Author: iowagolf

Joy Chou takes lead into final round of 96th Iowa Women’s Amateur at Elmwood CC

July 7, 20200 commentsChampionships, Iowa Women's Amateur

Joy Chou (pictured above), of Ames, began the day one back at the 96th Iowa Women’s Amateur. She regrouped after a few early bogies in the second round, rallying on the backside and capturing the lead with a birdie on the par-4 18th at Elmwood Country Club, which brought her to 7-over par for the tournament with a 36-hole total of 147 (+7). She will have a one-stroke advantage heading into Wednesday’s final round.

Ames’ Amelia Mehmet-Grohn, the opening round leader, remains in the hunt and is only one stroke back after a few late bogies led her to settle for a round of 78 (+8) and a 148 (+8) total. YiTing Chou, of Ames, will begin the final round in a tie for third with Ames’ Taglao Jeeravivitaporn at a tally of 150 (+10). All four ladies from Ames are members of the women’s golf team at Iowa State University.

The low round of the day went to IGA veteran Karli Kerrigan, of Ankeny, who posted a round of 73 (+3) which included three birdies to work her way into the top 10.

In the Open Division Kathy Fortune, of Rockwell City, took advantage of moving day, propelling herself forward six spots to the top of the leaderboard with her round of 78 (+8) for a 36-hole total of 164 (+24). She carries a four-stroke advantage over 2019 IGA Women’s Senior Player of the Year Kelly Grimes heading into Wednesday.

Click here to see a recap of scores

Mehmet-Grohn leads 96th Iowa Women’s Amateur at Elmwood CC

July 6, 20200 commentsChampionships, Iowa Women's Amateur

Amelia Mehmet-Grohn, of Ames, finished T2nd in last year’s Iowa Women’s Amateur. This year she is looking to improve on that result.

Mehmet-Grohn (pictured right), the 2019 Iowa Women’s Player of the Year, got off to a nice start to accomplish that goal at Elmwood Country Club on Monday during the opening round of the 96th Iowa Women’s Amateur. An even par round of 70 leaves Mehmet-Grohn a shot ahead of Iowa State University teammate Joy Chou, of Ames. Mehmet-Grohn offset four bogeys with four birdies during the opening round.

Joy Chou, who like Mehmet-Grohn finished T2nd in last years event, finished with a round of 71 (+1) on Monday that included a healthy dose of pars (13). Mason City’s Sydney Eaton and Ames’ YiTing (Ruby) Chou both sit just three shots off the lead after posting rounds of 73 (+3).

Defending champion Paige Hoffman, of West Des Moines, shot 80 (+10) and will look to make a move in tomorrow’s second round.

In the Open Division Carroll Dethrow, of Nevada, leads following a round of 80 (+10). A trio of players sit just four shots back at 84 (+14).

Click here for recap of scores

Smith wins second consecutive IGA Women’s Match Play title

July 2, 20200 commentsChampionships, Wmn's Match Play

Indianola’s Leanne Smith (right) was in familiar territory entering Thursday’s semifinal match at the 9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship.

Smith, who won the title last year at Tournament Club of Iowa, was in the hunt for another title in 2020 at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny. Following a 5&3 up victory over Ankeny’s Karli Kerrigan, Smith met 2018 IGA Women’s Match Play Champion Sydney Eaton, of Mason City.

Eaton, who prevailed in her morning semifinal match against Samantha Knight (3&2) got off to a quick 2 up advantage early in the final match. Smith, who admitted she was ‘searching’ for her game most of the week leading into Thursday’s play, rallied to win three of the last holes on the front nine to take a 1 up lead and command of the match.

“I didn’t really find my game until today,” Smith admitted. “The greens are quick and the rough was thick – I was all over the place. I knew if I stuck with it, I could make some things happen.”

Smith, who won 7 of the last 9 holes of the match before closing out Eaton 4&3, commented she wished more events were match play – they seem to suit her well.

“You always know you have the next hole (in match play),” Smith said. “I try not to get too down or up emotionally. You can have a blow-up hole and still get the next one. As long as you keep yourself together you can come back.”

With the win, Smith hopes her success will continued into next week’s Iowa Women’s Amateur being held at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.

“I have played there a few times,” Smith said. “They have narrow fairways and lots of trees, so I need to get some work in on the range.”

Click here to view Smith’s post-round interview

Click here to review the complete
9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship bracket

Peck picks up emotional win at 32nd IGA Match Play Championship

July 2, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Conner Peck (right) , of Ankeny, had a lot on his mind during the week.

With the help of support from his family and solid ball striking most of the week, Peck came out on top at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny. Peck defeated fellow Ankeny resident Andrew Huseman in the final match going away, 5&4.

“In match play you’re not playing against the whole field,” Peck said. “It’s a hole-by-hole deal. If you have one bad hole, it’s not the end of the world. It was a grind, but it was a lot of fun. I hit the ball really well (all week). This week was awesome.”

But before his afternoon match against Huseman, Peck, a 2012 Herman Sani Scholar, battled Tripp Kinney, of Des Moines, in a back and forth match for the ages. Peck, who won 1 up, had nothing but great things to say about Kinney.

“Tripp is a great player,” Peck said. “That was a fun match. If you are playing well, it’s nice to play a lot of golf quickly. My putter got better as the week went on.”

Huseman, who defeated J.D. Anderson, of Johnston, in the other semifinal match on Thursday morning, 1 up, simply could not keep up with Peck’s birdie (and eagle) barrage. Peck was -7 in the 14 holes he played, including back to back eagles on the 10th and 11th holes. A final birdie on the 14th hole was good enough for the win in what has been a whirlwind month, filled with mixed emotions, for Peck.

“This past month I moved back from Dallas to be closer to my family (following the loss of my brother),” Peck said. “To feel some happiness this week and to have a lot of family here is really important.”

Click here to view Peck’s post-round interview

Click here to review the complete 32nd IGA Match Play Championship bracket

Things move quick at 9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship, Semifinals set

July 1, 20200 commentsChampionships, Wmn's Match Play

Things moved quick at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny on Wednesday as Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches took place in the 9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship.

Mason City’s Sydney Eaton, who won this event in 2018, did the ‘quickest’ work on Wednesday as she defeated Carroll Dethrow, of Nevada, 6&5 and then dismantled Indianola’s Kelly Grimes 8&7 in the afternoon. Eaton, the #1 seed, will face Onawa’s Samantha Knight, the #5 seed, in the semifinals, who quickly defeated Ila Gilbert 9&8 and then bested Brooke Newell 1 up to move into Thursday’s semifinal.

The other semifinal match will see Indianola’s Leanne Smith, the defending champion, who defeated Margene Grady (7&5) and Nicki Clayton (2&1), face off against Karli Kerrigan, of Ankeny. Kerrigan took down Jan Sewright in the Round of 16 (5&4) and then battled Jordan Amelon, coming out on top after a marathon 22 hole fight in the afternoon. Smith earned the #2 seed as defending champion and Kerrigan earned the #3 seed following stroke play qualifying.

Click here to view the brackets

Four remain at 32nd IGA Match Play Championship

July 1, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Four players remain after the third day of action at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny.

In the George Turner Region, Ankeny local and #16 seed Connor Peck defeated #32 seed Ian Johnston 4 & 3 during the morning’s Round of 16 matches and followed it up with a victory over #8 seed Joe Palmer in 19 holes to secure his place in the semifinals. Peck will face off against #4 seed and 2017 IGA Match Play Champion Tripp Kinney, of Des Moines. Kinney bypassed #13 seed Brock Barnhart and #21 seed David Combs en route to the semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket in the Steve Spray Region, #34 seed Andrew Huseman is set to face off against four-time IGA Champion and #38 seed J.D. Anderson in Thursday’s semifinals. Huseman is hot off of a victory last weekend at the Fort Dodge Amateur and overtook #50 seed Brian Verduyn and #10 seed Anthony Ruthey to claim his spot in Thursday’s semifinal match. Anderson defeated #11 seed Cale Leonard in Wednesday’s Round of 16 match, and then closed out a 1 up victory over #19 seed Ben Epperly to advance to the semifinals.

Click here to view brackets

9th IGA Women’s Match Play sees mixed bag of results in Round of 32

June 30, 20200 commentsChampionships, Wmn's Match Play

With the top seven seeds earning byes in the the Round of 32 of the 9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship, a mix bag of results was the story of the day – some close matches and some lopsided victories at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny.

In the category of nail-biters – Carroll Dethrow (2 up), Ila Gilbert (1 up) and Jan Sewright (1 up) all earned wins into the Round of 16 to be played on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile Kelly Grimes (8&6), Kathy Fortune (9&8), Leighann Larocca (5&4), Margene Grady (8&7), Nicki Clayton (9&8) and Rose Kubesheski (9&7) has less stress to deal with in earning their spot in the Round of 16.

Click here to see Round of 16 matches

Only 16 remain at 32nd IGA Match Play Championship

June 30, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Day two of the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship saw the field cut from 64 down to 16 after morning and afternoon matches. Three-time IGA Match Play Champion, Jon Brown, who was the #64 seed into match play, stunned #1 seed and stroke play medalist Dusty Stewart in the morning, winning 6&5. Brown would fall to #32 seed Ian Johnston in the afternoon in a back and forth match. Johnston will meet Conner Peck, the #16 seed Wednesday morning.

2020 Southeast Amateur Champion, Anthony Ruthey continued his fine play, winning convincingly in the morning and afternoon. Ruthey will meet Caleb Peters in the Round of 16 on Wednesday. Peters, the #26 seed knocked off #7 seed Charlie Hoyle in the afternoon to punch his ticket in the Round of 16.

Other Round of 16 matches tomorrow morning at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny include Joe Palmer/Jake Patterson, Tripp Kinney/Brock Barnhart, Timothy Lin/David Combs, Andrew Huseman/Brian Verduyn, Tony Newkirk/Ben Epperly and J.D. Anderson/Cale Leonard.

Click here for a full recap from Tuesday’s matches

Eaton, Kerrigan share medalist honors at 9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship

June 29, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Senior Match Play

Mason City’s Sydney Eaton and Ankeny’s Karli Kerrigan, who both shot 77 (+5), shared medalist honors of the stroke play qualifying round of the 9th IGA Women’s Match Play Championship being contested at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny.

Eaton earned the #1 seed into match play by way of the USGA recommended tie-breaker procedure. Kerrigan will be the #3 seed, as defending champion Leanne Smith, of Indianola, will be the #2 seed.

Eaton, the 2018 IGA Match Play Champion, made a pair of birdies during her round on Monday, while Kerrigan made three. Round of 32 matches will be held Tuesday morning, as Seeds #1-#7 will receive opening round byes and Seeds #8-#32 will face off.

Click here to view tomorrow’s Round of 32 matches

Stewart earns medalist honors at 32nd IGA Match Play Championship

June 29, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Ottumwa’s Dusty Stewart set the pace during stroke play qualifying for the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship on Monday. Stewart blistered Talons of Tuscany Golf Club, in Ankeny, making six birdies on his way to a round of 67 (-5) in hot and windy conditions.

Defending champion Jon Olson, of Ankeny, posted a fine round himself – turning in a score of 68 (-4) to earn the #2 seed into match play. Truth be told, Olson would have been the #2 seed regardless as defending champion.

With the IGA’s COVID procedure of not holding a playoff and utilizing the USGA recommended tie-breaker procedure the cut into match play came at a score of 78 (+6) with two players, Bo McBee and Jon Brown, earning the final two spots. Brown won the event most recently in 2018 and three times overall.

Click here to view Tuesday’s Round of 64 matches

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