Larry Lockridge was presented the IGA’s 2018 George Turner Distinguished Service Award during the Annual Awards & Player of the Year banquet on Friday, December 14, at Echo Valley Country Club. Lockridge served 15 years on the IGA Board of Directors, including serving at president from April 1999-April 2001. Lockridge is best known for his continued service and volunteer efforts administrating the Des Moines City Junior Tournament, starting in 1974.

The Iowa Golf Association named its distinguished service award after Turner in 2003. His name value runs beyond state borders. 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. 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 20 years ago. It’s not an official Iowa Golf Association event unless George Turner is somewhere on the course!
(Courtesy of Rick Brown)

The IGA’s Sean Flanders Volunteer of the Year for 2018, is Leighann LaRocca (pictured above). LaRocca was presented her award in a surprise announcement on Friday, December 14, during the IGA Annual Awards and Player of the Year Banquet held at Echo Valley Country Club, Norwalk.

LaRocca has given countless hours to the IGA over the years, and 2018 was no different. She currently serves on the IGA Board of Directors as the Treasurer. As an officer she is part of the IGA Executive Committee – one of four IGA committees she serves on.

She is the chair of the Ann Griffel Scholarship Selection Committee, charged with ciphering through 75-100 scholarship applications each spring, narrowing it down to the 20 or so that will be shared with the entire committee. In addition, she serves on the Women’s Rules & Competitions Committee and the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, which, again, requires substantial amounts of reading when studying all the info on the various individuals that have been submitted.

LaRocca also recently decided to add course rating to her list of volunteer efforts in 2018, as she has joined the central Iowa group. Not only did she participate in ratings, but she also had to learn about the rating process, which takes up a significant amount of time in and of itself.

Finally, LaRocca has also been one of the top supporters financially to the IGA Foundation Scholarship programs. She is always extremely supportive of the Golf Marathon and Benefit Tournament that we hold to raise funds for our scholarships.

Click here to view a video of the presentation

The Iowa Golf Association is privileged to announce that the Volunteer of the Year Award has been named after Sean Flanders (pictured on the right with IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts). The annual award is selected each year by the IGA staff.

Click here to view a video of the presentation

Flanders has volunteered his time and efforts at the IGA championships and qualifiers for about past five years. During the competition season, Flanders feels almost like a member of the staff. Most of the time, he arrives at the course before staff. He not only helps out on the competition days, but he now spends a great deal of time helping prep in the days leading up to the events – this means painting hazards, Ground Under Repair, selecting hole locations and all the other stuff that goes into championship preparation. It’s not an exaggeration to say it has been hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the IGA over the past few years.

Flanders, who won this award twice in those five years, has had his name come up during discussions about who should win each year. IGA staff ultimately made the decision to honor Flanders, much to his surprise, by naming the award after him at the December 14, IGA Annual Awards and Player of the Year Banquet.

IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts (left) announces to the audience that the IGA Volunteer of the Year will be named after Sean Flanders (right).

IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts (left) and Sean Flanders share a laugh during the presentation.

Sean Flanders accepts a plaque signifying the IGA Volunteer of the Year will named in his honor.

The Iowa Golf Association Foundation is continuing their partnership with the Iowa Section PGA to promote the 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass to members of the IGA.

An Iowa PGA Golf Pass is a booklet that contains FREE or discounted rates at over 250 golf facilities across Iowa and Western Illinois. By purchasing the golf pass, you can save hundreds – even thousands – of dollars on green fees, cart rentals, range balls, merchandise, and golf lessons!

Remember, that each Golf Pass offer is only valid for the individual Golf Pass holder. One Golf Pass is not valid for everyone in the group. The golf facilities included in the Golf Pass are only required to honor their deals to individuals that present a valid Iowa PGA Golf Pass.

Golfers now have the option to purchase the 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass in an electronic version ($40) or the typical printed booklet ($45) that has been available in the past.

The best part is you can use the coupon code “iowagolf” at checkout to receive $10 off your purchase (from $45 or $40 down to $35 or $30). Additionally, if you use that code, the IGA Foundation will receive a $10 donation from the Iowa PGA.

Don’t forget to use the coupon code “iowagolf” to receive $10 off your purchase of the Iowa PGA Golf Pass.

Click here to purchase your 2019 Iowa PGA Golf Pass today!

REMINDER — The Iowa PGA can no longer accept credit cards over the phone. All order must be done online or send a check to the Iowa PGA Section Office at 3184 Hwy 22, Riverside, IA 52327.

LECANTO, Fla. – Gene Elliott (Pictured above) showed why he is Gene Elliott on Friday Nov. 30, in the final round of the Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions. The Iowa golf legend rallied in the final round as his opponents were moving in the opposite direction on the leaderboard. Elliott used a final-round even-par 72 to win the event by four shots.

Elliott entered the final round at Black Diamond Ranch’s Quarry Course trailing Allen Peake by one shot. Peake tumbled down the leaderboard with a final-round 79. Elliott put together a solid round with two birdies and a double bogey. His 72 was the second-lowest round of the day. Only runner-up Mike Arnold had better (1-under 71) but opening rounds of 76 had left him to far back at the start of the day.

Click here to read more from AmateurGolf.com

The full council of Reocín has agreed to put the name of the Cantabrian golfer murdered in September, Celia Barquín Arozamena, who played college golf at Iowa State University, to its municipal pavilion of Puente San Miguel (shown above courtesy of Alan Shipnuck), as a tribute to this born sportswoman in the locality and whose family resides in it.

In a statement, the first deputy mayor and Councilor for Sports of the Municipality of Reocín, Mario Iglesias, highlights that the plenary adopted this decision last night, considering that Celia Barquín “represented and represents the values ​​of sport”.

“Those of us who knew Celia and her family can say that it is an honor for all our people that our municipal sports center bears her name,” the mayor assures.

Click here to read more from La Vanguardia Ediciones

*You may need to select ‘Translate’ after clicking on the link to view the article in English*

A large group of ‘Iowa gals’ participated once again this year in the Naples Invitational Golf Tournament to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation earlier this week as part of the Play for P.I.N.K. efforts. Those from Iowa that participated in the charity event (pictured above) included Jan DeMott, Mary Saxton, Julie Lisle, Julie Swanson, Jules Daughton, Judy McCarty, Jill Blackwood, Debra Larson, Judy Arledge, Diane Sanders, Flo Schall, Jody Neuhaus, Lyn Schumann, Kathy Fortune, Ruth Bond, Cristy Schmidt, MaryAnn Brown, Robbie Hall and Carol Dodge.

To speed advances in breast cancer detection, treatment and survivorship, Play for P.I.N.K. (Prevention, Immediate diagnosis, New technology, Knowledge) supports thousands of volunteers nationwide as they raise funds for research through sporting and lifestyle events. Their efforts raise $4.6 million annually — and 100% of that goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“This is a true labor of love for us because each of us has had a battle with breast cancer,” Blackwood said in a recent feature on the Play for P.I.N.K webpage. “Judy was diagnosed in 1999, had a mastectomy and has been disease free since. I was diagnosed in 2016. I had a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. In 2017 the cancer had metastasized. I went on a drug that was specifically developed for this type of cancer and did well for another year. When it stopped working I switched to another drug. The side effects were disastrous. I stopped taking all cancer medications and entered hospice. Today, I am happy to report that I am feeling much better and am able to function. I’m sharing my experience to illustrate the need for more research to bring an end to this awful disease. Play for P.I.N.K. donates 100% of all monies raised to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation which is important to Judy and me. Both of us believe research is the route to a cure.”

Play for P.I.N.K. supports events in 30 states across the country, with more than 30,000 annual participants turning their passion for golf, tennis, and other sports and lifestyle pursuits into substantial support for research. To date, Play for P.I.N.K. has raised nearly $53 million and currently supports 26 scientists at leading academic medical institutions around the world.

Click here to read a feature on Blackwood
and McCarty’s involvement in the charity event

Chuck “Chaz” Zwiener, of Iowa City, passed away earlier this week. Zwiener was a 1989 recipient of the (now named) George Turner Distinguished Service Award and directed both Finkbine Golf Course and the Hawkeye Men’s Golf team (1958-1989) at the University of Iowa.

According to his University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame bio, Zwiener coached five all-Americans, eight all-Big Ten Conference players, five teams to NCAA championships placing ninth in 1960, ten teams to first division finishes in Big Ten Conference, nineteen Professional Golf Association club pros, six players on professional tour, two-time Club Pro Player of Year, and United States Golf Association’s amateur medalist; second longest consecutive coaching career (32 years) in Iowa history; Finkbine club pro for thirty-three years; and Iowa golf scholarship named in his honor in 1992.

Some of the golfers Zwiener coached include Gene Elliott (Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member and former IGA Board Member) Dave Rummells (Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member), Ross deBuhr, Scotty Howe and Tom Christensen (IGA Board member).

Memorial contributions may be made to the Charles Zwiener Endowed Scholarship for Golf, c/o Gay & Ciha Funeral Home in Iowa City. To share a thought, memory or condolence with Chuck’s family please visit the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com. Private family services with burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery have been held.