AUGUST 25, 2017 –
There are three big events taking place involving Iowa golfers this weekend – the USGA Senior Amateur in Minneapolis, the Briarwood Amateur and the Iowa Open. Click the links below to view scoring, tee times and other info for all three.
2017 Briarwood Amateur (Briarwood Golf Club)
Britta Snyder won the Iowa Women’s Amateur Championship in dominating fashion a few weeks ago (click here to read about that win). That performance seems to have propelled her to a higher gear.
The 15-year old from Ames has won two straight AJGA championships, giving her three wins in her last three events (Iowa Women’s Am win being the first).
She won her first AJGA title on August 10th at the Junior at Forest Lake just outside of Detroit, Michigan. Snyder fired a final round 1-under par 70 to finish three shots clear of second place. She shot 72-75-70 to finish a 4-over par 217 over the Forest Lake Country Club layout. (view complete results here)
Two weeks later she won the Randy Wise Junior Open at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan (ended Aug 24) with scores of 75-72-73 (4-over 220). It was good enough for a two shot victory. (view complete results here)
The victories have propelled her to the top of the IGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year standings. She has already verbally committed to play collegiately at Baylor University.
Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, and Sam Billmeyer, of Ankeny, are in the field this weekend at the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, being played at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. This marks the first year Elliott was eligible to play in the 55 or older event.
While Billmeyer made it through the qualifying round held at Briarwood Golf Club, Elliott was exempt due to his top-500 ranking in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. An additional Iowan has at least a chance of getting into the field as well – Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines, is first on the alternate list for the USGA and could possibly be asked to play if someone is forced to withdraw. Palmer plans to be on-site and ready should that happen during the first day of play.
The championship begins with stroke play qualifying on Saturday, August 26th. The top 64 after 36 holes of qualifying make the match play draw.
Above – Thousands cheering for their team at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on #17.
After a full week of incredible golf, celebration and patriotism at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, the official attendance for the 2017 Solheim Cup has been tallied. The global golf event attracted 124,426 fans from August 14-20, 2017. This number surpasses the last attendance record for the Solheim Cup, set in 2009 at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois. Additionally, the large crowds on Friday broke the event’s single-day attendance record.
“Watching the crowds stream into Des Moines Golf and Country Club was a thrill,” said Chris Garrett, Tournament Director. “Running the Solheim Cup was a dream realized for me. Knowing we were able to bring in record crowds and create more fans of golf, the LPGA and the Solheim Cup make the success of the event even sweeter.”
The record-breaking crowd was comprised of thousands of ticket holders from around the globe. More than 50 percent of attendees came from outside of the state of Iowa including fans from more than 25 countries. Those patriotic fans were big spenders too. Fans purchased more than $2 million in merchandise – breaking yet another event record.
Click here for more on the 2017 Solheim Cup
West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott (pictured above) continued his great play this summer with a 69 (-3) at White Deer Run Golf Club, Vernon Hills, IL, to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Elliott’s score was good enough to tie for the final two qualifying spots. Elliott now moves on to the Atlanta area where the championship proper will be held (Capital City Club and Atlanta National Golf Club), October 7-12.
Elliott’s round at White Deer Run Golf Club included five birdies, with four of those coming in a five-hole stretch on his way in (#13-17).
Click here to see a recap of scoring from the qualifier.
Team USA won the 2017 Solheim Cup for a second year running, as they refused to let the European’s create history by not letting their five point lead slip.
Wins from Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Lizette Salas, Gerina Piller, and Danielle Kang, combined with halves from Lexi Thompson and Angel Yin and were enough to see USA win 16 ½ – 11 ½.
However, early in the day, there was plenty of blue on the board to cause Juli Inkster some concern, as the European’s looked to re-write the record books. However, Inkster’s team remained calm and ultimately Sorenstam’s side had left themselves too much to do heading into the singles.
Click here to read more
Photo Credit: 2015 Getty Images
This week, the Solheim Cup returns to the United States for the 15th edition of the matches. This year, Des Moines Golf and Country Club hosts the matches between Teams U.S.A. and Europe as they square off for the coveted crystal that the Americans brought back to the States in 2015. In the last match up, Team U.S.A. mounted the largest comeback in the history of the event, overcoming a 10 – 6 deficit heading into Sunday’s single matches, to win 14 ½ to 13 ½. The Americans look to retain the cup for the first time since 2009 when they picked up their third consecutive win.
Click here to read more about you need to know this week.
You would expect a Cyclone to storm back.
New Zeland’s Nick Voke (pictured above), who just completed his eligibility at Iowa State University this spring, stormed back to win the 68th Herman Sani Tournament at Echo Valley Country Club.
Voke, who posted an impressive 66 (-5) in the final round, shot 204 (-9) over the three-day event to win by three over former teammate Denzel Ieremia.
“I struck the ball pretty well all week,” Voke said. “I did a little bit of work before today’s round trying to get the speed of the greens.”
Voke admitted that he didn’t even play a practice round, let alone have any prior experience at EVCC.
“I walked the course before round one,” Voke said. “I had a good gameplan and was able to come away with (the win).”
Voke birdied three of the last four holes to pull away.
“I was able to make a nice putt on #17,” Voke said. “Then I made a seven-footer on #18 to finish.”
In the Senior Division Joe Palmer, who won the Senior Division in 2013, made birdie on the last hole to take home the title by a shot over Curtis Holck and Rob Dickerman.
Palmer finished at 210 (-3) for the event.
Click here for a full recap of scoring.
The weather was basically perfect and it was a day for scoring at the 68th Herman Sani Tournament.
Players found favorable conditions at Echo Valley Country Club today as many birdies were to be had. First round co-leader Matthew Jennings (pictured above) followed up his opening round 66 with a 68 (-3) and sits at 134 (-8) through two days. Zach Steffen, who fired the round of the day (65), sits just one back of Jennings. Denzel Ieremia, who co-led with Jennings after yesterday’s round, posted 69 (-2) and is also at 135 total along with Steffen.
A total of 7 players are under par after two days of play in the Open Division.
In the Senior Division Joe Palmer (140) took the lead thanks to his 68 (-3) today. He leads Curtis Holck by one shot. Terry Cook and Rob Dickerman are just two shots off the lead. Dickerman shot 67 (-4) today to climb back into the chase.
Click here for scoring recap.
Denzel Ieremia (a) and Matthew Jennings (p) lead after the opening round of the 68th Herman Sani Tournament being played at Echo Valley Country Club (pictured above). Both players fired 66 (-5) to take jump out to a share of the lead.
Playing the Ridge and Vale course rotation during the tournament this weekend, Ieremia (7) and Jennings (6) found plenty of birdies on their card. Jennings at one point strung for in a row together.
Nick Voke (a) and Mitch Tucker (p) both shot 69 (-2) and sit just three of the pace.
In the Senior Division, Curtis Holck (71) will take a one shot lead over Joe Palmer and Jay Gregory.
Click here for a recap of scoring.