese Quinn, Jacksonville, FL, Heidi Person, Pauma Valley, CA, Leeann Fairlie, Oklahoma City, OK, and Susan Marchese, Omaha, NE, all punched their tickets to the national championship. Therese Quinn fired a 7 over par 79 to claim medalist honors. Her round was highlighted by a birdie on the 10th hole. Heidi Person shot a 9 over par 81, Leeann Fairlie and Susan Marchese both shot 10 par over 82.

The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will take place August 24-29 at Cedar Rapids Country Club.

Click here for a full recap of scoring

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