Two champions were crowned today at the Iowa Junior Amateur Championship held at Legacy Golf Course at the 19. Playoff drama and many clutch putts down the stretch led to an eventful final round.

In the boys’ division, Luke Leverenz (above right) of Blue Grass stayed poised throughout the week to shoot 201 (-12) to claim the Iowa Junior Amateur Championship crown by six strokes. Leverenz got off to a hot start, birdying four of his first six holes.

“It was fun going out and attacking the pins on the back nine and then just seeing what putts I could make,” shared Leverenz with a smile. “I tried to just play like I was even-par all day and keep that mindset.”

Leverenz’ win earns him a spot in the prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur Championship which will be contested at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania July 20-25.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and having that experience,” expressed Leverenz. “I’m excited to meet some new people, it should be really fun.”

Waukee’s Jonathan Ward put up a good fight against Leverenz, but ultimately earned runner-up honors after shooting 72 (+1) on the day to post a 207 (-6) total. Grinnell’s Levi Jack fired a 70 (-1) in the final round to share runner-up honors with Ward. Jack opened with a front-nine 32, highlighted by two birdies and an eagle which offset some late-round bogeys.

In the girls’ division, Iowa City’s Ainsley Wilson (above left) claimed the title after scoring 222 (+8) for the week, but not without dueling Ames’ Ava Lohrbach in a sudden-death playoff first. After two extra holes, Wilson secured a clutch par while Lohrbach missed an up-and-down opportunity to extend the playoff.

“It feels like it’s been a long time coming to win this title,” Wilson shared. “It feels really good to finally get it done.”

With this win, Wilson punched her ticket to the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship which will be played at Old Chatham Club in Durham, North Carolina July 13-18.

“I’m really excited to tee it up at the national tournament. I think it’s going to be a fun event and a really good experience,” said Wilson.

Special thank you to all of the staff at Legacy Golf Course at the 19 for being so welcoming and accommodating this week!

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Ainsley Wilson of Iowa City stayed consistent and scored 75 (+3) to take the lead. Wilson fired off three birdies which nicely offset some late-round bogeys.

The second round of the Iowa Junior Amateur Championships held at Legacy Golf Course at the 19 tested players’ patience and resilience. Amidst blustery and unpredictable winds, a few juniors navigated the elements to find themselves atop the leaderboard.

Luke Leverenz of Blue Grass extended his lead by one stroke after firing a 70 (-1). His round was highlighted by two birdies and an eagle which helped offset two mid-round bogeys.

“It was a bit of a different day today playing in the afternoon with the wind,” Leverenz shared. “I really just tried to grind out some pars and take advantage of the times when I could be more aggressive”

Luke Leverenz

Making a climb up the leaderboard and sitting just one back of Leverenz is Jonathan Ward of Waukee. Ward fired a 66 (-5) with five birdies made on the front nine alone.

“[With my strong start] I just reminded myself that I’ve been in this position many times before and know how to manage it,” expressed Ward. “Heading into tomorrow, I’m just going to keep being me and try to hit it well out there.”

Grinnell’s Levi Jack and Urbandale’s Elijah Anderson each scored 67 and 68, respectively, to sit at -5 total. Both players posted four birdies on the day, while Jack tabbed an impressive eagle on the par-five first hole.

In the girls’ division, Ainsley Wilson (pictured above) of Iowa City stayed consistent and scored 75 (+3) to take the lead. Wilson fired off three birdies which nicely offset some late-round bogeys.

“The key for today was just trying to keep myself in good positions and make up-and-downs when necessary,” Wilson shared.

Following closely behind with a 75 (+3) on the day is Ava Lohrbach of Ames. Lohrback stayed away from trouble off the tee and made a few clutch putts to stay in the hunt.

“I made a few tweaks with my driver on the range yesterday so I was glad to see that pay off today,” Lohrback stated. “I’m going to rest up tonight and prepare myself for the day tomorrow.”

Clive’s Adalyn Wiig moved into fourth place after shooting 75 (+3), while Camille Wood of Bettendorf posted the division’s lowest score of the day with a 73 (+2) to put herself in fifth.

With only single-stroke leads in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions, there is no margin for error as players eye the coveted Iowa Junior Amateur Championship titles tomorrow.

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The Iowa Junior Amateur Championship held at Legacy Golf Course at the 19 in Mason City is in full swing. Nearly perfect sunny and calm conditions made for plenty of birdie opportunities throughout the day which many players took advantage of.

In the boys’ division, Blue Grass’ Luke Leverenz (above) hit the ground running with an impressive 64 (-7) to lead by four strokes. Leverenz’s incredible play was highlighted by nine birdies, with six of them being scored on the back nine alone.

“I was just making everything today,” shared Leverenz with a smile. “There wasn’t much to it, just fairways, greens, and one-putts.”

A trio of players share a tie in second place at three-under. Carson Korver of Orange City, Cody Weaver of Gilman, and Joe Greazel of Marshalltown tied together a string of birdies to put themselves in contention.

“My putter got really hot on the front nine to give me some birdie looks,” Korver shared. “I did a good job scrambling on the back-nine to stay in contention.”

In the girls’ division, Stella Roemer (right) of Bettendorf found herself atop the leaderboard after posting a nice 73 (+2). Roemer found her stride on the par-threes, going two-under total on those holes.

“With some of the longer holes out here, I definitely took advantage of the par-threes,” shared Roemer. “My driver was also the best club in my bag today so that helped give me some good looks throughout the day.”

Following closely behind at +3 is Iowa City’s Ainsley Wilson and Ames’ Ava Lohrbach. Wilson’s round was highlighted by three birdies, with two scored on the back nine alone. Lohrbach remained steady throughout the day, stringing together eight pars in a row with a lone birdie on the par-four 13th hole.

Adalyn Wiig of Clive and Saleah VivanhVong of Des Moines both posted rounds of 75 (+4) to share a tie in fourth place.

With two days of competition remaining, the coveted Iowa Junior Amateur Championship titles are still anyone’s game. Forecasted sunny skies are sure to be kind to the field as they each eye the championship crowns.

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Morgan Rupp (right) of Marion delivered a dominant performance at Glynns Creek Golf Course, leading from start to finish to capture the 2025 Iowa Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship. Rupp opened the 54-hole event with an impressive 64 and followed it up with rounds of 70 and 75 to finish at 209 (-7), securing not only the title but also an exemption into the prestigious U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur, set to be played this July at Atlanta Athletic Club.

“The wind and heat made things challenging today,” said Rupp following her final round. “I was pretty nervous. Normally I’m not in a position with such a big lead, so it was new territory for me. I just tried to stay calm and focused. My opening round really gave me a great foundation—it’s always nice to start a tournament like that.”

Chloe Bolte posted a final-round 73 to finish four strokes behind Rupp, claiming the runner-up position. Despite being competitors this week, Rupp praised Bolte, who will be her partner in the upcoming IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

“We’re all happy when the other one plays well,” Rupp said. “Chloe played great today and actually beat me in the final round. I really enjoy playing alongside her and the other girls.”

In the Boys’ Division, Waukee’s Jonathan Ward (right) secured the Iowa Junior Amateur title with a birdie on the first playoff hole, earning his spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, to be held this July at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.

Ward shot rounds of 69-72-72 for a 213 (-3) total, tying with Grant Sherrick, Ty Potter, and Parker Rogers to force a playoff. He maintained composure throughout the event, focusing on consistency and mental resilience.

“For me, it was all about staying in the moment and not getting caught up in what others were doing,” Ward said. “I kept reminding myself to ‘be where your feet are.’ I hit a lot of fairways and greens, though not many close chances. I was fortunate to birdie No. 17 and get into the playoff. I did glance at the leaderboard coming down the stretch.”

That birdie on the playoff hole proved decisive, giving Ward the win and a coveted national championship berth.

“This one feels really good,” Ward said with a smile.

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Same course, two different stories.

Marion’s Morgan Rupp (right) continues her dominant performance at the Iowa Girls’ Junior Amateur, extending her lead to six strokes heading into the final round at Glynns Creek Golf Course.

Rupp followed up her blistering opening round of 64 (-8) with a steady 70 (-2) on Tuesday, bringing her two-day total to 134 (-10). She now holds a commanding lead over Chloe Bolte of Sumner, who carded a 71 (-1) in round two and sits at 140 (-4).

“I felt like today was all about staying within my routine,” said Rupp. “I expected to make a few bogeys, but I focused on bouncing back with birdies. My putting has been the difference—I’ve made everything inside four feet. I’m not thinking about anyone else, just focusing on what I can control.”

Ella Lohrbach of Ames and Ainsley Wilson of Iowa City each fired rounds of 70 (-2) to climb into the top four on the leaderboard.

In the Boys’ Division, Aiden McGreen (left) of West Des Moines made a major move in round two. After an opening 73, McGreen shot a 67 (-5) on Tuesday, highlighted by an eagle, to take a one-shot lead over Jonathan Ward of Waukee, who shared the overnight lead after round one.

Close behind at three shots off the lead are Cade Sunde (West Des Moines) and Parker Rogers (Nevada), with another trio of players sitting at even par and looking to make a final-round push.

“Everything clicked today,” said McGreen. “The putter was hot, and although the wind picked up later in the round, it was manageable.”

The final round of the Iowa Junior Amateur Championship concludes Wednesday, with both divisions set for an exciting finish.

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The wind never let up at Glynns Creek Golf Course, making for a challenging opening round at the Iowa Junior Amateur Championships. While many in the field battled the blustery conditions, some standout performances rose above the breeze.

Marion’s Morgan Rupp (right) delivered a sensational round, carding an 8-under 64 to take a commanding five-shot lead in the Iowa Girls’ Junior Amateur over Sumner’s Chloe Bolte.

“I felt like everything in my game came together today,” Rupp said. “I just tried to stay relaxed and not get too worked up about anything. I hit 17 greens and made a lot of solid putts. I didn’t make many mistakes.”

Bolte, who shot a solid 69, acknowledged the wind was a significant factor throughout the day.

“I hit a lot of knockdown shots today,” she said. “You really had to pay attention to the wind. I think playing in some harsh conditions this spring helped. It’s a new day tomorrow, and you just have to focus on the shot in front of you.”

Three players are tied for third after posting rounds of 2-over 74, all looking to close the gap heading into the final round.

On the boys’ side, the Iowa Junior Amateur leaderboard is tight at the top, with Jonathan Ward (Waukee), Drew Larimar (Cedar Falls), and Cade Sunde (West Des Moines) all shooting 3-under 69 to share the lead.

Grant Sherrick of Bettendorf is just two shots back in solo fourth after an impressive 1-under 71.

“My ball striking was really solid today,” said Ward (right). “I made a lot of two-putt pars, and I knew par would be a good score with the wind. I got into a good rhythm on the back nine. There are a lot of birdie chances out there—you just have to take it one shot at a time.”

Larimar echoed a similar sentiment.

“I made a couple of bogeys but rolled in a lot of putts,” he said. “It was all about managing the wind and keeping it in play off the tee. Every shot required extra focus.”

Sunde was also pleased with his performance.

“It was a really good day for me,” he said. “My short game saved me a lot—I chipped and putted well, especially with the wind being so tough. On some holes downwind, you could be aggressive, but staying patient was the key.”

Tomorrow’s second round promises more drama as the top juniors in Iowa battle for the title — and the wind may once again have its say.

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The heat, wind, rain, delays and cooler temperatures throughout the week did not dampen from crowning two new champions at the Iowa Junior and Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship held at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. This year was not only Des Moines’ Owen Howe’s (right) first Junior Amateur win, but also was Ames’ native Eden Lohrbach revenge for ending runner-up in in 2023.

“It has really just been a grind the last couple of days,” Howe said. “I struck the ball pretty well for the most part, honestly the first day I did not hit it the greatest, but I putted pretty dang well so that helped a lot.”

After shooting a pair of 72s (+1) the first two rounds. Howe later found his groove in the third round which led him to make three crucial birdies on the back nine and shoot 69 (-2).

“I made a nice putt from the fringe that hit the back of the cup and went in,” Howe said. “The next was a nice two putt after reaching a par five in two, and the final was a six to seven footer,”

Howe would end up even par for the tournament leaving Garrett Nurre, from Cedar Rapids, runner-up shooting rounds of 74 (+3), 72 (+1), and 69 (-2). There was a three-way tie for third at +3 for three rounds between Luke Harwick, Tomas Rascon and Jack Rogers.

Ames native Eden Lorbach (left) stuck to her routine, stood patient and it paid off.

“I knew I needed to take it one shot at a time, it is something I have really been really been working on is the mental side of my golf game and how I approach each shot,” Lorbach said after the round.

After carding a 70 (-1) par in the first round Lorbach would pick a target and hit it there.

“I also tried to be very strategic with where I wanted the ball to be, it was more so what can I do to put myself in the fairway along with the center of the green,” Lorbach said.

Lorbach would do just that and would card a pair of 72s in the second and third round leaving her +1 for the tournament. There was a two-way tie for second at +3 for three rounds between Morgan Rupp and Ainsely Wilson.  

With the victory at Coldwater GL, Lorbach earns an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur to be played at El Caballero Country Club, Tarzana, Calif.

“I am looking forward to that,” Lorbach said. “I really wanted to qualify. I haven’t qualified in the past.”

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10th place – Runner-up from left – Hannah Pettit, Emersen Motl, Bella Pettersen (Not Pictured), Rylee Brockhouse, Jane Petersen, Natalie Henson, Chloe Bolte, Ainsley Wilson, Morgan Rupp.

10th place – Runner-up from left – Easton Korell, Kolby Stanton, Cody Weaver, Drew Hensen, Axton Miller, Tomas Rascon, Jack Rogers, Luke Harwick (Not Pictured), Garrett Nurre

Mother nature did not slow down during round two of the Iowa Junior and Girls’ Junior Amateur at Coldwater Golf Links, in Ames. Windy conditions proved to be a challenge for some players, while others embarked on the challenge. 

After carding a 72 (+1) in round one, Luke Harwick, from Dyersville, played consistent all day. Harwick shot a respectable even par of 71. In solo second from Des Moines after shooting 72 (+1) in round one, Owen Howe did it again in tough conditions and shot another 72 (+1). There are three tied for third at +4 for two rounds, including Thomas Rascon, from Burlington, shooting 70 (-1) and 76 (+5), from Cedar Rapids Garrett Nurre firing 74 (+3) and 72 (+1), along with Jack Rogers, of Iowa City, going 71 (E) and 75 (+4).

In the Girls’ Division Ames native Eden Lohrbach, played solid all day despite the windy conditions. After carding a 70 (-1) in the opening round, Lohrbach followed it up with a 72 (+1). Following the 73 (+2) Morgan Rupp, from Marion, shot in round one, Rupp stands in solo second after shooting an impressive even par round of 71. Ainsely Wilson, from Iowa City, is playing slow and steady golf. After opening up with an even par 71 in round one, Wilson stands in solo third after carding a 75 (+4) in round two.

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Coldwater Golf Links, located in Ames, is home of the 2024 Iowa Junior Amateur; and day one was one for the books. Yet the heat and wind did not hinder some of the players’ scores.

In the Boys’ Division, Axten Miller, from Arthur, fought through the conditions and carded an opening round of 69 (-2). There are three tied for second shooting 70 (-1) players that include Cade Sunde, West Des Moines, Leo Fiscus, Davenport and Burlington’s Tomas Rascon.

In the Girls’ Division both carding a 70 (-1), were Eden Lohrbach, of Ames and Jane Peterson, of Cedar Rapids, stand in a tie for first. Ainsley Wilson, of Iowa City, stands in solo third carding an even par 71.

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