From left – Michelle Klein, Laura Leszczynski, Ximena Benites and Maura Peters.

The final round of the 14th Women’s Four-Ball Championship was a race to the finish in the Championship Flight with Maura Peters and Ximena Benites coming out victorious. After Peters and Benites opened with an even par round of 71, the two of them took that as a learning experience before going into round two. 

“Yesterday we learned a lot about the golf course, where you can and can not hit the ball, the greens are tricky, and there are definitely sides of the hole where you do not want to be on,” Peters said. 

Making notes of all that, Peters and Benites capitalized on their mistakes and tallied up an impressive seven birdies shooting 64 (-7) on the day. Coming in runner-up Kaitlyn Hanna and Shannyn Volger shooting two of rounds 69 (-2) and 70 (-1). Leaving third to Erika Holmberg and Tatum Depuydt posting a pair of rounds of 69 (-2) and an even par 71.

In the First Flight Julianna Burkholder and Kendra Henningsen walked away with the win of rounds 74 (+3) and 70 (-1). Coming in second was Fiona Watson and Tish Boothe with rounds of 75 (+4) and 72 (+1). There was a tie for third between the sides of Erin Schaffer/Leanne Smith with rounds of 76 (+5) and 74 (+3) and Ava Lohrbach/Eden Lohrbach shooting 75 (+4) both days.

In the Second Flight the Delong sisters (Meghan and Rebecca) battled their way back to secure the win shooting 78 (+7) and 73 (+2). Runner-up was Courtney Hany and Jennie Jackson going 78 (+7) and 77 (+6). Coming in a clean third was Amy Haldeman and Lynn Mawe with rounds of 79 (+9) and 83 (+12).

Within the Championship Net Division Kelly Nelson and Lindsay Burry combined for a two day net score of -13. Coming in runner-up was Molly Ratchford and Natalie Henson with (-9), and there was a tie for third at -8.

In the Senior Division, defending champions Laura Leszczynski and Michelle Klein snacked their way to claim yet another victory. 

“We pre-planned our snacks better, loaded up with caffeine, and Advil as needed; as it was critical on the day,” said Leszczynski. 

After opening with 75 (+4) Leszczynski/Klein did not let up, shooting a 73 (+2). 

“There was not a lot of strategy but there was a lot of energy between the two of us,” Klein said. “We did not take our foot off the pedal at all.” 

There was a tie for runner-up between Carroll Dethrow/Janece Schwartzkopf shooting 77 (+6) and 74 (+3) along with Margene Grady/Rosalie Kubesheski finishing the two days with 76 (+5) and 75 (+4).

In the First FlightCarolyn Flynn/Mary Howell would come out to win with scores of 83 (+12) and 79 (+8). Runner-up was Jackie Warrick/Shirly Rochelle with scores of 84 (+13) and (+10). In third was Kelly Grimes/Sue Harmon shooting 83 (+12) both days.

Holding onto the Senior Net Division Linda McCullum and Sherry Schafer won with a two day net score of -13. Coming in runner-up was Gaylene Hammer and Jan Sewright with (-9), and in third was Ila Gilbert and Janis Owens at (-4).  

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The side of Amber Henson, of Marshalltown, and Rylee Heryford, of Newton, (above) claimed victory at the 13th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship at Pinnacle Country Club, shooting (-2) 70 on both days to win by one stroke. The side of Erika Holmberg and Maura Peters, both from Bettendorf, and the side of Swisher’s Addison Berg and Cedar Rapid’s Jane Petersen tied for the runner-up position with totals of (-3) 141.

In the Senior Division, the team of Laura Leszczynski and Michelle Klein (right) ran away with the title, totaling a (-4) 142 and a 12-stroke victory over the next lowest team featuring Nicki Miller and Julie Hartman. Kelly Grimes and Sue Harmon rounded out the top of the leaderboard at (+3) 155. Adding to an already fantastic tournament, Harmon recorded her first ever hole-in-one during her final round on the par 3 second hole. A celebration for everyone!

This was the second IGA Championship held at Pinnacle Country Club, in Milan, IL, which is one of thirteen IGA member clubs in Illinois. They last held the IGA Club Team championship in 2010. Erin Strieck, Head PGA Professional at Pinnacle, is also the President of the Iowa PGA Section—and the section’s first ever female president.

Click here for full results

The 11th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship concluded Friday afternoon at Sioux City Country Club in Sioux City. Defending champions, Paige Hoffman and Kylie Carey repeated the same success that they had in 2020. Hoffman and Carey fired rounds of 70 and 73 to claim first place over Fiona Watson and Tish Boothe by three shots.

Watson and Boothe were consistently at the top of the leaderboard for the entirety of the tournament. Two late bogeys in their final round put an end to their run at the Open Division. First timers, Allison and Morgan Nuss, came in third place after rounds of 77 and 75.

For the first time in IGA Four-Ball history, the defending champions in each division won again. Rosalie Kubesheski and Margene Grady fended off Kathy Fortune’s and Laura Leszczynski’s late final round charge. Kubesheski and Grady have now won this event four times together and this is Kubesheski’s fifth total time winning it.

Fortune and Leszczynski shot up the leaderboard in the final round after the team recorded a total of four birdies. The duo carded scores of 78 and 74 and missed a playoff by one shot. Kubesheski finished off a four-footer for par on the 18th hole to close out the tournament. Ila Gilbert and Janis Owens took third place with back-to-back rounds of 77.

Open Division
1. Kylie Carey / Paige Hoffman 70-73-143
2. Fiona Watson / Tish Boothe 71-75-146
3. Allison Nuss / Morgan Nuss 77-75-152

Open Net Division
1. Allison Nuss / Morgan Nuss 70-70-140
T2. Fiona Watson / Tish Boothe 71-76-147
T2. Kylie Carey / Paige Hoffman 72-75-147

Senior Division
1. Margene Grady / Rosalie Kubesheski 76-75-151
2. Kathy Fortune / Laura Leszczynski 78-74-152
3. Ila Gilbert / Janis Owens 77-77-154

Senior Net Division
1. Ila Gilbert / Janis Owens 66-68-134
2. Carroll Dethrow / Janece Schwartzkopf 70-68-138
T3. Jackie Warrick / Shirly Rochelle 64-75-139
T3. Kathy Fortune / Laura Leszczynski 71-68-139

After the first round of the 11th IGA Women’s Four-Ball hosted by Sioux City Country Club, Kylie Carey and Paige Hoffman are leading the Open Division at 2-under. In the Senior Division, Rosalie Kubesheski and Margene Grady are tied with Jackie Warrick and Shirly Rochelle at the top of the leaderboard.

Fiona Watson and Tish Boothe (Open Division) were the first group off this morning and posted a 1-under 71 to head into the final round in second place. Allison and Morgan Nuss currently sit in third place and are six shots back after carding a 77.

Ila Gilbert and Janis Owens (Senior Division) will play alongside Beth Duenow and Nancy Olberding in tomorrow’s final round after tying for third place. Gilbert and Owens recorded a 77 with a 36 on their front nine and Olberding and Duenow carded a 77 with a 38 on their back nine.

The final round will begin tomorrow with an 8:30 a.m. starting time off the first tee. You can follow our live leaderboard using this link.

Open Division
1. Kylie Carey / Paige Hoffman 70
2. Fiona Watson / Tish Boothe 71
3. Allison Nuss / Morgan Nuss 77

Senior Division
T1. Jackie Warrick / Shirly Rochelle 76
T1. Margene Grady / Rosalie Kubesheski 76
T3. Ila Gilbert / Janis Owens 77
T3. Beth Duenow / Nancy Olberding 77

The team of Paige Hoffman & Kylie Carey (pictured above) put on a show this week at Ellis Golf Course in Cedar Rapids. The pair carded rounds of 67 (-5) and 70 (-2) on their way to a four-shot victory with a 36-hole tally of 137 (-7) in the 10th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship. Both shared positive remarks about the four-ball format of the event.

“It was a lot of fun, we just tried to stay positive,” Carey said. 

The duo acknowledged that the format altered their mindset, allowing them to take more chances than they would in stroke play.

“If we were both on the green and had looks at birdie it was definitely more aggressive putting,” said Hoffman. 

Finishing runner-up was the pair of Ellie Braksiek and Sarah Nacos, who posted consecutive subpar rounds of 71 (-1) and 70 (-2) for a two-day total of 141 (-3). Finishing in a tie for third were the sides of Julie Buerman and Karli Kerrigan, along with Hannah Bermel and Sydney Eaton. Both sides finished with a 36-hole total of 142 (-2). 

In the Senior Division, Margene Grady and Rose Kubesheski (pictured right) earned their third IGA Women’s Four-Ball title, posting rounds of 71 (E) and 72 (+1) to win by a two-stroke margin. The pair won the event back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018. 

Kelly Grimes and Sue Harmon made a strong push on the final day, putting together an even par round of 71 to follow up Thursday’s 74 (+3) to finish runner-up.

Click here for a recap of scoring

Several former IGA Champions are in the mix after the opening round of the 10th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship, being contested at Ellis Golf Course in Cedar Rapids. 

2019 Iowa Women’s Amateur Champion Paige Hoffman, along with her playing partner Kylie Carey, both of West Des Moines, will have a one-stroke advantage heading into Friday’s final round. They put together a strong round of 67 (-5), which included four birdies on the back nine. 

2018 IGA Women’s Match Play Champion Sydney Eaton, of Mason City, alongside teammate Hannah Bermel, of Cedar Falls, carded a 68 (-4) and will be looking to make a move during Friday’s final round. The duo of IGA veteran Julie Buerman, of Cedar Rapids, alongside 2016 and 2017 IGA Four-Ball Champion Karli Kerrigan, of Ankeny, will be in contention tomorrow after putting together a solid round of 69 (-3). 

In the Senior Division, the pair of Laura Leszczynski and Nancy Lorenzini, of Saint Mary’s and Cedar Rapids respectively, hold the lead after an opening round of 70 (-1). One behind is the team of Cedar Falls’ Margene Grady & Rosalie Kubesheski, of Dubuque, who carded an even par opening round of 71.

Click here for a recap of scoring

Hailey and Hannah Bermel (pictured right) followed up their opening round 65 (-7) in the 9th IGA Women’s Four-Ball with a solid round of 68 (-4) at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course to win the title by nine shots. The Bermel’s father, John, is the Head Golf Professional at Pheasant Ridge GC, so the victory was extra sweet for the duo.

“It was fun getting to play together and bounce the energy off of each other,” Hailey said.

Hannah admitted the game plan for the second round was fairly simple.

“We wanted to hit them close and knock the putts in,” Hannah said with a smile. “(We just wanted) to find the fairways.”

Finishing runner-up was the side of Janelle Carter / Julie Buerman, who posted two solid rounds of golf (69-73) to finish under par for the championship (-2).

In the Senior Division Laura Leszczynski and Robin Webb (pictured right) teamed up for post scores of 70-67 (-7) for the two-day event and cruised to an eight shot win. Leszczynski commented the two meshed well together and complimented her partner’s play.

“I think our games and approach to playing are very similar,” Leszczynski said. “Robin is an aggressive and steady player. She’s brings out the best in my game. She also helped me with all my key putts. We each had a lot of birdies today and we took turns on scoring them fortunately. To top it all, we had a lot of fun together. She’s a great player and a person, that combination makes these kind of events so much fun.”

The side of Kelly Grimes / Sue Harmon finished runner-up in the Senior Division, posted rounds of 74-71 (+1).

Click here for a full recap of scoring, including Net Division results

Hannah and Hailey Bermel put on a show at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in the opening round of the 9th IGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship. The pair teamed up to shoot 65 (-7) to lead by four shots over the side of Janelle Carter / Julie Buerman.

“Hannah made a lot of putts,” Hailey Bermel said. “If her ball was on the green, it was going in the hole (today).”

Hannah, who shot an opening nine holes of 30 (-6) on her own ball, admitted the flatstick was working and knowing the course helped – Their dad, John, is the Head Golf Professional at Pheasant Ridge GC. Hannah was able to make a total of eight birdies on the day, finishing the round with a 69 (-3) on her own.

“Putting was huge (in my success),” Hannah Bermel said. “There were some tough pins out there, so it’s nice to know the course.”

In the Senior Division, the side of Laura Leszczynski / Robin Webb posted a round of 70 (-2) to lead by four strokes over four other teams.

The final round will conclude tomorrow, with tee times starting at 8 a.m.

Click here to see a full recap of scoring from Round One.