Category: Championships

Iowa Junior, Girls’ Junior moves to three-day championship

January 26, 20210 commentsChampionships, Girls' Junior Amateur, Iowa Junior

The 2021 Iowa Junior and Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship will look different than previous years – but only by a day.

Both championships, set to be held at Ames’ Coldwater Golf Links June 21-23, will be contested over 54-holes in three days. In the past the event has been a 36-hole championship over two days for the oldest age divisions.

Most of the IGA’s major championships are 54-holes championships and both the Men’s and Women’s Rules and Competitions committees felt that the Iowa Junior and Girls’ Junior Amateur should mirror those events.

“This change was done first and foremost to elevate the status of the championship. Moving to a 54-hole event mirrors our other major events, like the Iowa Amateur, Women’s Amateur, and Senior Amateur,” said IGA CEO/Executive Director Chad Pitts.

It is also worth noting that the Iowa Junior and Girl’s Junior Amateur will have one division (18 & under). This was a change that the committees felt would elevate the event and make it unique to juniors in Iowa, as it reflects what the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship currently looks like, where 14 and 15-year-olds truly compete with 17 and 18-year-olds.

“It was a very tough decision to eliminate the younger age divisions from this championship. As the Allied Golf Association of the USGA we wanted our state junior amateur to more closely resemble that of the national championship, which does not have age divisions,” added Pitts. “Plus, these kids all play high school golf against one another no matter if they are freshman or seniors, so we feel that part won’t be very foreign to them at all.”

Although we know that this may discourage some younger players from participating right away, we hope that it gives them something to look forward to as they develop as players.

“The hardest part was eliminating the very young age divisions – the 13 and under divisions – because we know those kids are very unlikely to enter the event now,” said Tom Christensen, immediate past chairman of the IGA Rules & Competitions Committee. “Thankfully, our state has a wealth of playing opportunities for the youngest golfers with the Iowa Section PGA Junior Tour, so we will work to promote those events even more than we have in the past.”

Did you know – The Iowa Golf Association recently obtained two new permanent trophies that will include the names of each champion from the past going forward.  We are excited to unveil those at this year’s championship.

2021 IGA Championship, USGA Qualifying Schedule announced

November 13, 20200 commentsChampionships, News, USGA Qualifiers

The Falls, in Larchwood, will host the IGA Four-Ball Championship in 2021.

The 2021 IGA Championship calendar has been released. The schedule includes a wonderful lineup of IGA Member Clubs that will serve as host sites for next year’s IGA championships.

In 2021, the Iowa Amateur will be conducted at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, July 12-14. This coming year will mark the sixth time the Iowa Amateur will be held at the club, with the first time being in 1926. The last time the classic venue hosted the Iowa Amateur was in 2005 when Brian Verudyn captured the title with a two-over par total of 218. Since 2013, the club has been home to the Principal Charity Classic on the PGA Tour Champions. The William Langford-designed golf course will provide a great stage for the state’s best amateurs.

The Iowa Women’s Amateur will be played at Dubuque Golf & Country Club in Dubuque, July 26-28. It has been over five decades since the club first hosted the Iowa Women’s Amateur in 1970, when Corkey Nydle of Ottumwa earned the title. The club has hosted the Iowa Amateur in 2001, 1988, 1968, 1962, and the Iowa Mid-Amateur in 1994. While not exceptionally long, the course requires precision shot making and good course management. It’s natural terrain and mature tree-lined fairways will challenge the experienced golfer, while providing a playable experience for many.

The men’s and women’s IGA Match Play Championship will return to Talons of Tuscany in Ankeny, June 29-July 2. Talons of Tuscany, is a privately-owned course routed between beautiful rock walled streams and covered bridges. In 2020, the men’s and women’s IGA Match Play Championship was held at Talons of Tuscany for the first time, when 2020 Men’s Player of the Year Connor Peck and IGA veteran Leanne Smith took home the hardware.

In 2021, The Preserve on Rathbun Lake in Moravia will host the Iowa Senior Amateur. The dates of the championship are Thursday-Saturday, August 19-21. The Preserve has hosted numerous IGA Championships in the past and hosts the Southeast Iowa Amateur, an Additional Sanctioned Point Event, each year.

The Iowa Wife-Husband Championship is set to return to Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo. The championship is set for Sept. 17-19. The tournament will remain a 3-day format in which couples choose to play their two rounds on Friday & Saturday, Friday & Sunday or Saturday & Sunday.

The Herman Sani Tournament will return to Johnston’s Hyperion Field Club in 2021. The ‘Sani’ has a long and storied history at Hyperion Field Club, as the event was held there every year from 1953 – 2012. Since 2013 the event rotates between Echo Valley Country Club and Hyperion Field Club and continues to feature the state’s best amateur and professional golfers vying for the trophy. The 2021 edition of The Sani was slated to be held at Echo Valley CC, but due to anticipated course projects at Echo Valley CC, Hyperion Field Club has agreed to host again next year with plans of Echo Valley CC hosting in 2022.

Elmwood Country Club, in Marshalltown, has agreed to host the 2021 Iowa Cup, with dates of that event still to be finalized at this time.

In addition to those championships already listed, the IGA will conduct events at the following venues – Finkbine Golf Club (Iowa Mid-Amateur), The Falls (IGA Four-Ball), Geneva Golf & Country Club (IGA Senior Match Play), Hillcrest Golf & Country Club (Iowa Forever 39 Match Play), Jester Park Golf Course in Granger (Father/Son, Parent/Child), Coldwater Golf Links (Iowa Junior & Girls’ Junior Amateur), Sioux City Country Club (IGA Women’s Four-Ball), Elmcrest Country Club (Women’s Club Team), Indianola Country Club (Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur) and The Meadows Golf Club (IGA Club Team).

The IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series events and IGA Member Play Days will be scheduled and announced at a later time.

The IGA will also conduct and administer several USGA Qualifiers throughout the state in 2021. Here are the sites for this year’s qualifying events:

  • Beaver Hills Country Club, Cedar Falls – U.S. Open Local Qualifier
  • Briarwood Golf Club, Ankeny – U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier
  • Lake Panorama National Golf Course, Panora – U.S. Amateur Qualifier
  • Stone Creek Golf Club, Williamsburg – U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier
  • Stone Creek Golf Club, Williamsburg – U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifier
  • Otter Creek Golf Course, Ankeny – U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier
  • Blue Top Ridge, Riverside – U.S. Four-Ball Qualifier

Entries to all IGA Championships will be available in March. Entries will be available for USGA Championships at a later date, which will be determined by the USGA and announced on their website.

 

 

Glen Oaks CC wins 14th IGA Club Team title, Ballard CC grabs Net Division

October 6, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Club Team

From left – Gene Elliott, Scot Cook, Scott Hart and Ryan Bishop.

The 14th IGA Club Team Championship could be described in one word this year – windy.

Players from 19 IGA member clubs battled breezy conditions all day at Hyperion Field Club on Monday. Glen Oaks CC (pictured above), who posted a score of 281 (+2) in the Gross Division (best 3 of 4 18-hole scores) took home the title this year over Geneva Golf & CC by three shots.

Glen Oaks, led by Scott Hart’s 70 (-2), made a back nine charge with six birdies and an eagle of the three scores that were used for the team competition. Echo Valley CC and Landsmeer Golf Club finished in a tie for third place at 225 (+9).

From left – Scott Hornstein, Wyatt Weeks and Jon Weeks. Not pictured – Kris Greenfield.

In the Net Division, Ballard CC (pictured above), posted a team score of -5 and pulled away from the field, with the help of 16 net birdies, to win by five shots over Geneva Golf & CC (E). The format in the Net Division is a best three of four net scores on each hole. Glen Oaks CC finished in third place (+1).

Click here for full results

Peck wins 2020 edition of ‘The Classic’ at Elmwood CC, sews up POTY honors

September 21, 20200 commentsChampionships

Connor Peck (above left), of Ankeny, capped off his exceptional 2020 IGA Player of the Year (POTY) campaign with a victory over the weekend in the third playing of ‘The Classic’ at Elmwood Country Club, in Marshalltown. Peck’s victory sews up the 2020 IGA POTY race, which has been a neck-and-neck footrace between several of the state’s top amateurs.

‘The Classic’ is played under a modified stableford format, in which players earn points per hole based on their score as follows:

  • Double Eagle: 12 points
  • Eagle: 8 points
  • Birdie: 4 points
  • Par: 2 points
  • Bogey: 1 point
  • Double Bogey or worse: 0 points

Peck posted rounds of 44 and 39 points respectively to post a 36-hole total of 83 points, two points clear of defending champion Jon Brown (81 points). Peck carded six birdies and an eagle on his way to the title. Andrew Huseman and Chad Kimmelshue finished in a tie for third place with a two-day total of 79 points.

In addition to his win at ‘The Classic,’ the Ankeny native secured victories at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship, 24th IGA Four-Ball Championship, and the Briarwood Amateur. Peck also earned top-5 finishes in the 118th Iowa Amateur Championship and the 35th Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship.

In the Senior Division, Bob Brooks put on a nearly flawless performance, posting a two-day total of 81 points to win by seven points. Brooks carded six birdies to offset only three bogies over the course of the weekend, in addition to making 27 pars. Tim McKnight, of Indianola, earned runner-up honors with a 36-hole tally of 74 points. Rounding out the podium was Ottumwa’s Jeff Collett (73 points).

Click here for a full recap of scoring

Ratchford’s fire final round 68 (-4), win 60th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship by five

September 21, 20200 commentsChampionships, Wife-Husband

Impressive it was.

Cedar Falls’ Betsy & Ryan Ratchford (pictured above), following an opening round 78 (+6), got it going in a big way in their final round of the 60th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo.

The Cedar Falls couple fired a sizzling 68 (-4), that included five birdies, to win by five shots over Stephanie & Alan Johnson and Julianna & Reed Burkholder who both shot 151 (+7) for the championship.

Cooler temperatures and blustery wind conditions at times made scoring difficult for many participants in the field.

In the Super Senior Division Becki & Mike Wetter (pictured right) of Mason City claimed a two-shot victory over Joyce and Scott Hornstein, of Huxley. The Wetter’s posted consistent rounds of 84-81 – 165 (+21) to take home the title. Jeanette & Raymond Fredericksen finished in third place, just four shots off the pace at 169 (+25).

Flight winners included:
1st Flight – Brenda Samuelson / Greg Samuelson (165)
2nd Flight – Curtis Holck / Sondra Holck (169)
3rd Flight – Steven Perrin / Teresa Perrin (181)
Super Senior 1st Flight – Connie Miller / David Miller (177)
Super Senior 2nd Flight – Freda Pollock / Ken Pollock (192)

Click here for a full recap of scoring

Elliott wins Iowa Mid-Amateur for fifth time, didn’t expect the outcome

September 6, 20200 commentsChampionships, Iowa Mid-Am

Expect anything less?

The 35th Iowa Mid-Amateur at Sunnyside Country Club lived up to the hype this week. Several, up to a dozen at one time on Friday, had their chance to put their name on the trophy. In the end a four-time winner added his name for the fifth time – but he even admitted he didn’t expect that outcome.

Gene Elliott (pictured above), 58, who won the Iowa Mid-Amateur in 1998, 2000, 2009 and 2013, needed a low round on Friday in the final round. He got one.

Elliott, of West Des Moines, fired the Mid-Am Division co-low round of the day with 67 (-5) to win the championship by a shot over Ankeny’s Andrew Huseman, who just turned 25 earlier this year. Elliott’s round included five birdies against not a single bogey – a clean card.

“I had a target score of 65, 66,” Elliott said. “I thought if I shot that today, I might have a chance. My round yesterday, 75, it was a tough day with the wind. I thought I was just a little too far back.”

Windy it was on Thursday, no doubt, but Friday’s round still presented some challenges according to Elliott.

“It was windy early on today,” Elliott said. “I putted well and got it up and down a couple times.”

Even with five Iowa Mid-Amateur titles to his credit, Elliott was the first to admit he didn’t expect the outcome.

“I wasn’t expecting this today,” Elliott said of his victory. “I can tell you that for sure. I knew I was close (to the lead today). I looked (at scores) after the 10th hole to see where I was. It was a logjam. There was a dozen guys who could win. I knew if I could make that putt (on #17), I had a chance.”

His putt, set up by a terrific tee shot on the 17th hole, was one of his best, ever, Elliott commented. When the dust had settled, it was a putt he needed.

“I tell you what, that putt is one of the best putts I have hit in my entire life,” Elliott said. “That putt was on such a good line. I couldn’t believe how good that putt looked the whole way. A lot of times you hit a putt like that and it doesn’t go in, but this one went right in the middle.”

A trio of players finished the championship at 144 (E), two shots behind Elliott. They included Ankey’s Connor Peck and Jon Olson, who both have had stellar 2020 campaigns, along with newly-minted mid-amateur Kacie Broeg, of Burlington.

In the Senior Division, Des Moines’ Tony Newkirk found a little something the final round as well, posting a 65 (-7) to win by three over West Des Moines’ Bob Brooks and Ankeny’s Curtis Holck. Newkirk’s round included six birdies, an eagle and only one bogey.

In the Super Senior Division, Marshalltown’s Pat Ryan cruised to the victory by six shots, shooting 69 (-3) in the final round to outdistance runner-up Jim Butler. Butler turned a nice round himself on Friday, posting 68 (-4).

Click here for a recap of scoring

Allison posts 71 (-1), leads 35th Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship

September 3, 20200 commentsChampionships, Iowa Mid-Am

Pars were ideal at Sunnyside Country Club today during the opening round of the 35th Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship. With the wind gusting for most of the day, the course was playing anything but a walk in the park.

Norwalk’s Brian Allison found the most success, posting a round of 71 (-1) to take a one-shot lead into tomorrow’s final round. Adel’s Jon Brown sits just a shot back at even par, following his round of 72. Allison’s round was highlighted by a pair birdies and an eagle.

A pair of golfers, Kevin Ault (Cedar Rapids) and Michael Schuchmann (Waterloo) both posted 73 (+1) and will look to make a move towards the top of the leaderboard tomorrow. No less than eight players sit at +2 following rounds of 74, including several in the IGA Player of the Year race.

In the Senior Division, Ankeny’s Curtis Holck leads by two shots over Tom Norton (Muscatine) and Bret Taylor (Booneville). Holck fired an even par round of 72 on Thursday. Sitting just three shots off the pace include Bob Brooks, West Des Moines, and Terry Cook, Norwalk.

Pat Ryan, of Marshalltown, leads by two shots over Fort Dodge’s Dave Sergeant in the Super Senior Division. Joel Yunek (Mason City), Kevin Pratt (Norwalk) and Sam Aossey (Cedar Rapids) are just three shots off the lead, after a first round score of 76.

Click here for recap of scores

Peck cruises to Briarwood Amateur title, Taylor & Studer collect wins

August 31, 20200 commentsChampionships, News

Connor Peck (pictured above left), of Ankeny, was in the driver’s seat all weekend, finishing four shots clear of the field to capture the 2020 Briarwood Amateur title.

Peck shot an opening round of 66 (-6) on Saturday and followed it up with a 4-under par round of 68 on Sunday to post a 36-hole total of 134 (-10). Peck has been a dominant force on the Iowa golf scene this summer, collecting victories at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship, 24th IGA Four-Ball Championship, as well as a runner-up finish at the 119th Iowa Amateur Championship.

Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Jon Brown, of Adel, looked to defend his 2019 Briarwood Amateur title this past weekend. Brown posted a final round of 68 (-4) to finish runner-up with a weekend tally of 138 (-6). New Sharon’s Trent Lindenman and Ankeny’s Nate McCoy finished in a tie for third with 36-hole totals of 141 (-3).

In the Senior Division, Bret Taylor (right), of Booneville, outlasted Norwalk’s Joe Palmer in a five-hole sudden death playoff to clinch the title.

Taylor found himself four off the lead heading into the final round, where he carded six birdies and an eagle on his way to firing a 6-under par round of 66 to force a playoff with Palmer. Terry Cook, of Norwalk, earned a third-place finish after posting two consecutive rounds of 70 (-2) to finish with a 140 (-4) total for the weekend.

In the Super Senior Division, West Des Moines’ David Studer (bottom right) finished one shot clear of the field to earn the title with a 36-hole total of 142 (-2).

Studer mounted a comeback on Sunday afternoon, carding four birdies on his final nine holes to secure his victory. Rick Gorbell, of Cedar Falls, and Greg Eckhardt, of Ankeny, tied for runner-up with 36-hole totals of 143 (-1).

Elliott wins fifth Iowa Senior Amateur title, Christensen takes SS Division by eight

August 27, 20200 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Amateur

It’s been said it can be tougher to win a golf tournament on your home course, because everyone expects you to win. To a certain extent, West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott (above left) knew that all too well this week at the 42nd Iowa Senior Amateur at Crow Valley Golf Club, a place he grew up playing.

“That’s what I told the members here at Crow Valley,” Elliott said. “But this isn’t my home golf course anymore. I have been over every inch of property at this golf course and probably have had every putt out there.”

Elliott (+5), who finished with rounds of 74-73-71 (218), got off to a quick start in Wednesday’s final round, with an opening nine holes in 32 (-3). A couple slight bumps in the road on holes 14-16 made things more interesting down the stretch, but with two pars to finish, Elliott won his fifth Iowa Senior Amateur title by a shot over Muscatine’s Tom Norton (+6), who posted his own final round 71 (E).

Elliott admitted, regardless of how many times you’ve played at Crow Valley GC one thing remains the same – the difficulty of the greens are nothing to lose sight of.

“These are some of the toughest greens in the midwest,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t matter how many times you have played here, the putts are still hard.”

Elliott, who recently played in the U.S. Amateur in Oregon, a tournament loaded with ‘kids’ much younger, said it’s good to be back competing against players over 50.

“It’s nice playing with my own age group,” Elliott said. “As long as I am still standing, we’ll go for a sixth (title) next year.”

In the Super Senior Division, Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen (above right) outlasted fellow Marshalltown resident Pat Ryan by eight shots overall after a fine final round of 70 (-1), including a near hole-out to end his tournament on the par three 9th hole.

“That was a nice way to finish,” Christensen said. “I birdied a lot of par threes this week.”

Christensen commented that he was able to pick up a lot of ‘home course’ knowledge during his practice round and without a doubt that was the key to his success in the Quad Cities this week.

“I owe a lot to Bill Tank, a member here (at Crow Valley),” Christensen said. “He took us around during our practice round and told us where to hit, not to hit it. He said whatever you do, do not be above the hole. That was the key for me, I kept it below the hole all week.”

Click here for a recap of scoring

Palmer leads 42nd Iowa Senior Amateur, Ryan paces Super Senior Division

August 26, 20200 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Amateur

Norwalk’s Joe Palmer is in familiar territory at the 42nd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship.

Palmer, who has captured three Iowa Senior Amateur crowns (2013, 2015, 2018), leads by two strokes heading into today’s final round at Crow Valley Golf Club. Palmer’s round of 70 (-1) in the second round included six birdies.

Sitting in second place, Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, has four Iowa Senior Amateur titles to his credit (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019) and will look to add a fifth title to the trophy case.

Not to be forgotten, Jeff Collett (Ottumwa) and Tom Norton (Muscatine) just three shots back of Palmer, while Dave Gaer (Des Moines) and Terry Cook (Norwalk) will look to make a move as they both sit just four shots off the pace.

In the Super Senior Division, Pat Ryan, of Marshalltown, leads Rob Christensen, of Marshalltown, by a shot heading into today’s action. First round leader John Brown, of Urbandale, sits in third place, five off the lead.

Click here for a recap of scoring

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