They knew they were in striking distance and the course wasn’t anything new to either of them.

Maxwell Tjoa and Gage Messingham (above), who both play for the University of Iowa, took full advantage of knowing Finkbine Golf Course like the back of their hand in the final round of the 29th IGA Four-Ball Championship. Following an opening round 65 (-7), the duo posted an impressive 63 (-9) on a cooler day in Iowa City – good for a two-shot victory over Ethan Bloome and Tomas Rascon. Tjoa finished the tournament in style, make a sliding putt for birdie after Messingham had pitched to just a few feet following his lengthy drive on the last hole.

“It definably helped (knowing the course),” Tjoa said. “We got off to a good start (in the final round). We fed off each other today. On the front nine today we were bouncing back and forth with birdies.”

Going out in 30 (-6) set the tone for the final round with Tjoa / Messingham never looking back. They weren’t watching the leaderboard either.

“We talked at the beginning that we didn’t want to look at the leaderboard,” Messingham said. “We just wanted to play our game, make birdies when they came and no bogeys. Putts fell (in) today. We knew the birdies were out there.”

Tjoa also commented that he felt the team’s strengths messed well together – especially in the four-ball format.

“Our games compliemnt each other,” Tjoa said. “He hits it long and I was trying to just make pars. Knowing the greens well here was an advantage.”

The side of Luke Meyer / Ben Stewart finished three back of the leaders at -13, while three sides tied for fourth place at -12.

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Nate Spear and Cale Leonard wasted little time posting birdies.

The duo, first off the tee on #1 at 8 a.m., this morning to kickoff the 29th IGA Four-Ball Championship at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, teamed up for a total of nine birdies with no blemishes – good for 63 (-9). Spear / Leonard lead by a shot over the father-son combo of Brian and Todd Rose (pictured above), who posted 64 (-8) respectively in the morning wave of play as well.

Three sides give chase at -7, while another five sit just three back of the pace set by Spear / Leonard. Still within striking distance, no less than nine sides stand at -5 after Thursday’s play – all shooting 67.

Final round action will begin Friday morning at 7:30 a.m., with the leaders going in the second wave of action. Expect nothing less than a shootout to decide this year’s champion.

Full First Round Results

Final Round Pairings

Ben Peters, of Bettendorf, and Chad Coppinger, of Blue Grass (above), coasted their way to a victory at the Senior Four-Ball Championship contested at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown. The duo teamed up for round of 64-67, good enough for a four-shot win.

“Fortunately we both were not in too much trouble on the same hole and we only made one bogey in 36-holes,” Peters said. “We were like ham and egg.”

Coppinger knew birdies would be needed.

“We did not really have a strategy, just make as many birdies as we could,” Coppinger said. 

The two of them did just that. Over the two rounds Peters/Coppinger dominated the field and racked up a staggering ten birdies to finish at 131 (-9).

Making a late charge in the final round, after posting 70 (even) on day one, to climb up the leaderboard and finish runner-up was Terry Cook, of Norwalk, and David Blink, of Spencer. Cook/Brink shot an impressive 65 (-5). There was a four-way tie for third at 137 (-3). 

In the Super Senior Division Muscatine’s Tom Norton and Dave Waugh, of Davenport, played their own game and it paid off.

“Historically we have not wanted to let each other down,  so you put more pressure on yourself than you should,” Norton said. “Our game plan was to play our own ball, do the best we could, not be discouraged and we did just that.”

Norton/Waugh played solid and carded a score of 69 (-1) both days to end at 138 (-2).  

“Tom came through, he was rock solid the last nine holes,” Waugh said.

Finishing runner-up were Marshalltown’s own Rob Christensen and Jim Madsen, of Carroll. Christensen/Madsen shot 139 (-1). Two shots behind them was Dan Dalziel, of Cedar Rapids, and Steve Kahler, of Marion.

The father-son duo, Pat and Jim Roan (right) still showed the field the two can still compete. Pat and Jim combined for an age of 157 and finished in the Super Senior Division in solo 13th at 158 (+18). 

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The Senior Four-Ball was in full swing on a windy September day as it was contested at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.  

Despite the windy conditions Ben Peters/Chad Coppinger (above) played like it was a day for scoring. They are leading the pack at 64 (-6). Peters racked up four solo birdies on the day. Hot on their tails is a fierce four groups all tied at 68 (-2).

“We played well,” Peters said after the round. “It’s always fun when you play well.”

In the Super Senior Division Rob Chrisensen/Jim Madsen and Tom Norton/Dave Waugh shot a pair of 69s (-1) to lead. Sitting in solo third three shots back is Mark Hogenson/Kevin Backer.

A special moment for a father son duo as the pair embarks on another tournament together. Toledo residents Jim (92 years old) and Pat (65 years old) Roan (right) put on a show in round one. The two of them not only combine for an age of 157, but also shot a respectable 77 (+7) and sit in T9 in the Super Senior Division.

The final round will conclude today with tee times starting at 9 a.m.

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Following an open round 61 (-9), the side of Dennis Bull and Brian Allison left nothing to chance in the final round of the 28th IGA Four-Ball Championship hosted by Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.

While several groups tried to inch closer throughout the morning, Bull and Allison were simply too good. The duo would post a -13 score for two days.

“I made a boatload of putts (this week),” Bull said with a laugh. “It’s an easy game if you do that.”

Playing with the side of Jamie Faidley and Josh Janeczko both days, the eventual champions knew they couldn’t let up.

“We got off to a good start, and the group was great,” Bull said. “We figured out we birdied 15 of the 18 holes as a group in the first round. They pushed us, and we pushed them both days.”

While weather and scoring conditions were nearly perfect in the opening round, it was the complete opposite in round two – with players facing windy and much colder conditions on top of early morning rain that delayed the start of the day and ultimately led to a cut to the low 46 sides from round one scores.

“You had to layer up and survive the weather,” Allison said. “There were good hole locations out there, and with the tee back on #14, that was a golf hole.”

An opening hole birdie from Bull set the tone for the final round, as he and Allison would post 66 for a four-shot victory over Faidley/Janeczko and the side of J.D. Anderson and Ethan Mechling.

“I made a bomb on the first hole, so that helped the stress level early on,” Bull said. “We kind of knew we were in a good spot after the front nine. We made birdie on #8, and they made bogey. Then Brian made a nice putt on #9. I don’t think we looked at the scoreboard again until #16.”

Both Bull and Allison agreed starting off the year with a victory is always sweet.

“It’s always fun to share a win – absolutely,” Allison said.

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The side of Dennis Bull and Brian Allison set the pace after day one at the 28th IGA Four-Ball hosted by Elmwood Country Club. Bull, who had the round of the day with a 62 on his own ball, made a total of nine birdies on the day.

“It was fun to watch,” Allison said of his partner.

Bull and Allison will take a one shot lead into the final round over the side of Josh Janeczko and Jamie Faidley who sit at -8. Janeczko and Faidley were actually paired with Bull and Allison in the opening round, which provided plenty of fireworks within just one grouping.

A total of 12 sides are with in five shots of the lead, which sets up a final round sure to be filled with excitement.

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Just when things looked to get interesting, the side of Charlie Hoyle / Tyler Stith (above) left no doubt on who would be holding the trophy at the conclusion of the 27th IGA Four-Ball Championship hosted by Burlington Golf Club.

Birdies on #16 and #17 by Stith and a par on #18 by Hoyle gave them a comfortable three-shot win over a trio of teams. Hoyle / Stith posted rounds off 62-67 for a -15 total.

“This is the first one of these going in the trophy case,” Stith said. “I knew the course a little bit and I knew with his (Charlie) length he could hit a lot of drivers. I had to manage the course a little more. We felt like there weren’t as many birdie holes on the back nine to start out on Friday. We took off after that and that set us up for today (final round).”

Hoyle echoed Stith and commented that staying in the correct positions around the BGC layout was critical.

“I am generally a long hitter, so for me it plays a little different, but you can’t get out of position.” Hoyle said. “You’re playing defensively if you do. We tried to hit as many greens as we could. Tyler made some clutch shots coming down the stretch.”

After a chip-in birdie on the 16th hole, Stith found himself above the hole on the 17th. A spot that doesn’t lend itself to much success, yet Stith had a feeling this was his time – and it was.

“I knew I was going to make it.” Stith said. “I told him I got this. I felt at that moment I was going to make that putt. It crept in on the edge. Something came over me the last few holes and I was able to execute some shots that we needed. For the most part, we did a great job of staying under the hole all week. 

In the Senior Division, the side of Jay Gregory / Jeff Collett (right) collected the win, but it wasn’t easy.

Gregory / Collett, who shot rounds of 67-66, had to overcome a hometown team of John O’Neill and Micheal Mathiasmeier in a playoff that lasted three holes.

“They hung in there tough and I made a 20’ putt from above the hole on our third playoff hole.” Gregory said.” I finally got one to go in. You had to be very careful on the greens. If you got above the hole it was tough, but the greens were fantastic. We made a lot of birdies over the two rounds. ”

In the Super Senior Division, there was little left to doubt when then the dust had settled. Bob Brooks and Jim Butler (left) paired up to win by an astonishing 12 shots, following a pair of 66 rounds (-12). The side of Brooks / Butler only had to count a pair of bogeys over the 36-hole event – which came on the 10th hole both days.

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Holding a two shot lead entering the final round, the side of Dylan Ellis / Tyler Sansgaard (pictured above) never flinched.

Following an opening round 60 (-11), the duo didn’t backdown to the challenge, posting a 64 (-7) in windy conditions to claim a five-shot victory at the 26th IGA Four-Ball Championship hosted by Ames’ Coldwater Golf Links.

“We were able to make a lot of birdies and countered each other well,” Ellis said. “We never made bogey on the same holes, so that’s always good. We actually hit it a lot closer today than we did yesterday.”

Finishing runner-up was the side of Brian Allison / Dennis Bull (-13), who got off to a quick start with an eagle at the first to inch closer to the leaders, which they were paired with in the final round. But just when Allison / Bull would get within earshot of the lead, Ellis / Sansgaard would make a birdie to extend the lead. Two untimely bogeys to start the back nine left Allison / Bull a deficit that they simply couldn’t overcome.

The champions had nothing but praise for the runner-up team.

“Playing against good competition keeps you focused and dialed in,” Ellis said.

Finishing in third place (-12), six shots back of the lead, was the side of Marc Gladson / Nate Dunn who will head to Alabama for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball later in the week. There was a three-way tie for fourth place at -11.

From the start Ellis and Sansgaard though that the course would set up well for them.

“We both knew we could make some birdies here,” Sansgaard said. “It feels good to win an event like this.”

In the Senior Division, opening round leaders Curtis Holck / Kirk Macumber (pictured left) notched a -7 total and a two-shot victory over defending champions Joe Palmer / Terry Cook. But it wasn’t easy as the course played much more difficult during the final round compared to Friday.

“Today was a grind,” Macumber said. “There was a lot more holes, today, where a par was a great score. We just wanted to both have chances for birdied as many times as we could. Today we just battled. We made some good pars today that kept us a stroke or two up”

Holck echoed Macumber’s thoughts on the final round.

“The weather was completely different and the course was too,” Holck said “The fairways were really running out. We made some long putts on Friday.”

A tie for third place in the Senior Division saw Jay Slings / Tim McKnight and Robert Dickerman / Todd Higtgen finish at -4.

In the Super Senior Division the side of David Studer / Tom Schill (pictured right) won the title in a playoff over Dan Dalziel / Steve Kahler, with a par on the first extra hole. Finishing just a shot back of the playoff was Jim Butler / Rob Christensen who finished at -2 for the tournament.

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It was a day for scoring.

The opening round of the 26th IGA Four-Ball Championship, hosted by Ames’ Coldwater Golf Links, saw a flurry of birdies from the start. The side of Dylan Ellis / Tyler Sansgaard (pictured above putting) lead the way with a ‘clean’ 60 (-11), that included no bogeys on the day. Close behind are Brian Allison / Dennis Bull who put together a fine round themselves, with 62 (-9).

A total of 11 teams sit at -5 or better, including defending champions Gene Elliott / Jon Brown (-7) and will all look to make a move up the leaderboard tomorrow in the final round.

In the Senior Division, the side of Curtis Holck / Kirk Macumber lead with 66 (-5). Defending champions Joe Palmer / Terry Cook along with Robert Dickerman / Todd Hingtgen sit two shots back following rounds of 68 (-3). Three more teams are three shots off the lead.

In the Super Senior Division (ages 65+), Dan Dalziel / Steve Kahler turned in an opening round 68 (-3) to lead by two over David Studer / Tom Schill. A pair of teams are tied for third place, three shots back of the leaders.

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Sitting two shots off the lead, Iowa Golf Hall of Fame members Jon Brown and Gene Elliott (left) knew they had some work to do in order to win the 25th IGA Four-Ball Championship at The Falls in Larchwood.

A 10-under par 62 later and it was mission accomplished. With five birdies apiece, Brown and Elliott commented they just kept trying to get one more birdie on the card. Brown’s birdie on the final two holes proved to be the difference as they outdistanced the side of Ethan Mechling / J.D. Anderson by a pair of strokes.

“We each made five birdies and didn’t double-up,” Brown said. “We just kept plugging away and didn’t give up. I felt like we left a couple (shots) out there yesterday, but not today. Teaming up with Gene I had a tremendous amount of trust. I knew he would never be out of the hole and be there when I needed him.”

Never having to count a bogey on a course that played quite difficult with strong, blustering winds was a feat within itself for the champions who shot rounds of 68-62 (-14) over the two-day event.

“In 36 holes we really didn’t scare making bogey,” Elliott said. “We had to make a few 4-5 foot putts, but we were never in trouble where we weren’t going to make par and gave ourselves a lot of chances. I hit first on every hole and tried to get it into play. With Jon being so long, I wanted him to be able to feel free to go after it. Now we gotta go defend next year, unless he dumps me.”

Brown jokingly said he thinks he’ll keep Elliott on the team. This victory marked the sixth overall IGA Four-Ball title for Elliott and Brown’s second victory in the event. Neither had teamed up together in the past.

In the Senior Division, Joe Palmer and Terry Cook (left) collected their third title in the division and fourth overall, winning the Open Division crown in 2004. Similar to the Elliott/Brown side, Palmer and Cook were chasing the leaders entering the final round – two shots back off the pace.

With a final round 68 (-4) that included timely birdies on the back nine holes, both mentioned how their partnership has been a winning combination, finishing the event with rounds of 67-68 (-9).

“I had a great partner,” Cook said. “Joe has been unbelievable. We were patient all day and hung in there. We had to fight back and make a couple good shots coming down the stretch. All day I tried to stay in the present. It’s fun to win again.”

Playing with the first round leaders, Bret Taylor and Jeff Collett, Palmer and Cook were able to keep tabs on where they stood and were checking the leaderboard for any charges coming from ahead of them.

“We were playing with the leaders, so we could see what was going on,” Palmer said. “We were making a bunch of pars (on our front 9) and so were they. We were watching the leaderboard and didn’t want to lose any ground. Terry had a great three-hole stretch there and we skated in there (for the win).

Palmer commented that knowing you have a partner who won’t be out of the hole very often is a key to success.

“Over the years, Terry Cook doesn’t make big numbers,” Palmer said. “We free each other up (to play) and when you have a partner who is always in the hole you can play aggressively. It’s worked for us.”

Taylor and Collett shared runner-up with the side of Gary Ellis / Jay Goeser at -8 for the event.

In the Super Senior Division, the side of Bill Mathers / Vernon VanPerseum (right) battled back with a final round 67 (-5) to win the title by a stroke over first round leaders Rick Gorbell and Wes Hogeland. Mathers/VanPerseum posted rounds of 73-67 (-5).

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