The 2021 Iowa Junior and Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship will look different than previous years – but only by a day.

Both championships, set to be held at Ames’ Coldwater Golf Links June 21-23, will be contested over 54-holes in three days. In the past the event has been a 36-hole championship over two days for the oldest age divisions.

Most of the IGA’s major championships are 54-holes championships and both the Men’s and Women’s Rules and Competitions committees felt that the Iowa Junior and Girls’ Junior Amateur should mirror those events.

“This change was done first and foremost to elevate the status of the championship. Moving to a 54-hole event mirrors our other major events, like the Iowa Amateur, Women’s Amateur, and Senior Amateur,” said IGA CEO/Executive Director Chad Pitts.

It is also worth noting that the Iowa Junior and Girl’s Junior Amateur will have one division (18 & under). This was a change that the committees felt would elevate the event and make it unique to juniors in Iowa, as it reflects what the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship currently looks like, where 14 and 15-year-olds truly compete with 17 and 18-year-olds.

“It was a very tough decision to eliminate the younger age divisions from this championship. As the Allied Golf Association of the USGA we wanted our state junior amateur to more closely resemble that of the national championship, which does not have age divisions,” added Pitts. “Plus, these kids all play high school golf against one another no matter if they are freshman or seniors, so we feel that part won’t be very foreign to them at all.”

Although we know that this may discourage some younger players from participating right away, we hope that it gives them something to look forward to as they develop as players.

“The hardest part was eliminating the very young age divisions – the 13 and under divisions – because we know those kids are very unlikely to enter the event now,” said Tom Christensen, immediate past chairman of the IGA Rules & Competitions Committee. “Thankfully, our state has a wealth of playing opportunities for the youngest golfers with the Iowa Section PGA Junior Tour, so we will work to promote those events even more than we have in the past.”

Did you know – The Iowa Golf Association recently obtained two new permanent trophies that will include the names of each champion from the past going forward.  We are excited to unveil those at this year’s championship.

Hunter Johnson, of Ankeny, rose to the occasion to win the Boys’ 16-18 Division of the 2020 Iowa Junior Amateur Championship, held at Spirit Hollow Golf Club in Burlington.

First-round leader Clayton Phillips held the early lead through 15 holes, and then a few late bogies opened the door for Johnson, who sealed the deal in dramatic fashion with an eagle on the par-5 eighteenth. Johnson posted consistent rounds to the tune of 73-73 for a tally of 146 (+2). Matthew Briggs, of Burlington, was in contention all afternoon, and birdied the last for a two-day total of 75-73-148 (+4) to finish Runner-up. Phillips finished in third with a score of 149 (+5) for the week.

Newton’s Rylee Heryford outlasted the field to secure her victory in the Girls’ 16-18 Division. The day began with a crowded leaderboard, with Paige Hoffman, of West Des Moines, and Allison Nuss, of New Hampton, and Heryford all beginning the day within one stroke of another. Heryford birdied the last, finishing four ahead of the field with a 75-77-152 (+8) total. Hoffman and Nuss played tough, but a few setbacks on the back nine led them to shooting rounds of 81 & 80 respectively, settling into a tie for second at 156 (+12).

The action came down to the final hole in the Boys’ 14-15 Division, with Indianola’s Jackson Overton hanging on to win with a bogey on the eighteenth, finishing with rounds of 81 & 90 for a 36-hole total of 171 (+27). Finishing one behind was Calen Bishop, of Johnston, who posted rounds of 82 and 90 for a total of 172 (+28). Rounding out the podium was Knoxville’s Evan Smith, who finished up with a tally of 177 (+33).

The Girls’ 14-15 Division was a footrace on Thursday morning, with Meghan Delong, of Clear Lake, surviving a strong comeback bid from Katelyn Vaassen, of Dubuque, to win by one stroke. Delong managed to maintain her grip on the lead, posting rounds of 90 & 89 for a two-day total of 179 (+35). Vaassen rallied on Thursday, improving 14 strokes from her opening round, firing a round of 83 for a 36-hole total of 180 (+36). Burlington’s Lauren Briggs finished in third place after posting 89-98 for a tally of 187 (+43).

Click here for full results

See photos below of 16-18, 14-15 Divisions

2020 Iowa Junior Girls’ Champion Meghan Delong in the 14-15 Division.

2020 Iowa Junior Champion Jackson Overton (left) and runner-up Caleb Bishop (right) in the 14-15 Division.

2020 Iowa Girls’ Junior Amateur (16-18 Division) champion was Rylee Heryford. Tied for runner-up were Allison Nuss & Paige Hoffman. Pictured (from left to right) are Hoffman, Nuss and Heryford.

2020 Iowa Junior (16-18 Division) champion Hunter Johnson (right) and runner-up Matthew Briggs (left).

Clayton Phillips, of New London, sits atop a crowded leaderboard in the Boys’ 16-18 Division after shooting an even-par 72 in Wednesday’s opening round. Phillips overcame a double bogey on the first hole by making a flurry of pars, three birdies, and one bogey the rest of the way. Right behind Phillips is Ankeny’s Hunter Johnson, who made four birdies en route to posting a 1-over par round of 35-38-73. Sitting in a tie for third at 3-over par is Matthew Briggs, of Burlington, and Brandon McCarty, of North Liberty.

In the Girls’ 16-18 Division, Thursday is sure to be a shootout as West Des Moines’ Paige Hoffman & Newton’s Rylee Heryford are deadlocked in a tie for first after opening rounds of 75 (+3). Allison Nuss, of New Hampton, is only one back heading into tomorrow’s final round. She carded three birdies on her way to posting a 4-over round of 76.

In the Boys’ 14-15 Division, Indianola’s Jackson Overton leads the pack following his round of 40-41 for a final tally of 81 (+9). One shot behind Overton is Calen Bishop, of Johnston, at 10-over par. In the Girls’ 14-15 Division, local player Lauren Briggs, of Burlington, has a one-stroke advantage heading into Thursday’s final round. Briggs posted a 43-46 round of 89 (+17), highlighted by a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole. Clear Lake’s Meghan DeLong is one back after a consistent 45-45 round of 90 (+18).

In the Boys’ 12-13 Division, Braeden Nelson, of West Des Moines, captured the title by two shots after his round of 82 (+10). In the Girls’ 12-13 Division, Saleah Vivanhvong came back from an early deficit to win the title with her round of 92 (+20).

In the Boys’ 11 & Under Division, Nevada’s Parker Rogers topped the leaderboard, firing an 8-over par round of 44. In the Girls’ 11 & Under Division, Rylee Brockhouse, of Muscatine, won the title with an 11-over round of 47.

See full results here

See photos below of 12-13, 11 & Under Divisions

2020 Iowa Junior Champion Braeden Nelson (left) in the Boys’ 12-13 Division, alongside Vaughn Roseman, Runner-up (right).

2020 Iowa Girls’ Junior Amateur (12-13 Divsion) – Saleah Vivanhvong, Champion (left) and Morgan Rupp, Runner-up (right).

2020 Iowa Girls’ Junior Amateur (11 & Under Division) Champion (left) Rylee Brockhouse and Runner-up (right) Kirsten Nuss.

Pictured are 2020 Iowa Junior Amateur (11 & Under Division) Champion Parker Rodgers (left) and Runner-up Evan Graham.

Urbandale’s Nick Pittman fired a 65 (-6) to lead the Boys 16-18 Division of the Iowa Junior Amateur at Indianola Country Club. Pittman’s round was clean, no bogeys and six birdies. Matt Garside, of Bettendorf, is five off the pace at, after shooting a 70 (-1) of his own.

Pella’s Will Simpson leads the Boys 14-15 Division with 74 (+3) today. He leads by three of Luke Meyer, of Cedar Falls. Meanwhile, Rylee HeryFord, who shot 74, leads by 8 the Girls’ 14-15 Division and Annika Patton leads the 16-18 Division by 10 following a 76.

Final rounds for the Boys, Girls 14-15 and 16-18 divisions will be played on Tuesday.

Carson Korver, of Orange City, and C.T. Norris, of West Des Moines, shot 42 in the 11 & Under Division. They went to extra holes where ultimately Carson came out victorious with a par on the first playoff hole.

Lauren Nuss from New Hampton shot 49 to win the 11 & Under Girls’ Division.

In the Boy’s 12-13 Division, Joseph Currans, of Ames, shot 79 (+8) to outlast Evan Smith, Knoxville, by two. Tanner Wachtl finished third.

Lauren Briggs, Burlington, shot 87 to win the Girls’ 12-13 Division by five shots over Eden Lohrbach, of Ames.

Click here for a full recap of scoring from all divisions.

A trio of players are tied for the lead in the Iowa Junior Amateur at Goldwater Golf Links. Connor Neighbors, Ian Johnston and Mitchell Rice all posted 68 (-1). Due to some recent flooding on #2 and #15, those holes were played as a par three. Burke Pitz sits just a shot off the lead entering the final round.

Annika Patton, who opened with 73 (+4), leads by three strokes over Bailee Frayne in the Iowa Junior Girls’ Amateur. Lauren Sease is in third place, six shots off the lead, going into Wednesday’s final round.

In the Boy’s 14 & 15 Division Dillon Burr leads by five over Hogan Hansen, while Saffire Sayre leads Grace Butler by eight in the Girls’ 14 & 15 Division. Both division will play a second round to determine the champion.

In competition that concluded on Tuesday, Jett Loveanh outdistanced Mason Gatchel by six (Boy’s 11 & Under) and Maicy Baker won by six strokes over Lauren Nuss in the Girls’ 11 & Under Division. Meghan DeLong won by a single stroke over her sister Rebecca in the Girls’ 12 & 13 Division and Reid Hall was a winner by two over Joseph Currans in the Boy’s 12 & 13 Division.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Jett Loveanh (left) & Mason Gatchel (right)

Maicy Baker (left) & Lauren Nuss (right)

Joseph Currans (left) & Reid Hall (right)

Rebecca DeLong (left) & Meghan DeLong (right)

JUNE 19, 2018

The 2018 Iowa Junior Amateurs, originally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 20 & 21, has been postponed to August 7th & 8th.

We have worked out new dates with the Coldwater staff.  The 2018 Iowa Junior Amateur Championships (boys & girls) will be held Tuesday, August 7 and Wednesday, August 8.  Here is the complete schedule:

• Tuesday, August 7
  • 11 and under boys & girls play 9 holes
  • 12 to 13 boys & girls play 18 holes
  • 14 to 15 and 16 to 18 boys and girls play their first round (18 holes)
• Wednesday, August 8
  • 14 to 15 and 16 to 18 boys and girls play their final round (18 holes)

We expect the tee time setup to be the same as originally scheduled, with times ranging from 8 a.m. to about 10 a.m. off both #1 and #10 tees, if that helps in your planning.

In establishing these dates we took into account a wide array of factors including Coldwater’s schedule, the IGA schedule, the Iowa PGA Junior Tour schedule and thinking about High School (4A boys golf in particular) sports and school.  In weighing pros and cons of various dates and how they conflict with all of those things, Aug 7 & 8 stood out as our best option.

Having said that we know that this will not work for everyone.  If you need to withdraw, we will issue a FULL REFUND.  Please just reply to this email or give us a call (515-207-1062) if you need to WD.

Finally, with this date change, we will open entries back up to the public.  If you know of anyone who would like to play on these new dates, please pass the word along.  Entries will remain open through July 30th.

Thank you for your patience as we deal with Mother Nature.

JUNE 18, 2018

The 2018 Iowa Junior Amateurs, originally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 20 & 21, have been postponed.

Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, the host for 2018, was had flooding over many of their holes late last week.  The water stood for a good portion of two days, finally receding late yesterday.  Unfortunately, it left behind lots of mud and silt which is currently in the process of being cleared off.

After looking at course conditions throughout the day today the IGA and our hosts at Coldwater have determined that opening their golf course on Wednesday and Thursday this week just wasn’t possible.  In fact, the Superintendent has informed us that they are “hopeful” the front 9 would be open by Friday at the earliest.

The holes hit the hardest were 5, 6, 7 & 8 and 14 & 15.  Parts of many other holes were also affected in some fashion.  Thankfully the greens are untouched and in great condition.  

The grounds crew at CW has been hard at work all weekend and throughout today to get things cleaned up as best they can.  But the reality is that there is still a lot to do, including pumping some standing water out of low-lying areas.

We will be working with our hosts throughout the day tomorrow (June 19) to establish new dates for the championship.  We are hopeful to have those set by the end of the day tomorrow and will email/text them ASAP. 

Once these new dates are established, anyone who wishes/needs to withdraw will be issued a full refund.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work with our hosts.  We are looking forward to presenting an excellent 2018 Iowa Junior Amateur at Coldwater Golf Links later this summer.