Category: IGA Match Play

Down to four at IGA Match Play, Women’s Match Play

iowagolfJuly 1, 20220 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, Wmn's Match Play

Only four remain after day three of the IGA Men’s and Women’s Match Play Championships. Dylan Ellis, Willis Gaer, Nate McCoy and Ethan Mechling are all headed to the semifinal round of the men’s championship. Defending champion, Leanne Smith, along with Anna Jensen, Fiona Watson and Paige Hoffman are also set to compete in the semifinal round.

The No. 1 seeded Ellis knocked off Chad Tracy in the round of 16 and took down a former IGA Match Play Champion, Jon Olson in the quarterfinal round. Ellis will take on Gaer to advance to the championship round. Gaer beat the No. 4 seed Chris James and Tony Birmingham to place him in the semifinal round.

Mechling had a tough road to the semifinal round as he had to defeat Hunter Johnson and three-time IGA Match Play Champion Jon Brown. Mechling will face off against McCoy for a chance at a final round appearance. McCoy defeated Ben Pettitt and the 2020 IGA Match Play Champion, Connor Peck.

On the women’s side, Smith (right) continues her streak of being unbeatable as she advances to the semifinal round yet again. Smith looks to make it four-straight IGA Women’s Match Play Championship titles, but the journey will not be easy.

Smith will take on the 2021 IGA Girls’ Player of the Year in Hoffman. Hoffman won her match over Ruby Chou, in 21 holes. The two competitors will battle for a spot in the final round.

Jensen is trying to make a return to the championship round. She defeated the 2020 IGA Girls’ Junior Amateur and will take on Watson for a chance at redemption. Watson knocked off the No. 3 sed Christi Imsland and Tabitha Schumacher to earn her place in the semifinal round.

The semifinal and the championship rounds will take place on Friday. You can follow the final matches for the IGA Match Play Championship and the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship using our live scoring feature.

Men’s Final Four
Dylan Ellis
Willis Gaer
Nate McCoy
Ethan Mechling

Women’s Final Four
Leanne Smith
Anna Jensen
Fiona Watson
Paige Hoffman

Sixteen remain at IGA Match Play, Women’s Match Play Championship

iowagolfJune 30, 20220 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, Wmn's Match Play

The Round 16 matches are set as day two wrapped up at the IGA Men’s and Women’s Match Play Championships. The No. 1 seeds, Dylan Ellis and Leanne Smith advanced to the Round of 16 with two victories on the day.

Ellis came into the championship with high levels of confidence and that has only continued to grow as he moves closer to the final round. After knocking off Gary Elli, 3&1, he defeated Shayne Allan, 3&2 and will face off against Chad Tracy tomorrow.

Smith won her first match in dominating fashion over Rebecca Schroeder, 8&7. The three-time defending champion will move on to the round of 16 and take on Janece Schwartzkopf, who won her match over Des Moines, Kelly Grimes.

The men’s championship will feature a rematch between defending champion, Joe Palmer and Jon Brown. Palmer bested Brown in the quarterfinal round at the Senior Match Play. The match went to the 19th hole where Palmer made par to take the victory. Brown looks to get his revenge over Palmer during tomorrow’s round.

Connor Peck, the 2020 IGA Match Play Champion, advanced to the round of 16 where he will take on Sam Vertanen. Peck claimed wins over Cooper Hanson and Garrett Tighe to push him closer to another match play title.

Last year’s runner-up, Anna Jensen, knocked off Carroll Dethrow to inch closer to that final round. Jensen will play Kathy Fortune, who defeated Jen Nemmers in a close match that was decided on the 17th hole.

The No. 3 seed Christi Imsland won her match over Jennifer Judge and is set to play Ann Slechta tomorrow. Coming off an NCAA Championship appearance, Ruby Chou advanced to the round of 16 with a win over Cindy Morrison. Chou is set to take on the No. 20 seed, Taylor Sedivec.

Both men and women will be playing the Round of 16 and the quarterfinal rounds Thursday morning. You can follow the matches for the IGA Match Play Championship and the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship using our live scoring feature.

Men’s, Women’s IGA Match Play bracket set

iowagolfJune 29, 20220 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, Wmn's Match Play

The stroke play portion of the IGA Match Play Championship concluded Tuesday evening. One half his year’s Four-Ball Champion team, Dylan Ellis, took home medalist honors and the No. 1 seed for the match play tournament with a five-under round of 67.

Ellis recorded five birdies in his first nine holes. At the turn, Ellis made a double on the hole one, but that did not stop him. In his final eight holes, Ellis went two-under par to take a three-shot lead over the field.

Defending champion Joe Palmer will receive the No. 2 seed. Connor Peck, the 2020 champion, will go into the 64-player bracket with the No. 3 seed. Christ James will take the No. 4 seed and Joshua Manske rounds out the top-five.

Anna Jensen and Leanne Smith shared stroke play medalist honors after firing rounds of 77. Last year, Smith defeated Jensen in the final round to earn her third-straight IGA Women’s Match Play Championship.

Christi Imsland earned the No. 3 seed with a 79 and Ruby Chou grabbed the No. 4 seed. The 2021 IGA Girls’ Player of the Year, Paige Hoffman holds the No. 5 seed to finish the top-five.

The men will play the round of 64 and the round of 32 on Wednesday. The women will only play their first round. Follow the matches at the IGA Match Play Championship and the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship using the live scoring feature.

Men’s Stroke Play Medalist
Dylan Ellis -5 67

Women’s Stroke Play Medalist
Anna Jensen +5 77
Leanne Smith +5 77

IGA Match Play, Women’s Match Play returns to Talons Golf

iowagolfJune 27, 20220 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, Wmn's Match Play

The prestigious 34th IGA Match Play Championship begins this week at a venue like no other, Talons Golf located in Ankeny. This event is a place where many of the best amateur golfers in the state compete for one of the most sought-after titles in Iowa, to be named the IGA Match Play Champion.

The event consists of an 18-hole stroke play portion on Tuesday to decide the 64-player field. The Round of 64 begins on Wednesday with the Round of 32 to follow. The Round of 16 and the Quarterfinal Matches are set to take place on Thursday, with the Semifinal and Championship Matches to be played on Friday.

Many questions remain coming into this week. Will Joe Palmer defend his title? Does Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Jon Brown capture his fourth victory at this event? Can the 2021 IGA Player of the Year, Nate McCoy take home his first IGA Match Play trophy?

With one of the strongest fields the championship has ever seen, the 2022 IGA Match Play title could end up in anyone’s hands. To keep up with one of the best amateur competitions in the state, use our live scoring feature for the 34th IGA Match Play Championship.

A strong field is set for the 10th IGA Women’s Match Play. Coming off an NCAA Championship appearance, YiTing (Ruby) Chou is a force to be reckoned with. Chou will be paired alongside the 2021 IGA Junior Girls’ Amateur Champion, Tatum Depuydt. The three-time IGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year, Paige Hoffman will also be competing this week, and she is searching for her first IGA Women’s Match Play title.

The 2021 IGA Women’s Player of the Year, Leanne Smith is ready to make it four-straight IGA Women’s Match Play victories. Since 2019, Smith has yet to lose a match in the tournament. Last year, Smith defeated Anna Jensen to claim her third match play title, but Jensen is in the field again and is looking for redemption.

Smith and Jensen have been paired together in the stroke play portion, along with the 2022 IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series Event #1 winner, Fiona Watson. You can follow this powerful group and many other strong competitors using our live scoring feature during the 10th IGA Women’s Match Play.

Defending IGA Match Play Champion
Joe Palmer

Defending IGA Women’s Match Play Champion
Leanne Smith

Palmer wins 33rd IGA Match Play title, makes history in the process

iowagolfJuly 2, 20210 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Joe Palmer (pictured above) made history this week at the 33rd IGA Match Play at Talons Golf in Ankeny. Palmer became the first player in IGA history to win an IGA Senior Match Play Championship and an IGA Match Play Championship in the same year. Palmer, 58, also became the oldest IGA Match Play winner and the third player in IGA history to win the IGA Match Play more than once (Palmer won back in 2002).

“It is a great feeling (winning both IGA events); this was a terrific field and I got through some pretty good matches, Palmer said. “I played great and drove the ball terrific and that sets up your game and I took it from there.”

At the start of the event, Palmer came out of the stroke play portion as the No. 30 seed. Palmer, who was on the side of the bracket named after the late Jim Hasley, an Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member who passed away earlier this year, was faced with an uphill battle as he faced off against the No. 35 seed Henry Weresh in round one. His next opponent was not an easy test either, Palmer faced the No. 3 seed and two-time IGA Match Play winner, Jon Olson in round two.

“Match play is different,” Palmer said. “You have to play your competitor instead of the golf course at times and I knew this course was going to yield some birdies, so I tried to score when I could, and I took it one match at a time. If you don’t make a lot of bogeys, which has always been a strong point in my game, you start getting up in matches.”

Palmer’s next two opponents were the No. 14 seed, Dennis Bull, and the No 6 seed J.D. Anderson. The key to Palmer’s success was to limit the mistakes, and that is exactly what he did the entirety of the tournament.

On the final day, Palmer was faced with another grinding match against the red-hot Kelly Brown. Brown, who was the No. 39 seed, caught fire and was winning his matches by margins of three, four and six holes. Brown took Palmer to the 21st hole, where Palmer was able to gain the edge off the tee box and ultimately won hole by concession after Brown was unable to find his tee shot and provisional ball in the deep rough.

As the championship match began, Palmer and Nate Vance, who was on the side of the bracket named after the late Jerry Johnson, also an Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member who passed away recently, knew they would be fighting for the trophy. Palmer knew that Vance was going to be longer off the tee, so he stuck to his game plan and that seemed to be enough to earn the victory.

“Vance uses the ground just like PGA Tour golfer, Justin Thomas,” Palmer said. “Vance can hit in places that many people can’t, and I knew that. I just stuck with my game and limited my mistakes.”

Vance played tremendous golf all week long, knocking off players like Willis Gaer, Scott Hart and Scot Cook. Vance’s morning match on the final day against Gaer finished on the 17th hole where Vance made a clutch up-and-down to seal it and head to the final match.

In the final match, Vance (right) and Palmer continued to knock down the flag. As the match came closer to an end, Palmer started to gain the edge over Vance. Heading to the 17th hole, Palmer drove into the fairway and Vance was forced to punch out after hitting his tee shot to the right.

Vance could not make an up-and-down for par, but it wouldn’t have mattered because Palmer made a clutch birdie putt. Standing on the 18th tee box, Vance knew he needed to make something happen, so he pulled out his driver and hit it inside 50 yards.

After a short pitch onto the green, the birdie opportunity Vance had to tie the match and send it to the 19th hole lipped out and the match was over. Palmer made par after hitting yet another green in regulation and was able to two-putt from there. The two competitors shook hands, and the 58-year-old was crowned champion.

Next up on the schedule will be the 36-hole U.S. Amateur Qualifier at Lake Panorama Golf Course in Panora. This event will take place on Tuesday, July 6th with the IGA Women’s Four-Ball to follow.

Semifinal matches set at 10th IGA Women’s Match Play, 33rd IGA Match Play Championship

iowagolfJuly 1, 20210 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, News, Wmn's Match Play

Only four players are left at the IGA Women’s Match Play at Talons Golf in Ankeny. The stroke-play medalist’s chances are still alive in Brooke Newell, who defeated Niki Clayton and Ardrae Parmenter today.

Newell will face off against Anna Jensen who claimed victories over Janece Schwartzkopf and Tabitha Schumacher in the round of 16 and the quarterfinal round. Jensen, the No. 4 seed, had a back-and-forth with Schumacher, but made par on 18 to close out the match.

Defending Champion, Leanne Smith secured wins over Kelly Grimes and Laura Leszczynski today. Smith will have the opportunity to take on University of Northern Iowa’s fifth-year senior, Hannah Bermel. Bermel won her two matches over Renee Buckner and Mikayla Olson.

The final day of the IGA Women’s Match Play Championship will begin tomorrow morning and you will be able to follow live scoring by using this link.

Players Advancing
Brooke Newell
Anna Jensen
Leanne Smith
Hannah Bermel

One day is left remaining at the IGA Match Play at Talons Golf in Ankeny. The round of 16 and quarterfinals concluded this afternoon, and four players remain. Nate Vance, the No. 5 seed, is the highest remaining seed left in the field.

Vance took down Scot Cook this morning and followed it up with a win over Scott Hart in the quarterfinal round. In both matches, Vance was down going into the back nine. He caught fire towards the end of both his matches and claimed two victories.

Willis Gaer will be Vance’s opponent tomorrow, after defeating Bret Taylor and Felipe Pedraza. Gaer, the No. 8 seed, got off to a quick start in both of his matches. This helped Gaer seal two victories and make his way into the semi-final round.

Kelly Brown, the No. 39 seed, will play this year’s Senior Match Play Champion and No. 30 seeded, Joe Palmer. Brown had to play a tough stretch of competitors to make it to the semi-final round. Brown knocked off the defending IGA Match Play Champion, Connor Peck in the round of 16, and followed it up with a win over the red-hot Ben Epperly in the quarterfinals.

Palmer is marching in uncharted territory as he has a chance to win the Senior Match Play and the IGA Match Play in the same season. Palmer defeated the No. 14 seeded Dennis Bull in the round of 16 and then had to face J.D. Anderson in the quarterfinals. Anderson’s last two matches went into extra holes with his match yesterday finishing on the 26th playoff hole.

The final day of the IGA Match Play Championship will begin tomorrow morning and you will be able to follow live scoring by using this link.

Players Advancing
Willis Gaer
Nate Vance
Kelly Brown
Joe Palmer

33rd IGA Match Play, 10th IGA Women’s Match Play continues

iowagolfJune 30, 20210 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, News

Day two of the 33rd IGA Match Play at Talons Golf in Ankeny has concluded. During the first day of stroke play qualifying, Wade Pettitt took home the medal after firing a low round of 66 in the stroke play qualifying round. Pettitt earned the No. 1 seed, but fell to the University of Iowa’s, Charles Jahn, 3&2 in the afternoon.

In the second round, the defending champion, Connor Peck, defeated Tyler Sansgaard in a close match (3&2). Peck will have to play Ben Epperly in the third round on Thursday. Epperly took down Nick Pittman on the 19th hole.

IGA Senior Match Play champion, Joe Palmer defeated the No. 3 seed Jon Olson with a 10-footer on the 18th hole. Palmer will move on to play the No. 14 seeded, Dennis Bull. In the second round, Bull defeated Jay Gregory, 4&3.

Later in the second round, Ethan Mechling’s and J.D. Anderson’s match went to 26 holes, which was one of the longest matches in recent history. J.D. Anderson won the match on the eighth hole and will play the No. 11 seeded Nate McCoy tomorrow.

The quarterfinal round will begin tomorrow morning and you will be able to follow live scoring by using this link.

Players Advancing
Charles Jahn
Felipe Pedraza
Willis Gaer
Bret Taylor
Frank Lindwall
Scott Hart
Nate Vance
Scot Cook
Connor Peck
Ben Epperly
Kelly Brown
Ben Pettitt
Joe Palmer
Dennis Bull
J.D. Anderson
Nate McCoy

Sixteen women are headed to day three after completing the first round of the 10th IGA Women’s Match Play. On the first day, Brooke Newell claimed the medalist honors in the stroke play qualifying round. Newell earned the No. 1 seed and won her first match over Marlene Williams and will advance to the second round.

Defending champion and No. 2 seed, Leanne Smith defeated Jolee Belzung, 8&7 and will take on Kelly Grimes in the second round. Grimes won a close match against Granger’s, Taylor Sedivec to earn a spot in the round of 16.

University of Northern Iowa senior, Hannah Bermel made her way into the second round after defeating Morgan Conn. Bermel will play Renee Buckner who won her match over Ila Gilbert after playing the 19th hole.

The second round will begin tomorrow morning and you will be able to follow live scoring by using this link.

Players Advancing
Brooke Newell
Ardrae Parmenter
Rosalie Kubesheski
Niki Clayton
Anna Jensen
Janece Schwartzkopf
Tabitha Schumacher
Jan Sewright
Leanne Smith
Kelly Grimes
Laura Leszczynski
Lydia Steier
Hannah Bermel
Renee Buckner
Mikayla Olson
Kathy Fortune

Pettitt fires 66, Newell posts 75 to earn top seeds

iowagolfJune 29, 20210 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play, News

Low scores flooded the leaderboard during the stroke play qualifying round of the 33rd IGA Match Play Championship at Talons Golf in Ankeny. Wade Pettitt, of Waukee, earned the medalist honors by one shot after firing a low round of 66 (-6).

Pettitt started his day off with a bogey on the first hole and caught fire after that. Going into his 15th hole, Pettitt made four-straight birdies to jump into the top spot over Ankeny’s, Jon Olson, and Frank Lindwall, of Cedar Rapids.

Olson and Lindwall carded rounds of 67 and Nate Vance took fourth place with a four-under round of 68. J.D. Anderson, Cody Holck, Willis Gaer, Connor Peck, Andrew Huseman and Jon Brown rounded out the top-five with rounds of 69. Peck will be the #2 seed in the match play bracket as the defending champion.

The 64-player cut finished at five-over par (score of 77).

Stroke Play Qualifying
1. Wade Pettitt -6 66
2. Jon Olson -5 67
3. Frank Lindwall -5 67
4. Nate Vance -4 68
T5. J.D. Anderson -3 69
T5. Cody Holck -3 69
T5. Willis Gaer -3 69
T5. Connor Peck -3 69
T5. Jon Brown -3 69
T5. Andrew Huseman -3 69

Anita’s Brooke Newell earned medalist honors at the 10th IGA Women’s Match Play at Talons Golf in Ankeny after posting a round of 75.

Newell recorded a 37 on the front-nine and a 38 on her back-nine to win by one shot over Hannah Bermel, of Cedar Falls.

Bermel carded a four-over round of 76 and finished in second place by one shot over the defending champion, Leanne Smith, of Indianola and Anna Jensen, of Dubuque.

Smith and Jensen recorded rounds of 77 and Tabitha Schumacher, of Pella, earned fifth place honors with a seven-over 79. Smith received the #2 seed into match play as the defending champion.

Stroke Play Qualifying
1. Brooke Newell +3 75
2. Hannah Bermel +4 76
T3. Leanne Smith +5 77
T3. Anna Jensen +5 77
5. Tabitha Schumacher +7 79

Peck picks up emotional win at 32nd IGA Match Play Championship

iowagolfJuly 2, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Conner Peck (right) , of Ankeny, had a lot on his mind during the week.

With the help of support from his family and solid ball striking most of the week, Peck came out on top at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny. Peck defeated fellow Ankeny resident Andrew Huseman in the final match going away, 5&4.

“In match play you’re not playing against the whole field,” Peck said. “It’s a hole-by-hole deal. If you have one bad hole, it’s not the end of the world. It was a grind, but it was a lot of fun. I hit the ball really well (all week). This week was awesome.”

But before his afternoon match against Huseman, Peck, a 2012 Herman Sani Scholar, battled Tripp Kinney, of Des Moines, in a back and forth match for the ages. Peck, who won 1 up, had nothing but great things to say about Kinney.

“Tripp is a great player,” Peck said. “That was a fun match. If you are playing well, it’s nice to play a lot of golf quickly. My putter got better as the week went on.”

Huseman, who defeated J.D. Anderson, of Johnston, in the other semifinal match on Thursday morning, 1 up, simply could not keep up with Peck’s birdie (and eagle) barrage. Peck was -7 in the 14 holes he played, including back to back eagles on the 10th and 11th holes. A final birdie on the 14th hole was good enough for the win in what has been a whirlwind month, filled with mixed emotions, for Peck.

“This past month I moved back from Dallas to be closer to my family (following the loss of my brother),” Peck said. “To feel some happiness this week and to have a lot of family here is really important.”

Click here to view Peck’s post-round interview

Click here to review the complete 32nd IGA Match Play Championship bracket

Four remain at 32nd IGA Match Play Championship

iowagolfJuly 1, 20200 commentsChampionships, IGA Match Play

Four players remain after the third day of action at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship at Talons of Tuscany Golf Club in Ankeny.

In the George Turner Region, Ankeny local and #16 seed Connor Peck defeated #32 seed Ian Johnston 4 & 3 during the morning’s Round of 16 matches and followed it up with a victory over #8 seed Joe Palmer in 19 holes to secure his place in the semifinals. Peck will face off against #4 seed and 2017 IGA Match Play Champion Tripp Kinney, of Des Moines. Kinney bypassed #13 seed Brock Barnhart and #21 seed David Combs en route to the semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket in the Steve Spray Region, #34 seed Andrew Huseman is set to face off against four-time IGA Champion and #38 seed J.D. Anderson in Thursday’s semifinals. Huseman is hot off of a victory last weekend at the Fort Dodge Amateur and overtook #50 seed Brian Verduyn and #10 seed Anthony Ruthey to claim his spot in Thursday’s semifinal match. Anderson defeated #11 seed Cale Leonard in Wednesday’s Round of 16 match, and then closed out a 1 up victory over #19 seed Ben Epperly to advance to the semifinals.