Sperry’s Charles Jahn, with rounds of 69-70 (-5), leads the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises. Jahn, who leads by a shot over Lachlan Barker (Ames) and Frank Lindwall (Cedar Rapids), made four birdies to vault into the lead during the second round at Echo Valley Country Club.

Barker and Lindwall play golf for Iowa State University, while Jahn, a 2016 Herman Sani Scholar, is a men’s golf team member at Bradley University.

Opening round leader Ricky Castello (Ames), professional Trevor Ullestad (Jewell), and Nick Pittman (Urbandale) sit just two shots back of Jahn’s lead at -4. Pittman is a 2019 Herman Sani Scholar. Ullestad posted a bogey-free 67 (-5) in the second round.

In the Senior Division Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, fired a 67 (-5) that included eight birdies in his second round. Eillott sits at -8 for the tournament, one shot clear of Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines. Palmer shot 66 (-6) in the second round that included seven birdies against just a lone bogey. Jon Brown, Adel, sits at -2 through two rounds.

Rob Christensen (+3 overall), of Marshalltown, continues to lead the Super Senior Division following a second round of 76. Jim Campbell, of Albia, and Dave Sergeant, of Fort Dodge, are tied for second at +8, five shots off the lead.

The final round will will be played tomorrow with the field will be cut to the low 45 & ties in the Open Division, low 24 & ties in the Senior Division and low 9 & ties in the Super Senior Division after 36 holes.

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Ames’ Ricky Costello put together a fine round of golf, posting 68 (-4) to lead after the opening round of the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises being played at Echo Valley Country Club. The Ridge and Creek rotation are being used for this year’s event.

Costello, who will be a junior on the Iowa State men’s golf team this fall, made five birdies to go against just a single bogey. Following closely behind Costello, just a shot off the pace, include amateurs Charles Jahn (Sperry), Nick Pittman (Urbandale), Dylan Ellis (Parkersburg), Cody Holck (Grimes) and professional Darin Fisher (Albia). A trio of players sit at -2, just two back of the lead.

Pittman, a 2019 Herman Sani Scholarship recipient, captured the Frohwein Award for the low score after the first round of the scholarship winners, who play as a group to start the tournament. All scholarship recipients were honored at a dinner following the opening round.

In the Senior Division, Terry Cook shot 68 (-4) to lead by a shot over Gene Elliott and Jon Brown by two shots.

Rob Christensen (Marshalltown) leads the Super Senior Division at -1, four shots ahead of Jim Campbell (Albia). John Kinsey (Alleman) is tied by Stephen Larson five strokes off the lead. Kinsey’s opening round included three eagles on the day.

Round two will be played tomorrow with the field will be cut to the low 45 & ties in the Open Division, low 24 & ties in the Senior Division and low 9 & ties in the Super Senior Division
after 36 holes.

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It came down to who was going to hit a great shot to capture the 69th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises.

Zach Steffen (pictured above), a professional from Des Moines, was the one who answered the bell, even though it didn’t look promising before he hit the shot of the tournament, which came in a playoff.

Steffen, who posted the low score of the day with 66 (-6) just to get into a playoff with Broc Everett and J.D. Anderson, hit a towering wedge shot from the rough under one tree, over another that nearly went in the hole on #18 at Hyperion Field Club.

Steffen’s ball would settle above the hole and he would convert the birdie after Everett’s chip from just short of the green narrowly missed and Anderson’s putt slid by the hole for birdie. Steffen commented after the round it wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“I knew I needed some help going into today,” Steffen said. “If Broc shoots 63 again I would have no chance. I knew I needed to keep making birdies and go as low as possible. Especially on the back nine, I knew I needed to keep the pressure on (Everett and Anderson).

Even tough his tee shot in the playoff, at first glance didn’t look ideal, he was in a position he felt comfortable with.

“In regulation I hit three wood and was too close to the green to spin it,” Steffen said. “In the playoff I hit hybrid and hooked it a little. I got break where I was at and could get under one tree and over the next. I have practiced that shot a lot and can hit a really high 60 degree (wedge). I had a good number and ball hit the front and almost went in they said. I was hoping it wasn’t six feet above the hole because I know how fast it is, but I was fortunate enough to make it.”

Steffen’s day included seven birdies, all in a 13-hole stretch, and just a lone bogey.

“I wanted to give myself as many chances as possible today,” Steffen said. “I love these greens. It gives me a lot of confidence. I have played well here in the past.”

In the Senior Division, Joe Palmer charged back with a 68 (-4) to finish two shots clear of Robert Dickerman. Palmer come home in 33 (-3), including a pair of birdies in the last four holes.

In the Super Senior Division (new in 2018), Rob Christensen won by four strokes over Dave Sergeant. Christensen shot rounds of 74-69-74 to finish at 217 (+1).

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A pair of Herman Sani Scholars lead the way at the 69th Herman Sani Tournament after two rounds at Hyperion Field Club.

Broc Everett (pictured above), a 2013 Sani Scholar, leads by a stroke over Charles Jahn, a 2016 Sani Scholar. Everett, now professional, fired a 63 (-9) in today’s second round after an opening round 70. Everett, the 2018 NCAA D1 Individual Champion, made nine birdies on the day and no bogeys.  Jahn also put together a ‘clean’ card on his way to 66 (-6), making six birdies and no bogeys.

J.D. Anderson, the 2017 IGA Player of the Year, didn’t let Everett or Jahn get out of his sights, as he posted a 65 (-7) of his own and sits just two back of the lead. A total of seven players are within five strokes of the lead and tomorrow’s final round should be nothing short of exciting.

In the Senior Division, Robert Dickerman still leads and will take a three shot lead over Andy Burton into tomorrow. Rob Christensen leads by two strokes over Dave Sergeant in the Super Senior Division.

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Judd Gibb (professional) leads the 69th Herman Sani Tournament after the opening round, following a masterful 66 (-6). Gibb’s day started with a bogey, but would quickly turnaround, thanks to a total of seven birdies on the day at Hyperion Field Club. Gibb won this event in 2004.

Two fellow pros give chase, as Zach Steffen and Tyler Christians both posted 67 (-5), as they to stay on the heels of Gibb going into tomorrow’s round. Jake Marvelli and Charles Jahn are tied at 68 (-4) for low amateur through one round.

In the Senior Division, Robert Dickerman put together a fine round of his own, 68 (-4), to lead Andy Burton by four strokes. Dave Gaer sits just five shots back, at 73 (+1). Tom Sandie, 73 (+1) leads the Super Senior Division by a stroke over Ron Christensen.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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