The Iowa Golf Hall of Famer added another one to his resume. Norwalk’s Mike McCoy (above right) finished off the 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship to win by a grand total of five shots over Curtis Holck, of Ankeny and a fellow Iowa Golf Hall of Famer, Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines.

“We have a great field, I knew with Gene, Jon, Joe and Curtis and all these good players, I was going to have to play well (to win),” McCoy said. “It was definitely one that I wanted to win, being my first Iowa Senior Am (I’ve played in). I usually had a conflict this week in the past.”

The Preserve Golf Course on Rathbun Lake played difficult during the last two rounds. The wind started to kick up and made many players rethink their shots. McCoy, who didn’t play a practice round, took it slow and played it safe at the beginning.

“I played a little defensively, but I stayed patient,” McCoy said. “I felt a little freer yesterday and got off to a good start today and I was just going to keep playing aggressively. I only made one bogey the whole tournament, so I was pretty pleased with that.”

During the week, McCoy (left) recorded 12 birdies and one lone bogey in the first round. To maneuver your way around this golf course and with only one bogey is an outstanding achievement. Now to add to the already impressive resume, McCoy will take this win and confidence into the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Holck and Elliott, who finished in a tie for second place, played good golf all week long. Elliott was the leader after round one, shooting a four-under 68, but did not break 70 in his last two rounds. Holck fired back-to-back rounds of 71 to begin his tournament and followed them up with a 68 in the final round today.

A four-way tie to round out the top-five between Joe Palmer, Tim McKnight and another Iowa Golf Hall of Famer, Jon Brown. All three competitors finished the week at four-under-par with a 212 tally. McKnight was tied for first with Elliott after the first round, but as the conditions grew more difficult, the scores started to climb.

Palmer recorded rounds of 70, 72 and a 70 in the final round. Palmer was making noise all week, recording 11 birdies, but bogeys continued to pop up on his card. Brown was in second place after the first two rounds, but a double in each round hurt his chances at a first Senior Amateur. Brown made the most birdies out of any player this week (14) and even threw in an eagle during his second round.

In the Super Senior Division, Robert Pomerantz (above left) came back after being down two shots and defeated Rob Christensen. The course played tough, and the weather conditions did not help the players this week Pomerantz commented.

“Never having played the golf course until last Thursday when I came down here for a practice round,” Pomerantz said. “We had tornados, hail and rain during my practice round, but I got a look at the holes and what have you and obviously you want to stay out of the heathers. I did a good job, I only hit it in there one time and was able to find it and take an unplayable and proceed to not make a double bogey.”

Rob Pomerantz (right) hold the new permanent Super Senior Amateur trophy provided by a generous donation by Rob Christensen (left), in which the trophy is now named after.

Pomerantz (right) posted a two-over 74 in his first round but turned it up a notch and had back-to-back under-par rounds of 71 to finish off the tournament. Pomerantz made many birdies, but a cold putter would not end his chance this week.

“This is the first tournament that I have won, and I have won a few, that I haven’t putted well,” Pomerantz said. “I putted very poorly this tournament and I gave away untold shots on the green and I made two bogeys on par-five where you can toss the ball closer.”

Heading into the last three holes, Pomerantz was tied with Christensen. He knew he had to make something happen and ended the final three hole stretch at two-under-par with birdies on holes 16 and 17.

“I felt good coming off the golf course yesterday, score wise, and I said try not to mess up,” Pomerantz said. “I did early, but I got it back and then I was pretty good for a long stretch of holes. Playing in competition is so much different than just playing with your friends.”

Christensen may have finished in second place, but he had a great week of golf. Christensen carded two rounds of 75 and fired a 68 in the second round of the tournament, giving him a two-shot lead. A rough stretch of holes early for Christensen was the downfall for his round today. After a 40 on the front nine, Christensen was able to fight back and shot one-under on his back, but it was not enough to earn the victory.

Rick Gorbell, of Cedar Falls, and Jim Butler, of Fort Madison took third place at four-over par. The two finished with a 220 tally and stayed in contention all week long. Butler was the first-round leader, but as the wind picked up in the second round, bogeys started appearing on his card. Joe Ward rounds out the top-five coming in the fifth place position with a 221 tally.

The next Iowa Golf Association event on the schedule is the IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series Event #3 at A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines.

Senior Division
1. Mike McCoy 70-67-68-205
T2. Curtis Holck 71-71-68-210
T2. Gene Elliott 68-72-70-210
T4. Joe Palmer 70-72-70-212
T4. Jon Brown 72-67-73-212
T4. Tim McKnight 68-71-73-212

Super Senior Division
1. Rob Pomerantz 74-71-71-216
2. Rob Christensen 75-68-75-218
T3. Rick Gorbell 74-74-72-220
T3. Jim Butler 69-78-73-220
5. Joe Ward 72-73-76-221

Our second-round leader at the 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship is Iowa Golf Hall of Famer, Mike McCoy (above) of Norwalk. The conditions were tough for everyone, but the players seemed to be on point. In today’s windy round, McCoy put together a low round of 67, and managed to make five birdies. Out of 36 holes, McCoy has only recorded one bogey.

After a slow start to yesterday’s round, McCoy been seven-under in his last 28 holes at The Preserve on Lake Rathbun. McCoy, who leads the IGA in total career wins (35) has never held the Senior Amateur trophy. Tomorrow could be the day he takes the trophy home with him.

Iowa Golf Hall of Famer, Jon Brown of Adel, is tied for second place alongside Indianola’s, Tim McKnight. Both McCoy and Brown fired rounds of 67 today and Brown is only two shots back. Neither Brown nor McCoy have won this event and doing so would just add to their already impressive resumes.

McKnight was tied for the lead after yesterday’s round, but three bogeys in the middle of today’s round slowed him up. A confidence booster of back-to-back birdies at the end of his round today should fire him up going into tomorrow’s round.

A man who has won this championship five times sits alone in fourth place. Gene Elliott, of Norwalk, was tied with McKnight for the lead after today’s round, but the wind played a factor for both players. Elliott had a rough patch in the beginning of his round, but a two-under back nine helped get his round back to even figures. Elliott knows what it takes to win this event, even if he is down three shots.

In the Super Senior Division, the leaderboard is shuffled, and Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen currently leads at one-under through 36 holes. Christensen was able to find success in today’s round, recording three birdies and an eagle on the final hole of the day. A round of 68 pushed Christensen into first place with a two-shot lead heading into the final round tomorrow.

Not far off the lead is Joe Ward, of Polk City, and Robert Pomerantz, of Des Moines. Ward and Pomerantz are tied for second place at one-over-par and are two shots back. Ward posted a 73 in today’s round and had two bogeys on his final holes. Pomerantz recorded four birdies today, but three bogeys set him back to one-under on the day.

In fourth place is Pete Kelly, of Marshalltown, who shot a 75 today. Kelly’s first round 71 put him in second place, but a 39 on the back nine today pushing him back. Not out of the race by any means, Kelly will still have some work to do to pick up three shots on Christensen.

Tied for fifth place is our overnight leader, Jim Butler and the current leader in Super Senior Player of the Year, Pat Ryan. Butler fired a 69 in the first round but made too many early mistakes today and carded a 78. Ryan started quick with two straight birdies, but those would be his final birdies of his round today. Both players. Are four shots back and will have to come out strong in the final round tomorrow.

You can follow the Seniors and the Super Seniors as they push for the 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship title. Click this link to view the live leaderboard!

Senior Division
1. Mike McCoy 70-67-137
T2. Jon Brown 72-67-139
T2. Tim McKnight 68-71-139
4. Gene Elliott 68-72-140
T5. Curtis Holck 71-71-142
T5. Joe Palmer 70-72-142

Super Senior Division
1. Rob Christensen 75-68-143
T2. Joe Ward 72-73-145
T2. Robert Pomerantz. 74-71-145
4. Pete Kelly 71-75-146
T5. Jim Butler 69-78-147
T5. Pat Ryan 72-75-147

Two rounds of 68 lead the first round at the 43rd Iowa Senior Amateur at The Preserve Golf Course on Rathbun Lake. Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines and Tim McKnight, of Indianola are the leaders heading into the second round.

Elliott was the first to post 68 and finished with a bogey-free scorecard. The key to success for Elliott was birdies on the par-fives. He played the par-fives at four-under par and missed his chance to birdie all of them with a putt on hole 18.

McKnight played his first nine at one-under par but stepped on the gas once he turned to the back-nine. Birdies on 11, 14 and 17 pushed McKnight into a tie with the Iowa Golf Hall of Famer and the two competitors will tee it up together in tomorrow’s second round.

In third place after day one is Tom Christensen, of Waterloo. Christensen posted a three-under round of 69 and sits one shot behind the leaders. Norwalk’s Mike McCoy and Joe Palmer will play together tomorrow after posting two-under ton Thursday afternoon.

Fort Madison’s, Jim Butler holds a two-shot lead heading into the second round of the Super Senior Division. The 69-year-old posted a round equal to his age today and recorded five birdies. Butler got off to a quick start with three birdies in his first four holes. An even 36 on his back nine kept him from running away with the tournament early.

Tied for second place is Dan Dalziel, of Cedar Rapids, and Pete Kelly, of Marshalltown. The two fired rounds of 71 and will play alongside Butler in tomorrow’s round. Dalziel was two-over through his first six holes but continued to fight and ended his round in red-figures. Kelly started making birdies quick after three in his first six holes, but three bogeys on the back-nine set him back two shots.

A four-way tie for fourth place round out the top-five between Sam Aossey, of Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown’s Pat Ryan, Polk City’s Joe Ward and Bruce Neeley, of Independence. All four competitors carded rounds of 72 and sit three-shots back.

ACE ALERT – Lineville’s Jay Gregory (above) recorded a hole-in-one today on #13.

Senior Division
T1. Gene Elliott -4 68
T1. Tim McKnight -4 68
3. Tom Christensen -3 69
T4. Mike McCoy -2 70
T4. Joe Palmer -2 70

Super Senior Division
1. Jim Butler -3 69
T2. Dan Dalziel -1 71
T2. Pete Kelly -1 71
T4. Sam Aossey E 70
T4. Pat Ryan E 70
T4. Joe Ward E 70
T4. Bruce Neeley E 70

It’s been said it can be tougher to win a golf tournament on your home course, because everyone expects you to win. To a certain extent, West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott (above left) knew that all too well this week at the 42nd Iowa Senior Amateur at Crow Valley Golf Club, a place he grew up playing.

“That’s what I told the members here at Crow Valley,” Elliott said. “But this isn’t my home golf course anymore. I have been over every inch of property at this golf course and probably have had every putt out there.”

Elliott (+5), who finished with rounds of 74-73-71 (218), got off to a quick start in Wednesday’s final round, with an opening nine holes in 32 (-3). A couple slight bumps in the road on holes 14-16 made things more interesting down the stretch, but with two pars to finish, Elliott won his fifth Iowa Senior Amateur title by a shot over Muscatine’s Tom Norton (+6), who posted his own final round 71 (E).

Elliott admitted, regardless of how many times you’ve played at Crow Valley GC one thing remains the same – the difficulty of the greens are nothing to lose sight of.

“These are some of the toughest greens in the midwest,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t matter how many times you have played here, the putts are still hard.”

Elliott, who recently played in the U.S. Amateur in Oregon, a tournament loaded with ‘kids’ much younger, said it’s good to be back competing against players over 50.

“It’s nice playing with my own age group,” Elliott said. “As long as I am still standing, we’ll go for a sixth (title) next year.”

In the Super Senior Division, Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen (above right) outlasted fellow Marshalltown resident Pat Ryan by eight shots overall after a fine final round of 70 (-1), including a near hole-out to end his tournament on the par three 9th hole.

“That was a nice way to finish,” Christensen said. “I birdied a lot of par threes this week.”

Christensen commented that he was able to pick up a lot of ‘home course’ knowledge during his practice round and without a doubt that was the key to his success in the Quad Cities this week.

“I owe a lot to Bill Tank, a member here (at Crow Valley),” Christensen said. “He took us around during our practice round and told us where to hit, not to hit it. He said whatever you do, do not be above the hole. That was the key for me, I kept it below the hole all week.”

Click here for a recap of scoring

Norwalk’s Joe Palmer is in familiar territory at the 42nd Iowa Senior Amateur Championship.

Palmer, who has captured three Iowa Senior Amateur crowns (2013, 2015, 2018), leads by two strokes heading into today’s final round at Crow Valley Golf Club. Palmer’s round of 70 (-1) in the second round included six birdies.

Sitting in second place, Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, has four Iowa Senior Amateur titles to his credit (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019) and will look to add a fifth title to the trophy case.

Not to be forgotten, Jeff Collett (Ottumwa) and Tom Norton (Muscatine) just three shots back of Palmer, while Dave Gaer (Des Moines) and Terry Cook (Norwalk) will look to make a move as they both sit just four shots off the pace.

In the Super Senior Division, Pat Ryan, of Marshalltown, leads Rob Christensen, of Marshalltown, by a shot heading into today’s action. First round leader John Brown, of Urbandale, sits in third place, five off the lead.

Click here for a recap of scoring

Polk City’s Brian Verduyn set the pace in the opening round of the 42nd Iowa Senior Amateur, posting an even par round of 71. He leads by two at Crow Valley Golf Club, with a group of four sitting just two shots of his lead.

Defending champion Gene Elliott is in a tie for 6th place and is three shot back of Verduyn.

Urbandale’s John Brown also shot even par and leads the Super Senior Division by a pair over Pat Ryan of Marshalltown. Second rounds play begins Tuesday morning with the field being cut at the end of the day for Wednesday’s final round.

Click here for a recap of scoring

With rounds of 66-68-71 (-11) West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott captured his fourth (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019) Iowa Senior Amateur title. Elliott made 16 birdies and an eagle over the 54-hole event staged at Mason City Country Club.

“I putted very well all week,” Elliott said. “These greens are small and difficult. They have a lot of slope on them. I wedged the ball really well. I hit wedges to a foot about six time this week. It’s a tight, tricky golf course. It’s a lot of fun to play. Today’s round was difficult, as the wind was blowing. I got off to a hot start the first two days and just tried to hang on from there.”

Lineville’s Jay Gregory, who would ultimately finish runner-up to Elliott, put up a good fight. Gregory posted rounds of 66-70-71 (-9) over the three days, including 13 birdies in 54 holes. Elliott praised Gregory for this play and determination.

“Jay is a great competitor,” Elliott said. “He’s a good friend (too) and he’s tough. I got up four (strokes) today and it didn’t phase him a bit. He fought right back and got within one with six holes to play. I love playing with him and you’ll be seeing a lot more of him.”

Norwalk’s Joe Palmer finished in third place at -6 for the championship.

“It felt like the FedEx Cup trying to chase these guys down,” Palmer said after the round with a smile.

In the Super Senior Division Jim Campbell (pictured right), of Albia, held off a charging Rob Christensen, of Marshalltown, to win by four shots. Campbell posted rounds of 70-71-76 (+1) and made made a total of eight birdies and an eagle over his 54-hole victory.

Fort Dodge’s Dave Sergeant and Fort Madison’s Jim Butler tied for third place with a three-day total of 223 (+7).

Fine play – Jack Peacock, of Cedar Rapids, who is 79 years old, twice beat and shot his age once, shooting scores of 74-74-79 to finish in 7th place in the Super Senior set.

Click here for a full recap of scoring and flight results.

Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, will take a two shot lead into tomorrow’s final round of the 41st Iowa Senior Amateur Championship at Mason City Country Club (pictured above). Elliott, who captured the 2014, 2016 and 2017 Iowa Senior Amateur title, posted 68 (-4) today to enter the final round at -10, two clear of Jay Gregory (-8), of Lineville.

Gregory shot 70 (-2) in the second round and will look to chase down Elliott in the final round. Elliott’s second round included six birdies, featuring four in a row, and an eagle. Gregory and Elliott have locked horns in the past in the Iowa Senior Amateur – in 2014 at Ames Golf & CC won by Elliott as mentioned.

Norwalk’s Joe Palmer is in third, at -3 for the championship.

Hole in One – Polk City’s Brian Verduyn (right) made an ace on #5 during the second round. Verduyn’s 68 was one of the lower scores of the day (Boonville’s Bret Taylor shot 67).

In the Super Senior Division Jim Campbell, of Albia, leads by six over Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen. Campbell, who sits at -3 after 36 holes, made two birdies and an eagle in his second round at Mason City CC.

Click here for a full recap of scores

West Des Moines’ Gene Elliott and Lineville’s Jay Gregory set a torrid pace to begin the 41st Iowa Senior Amateur Championship at Mason City Country Club (pictured above). Both players posted 66 (-6) in the opening round.

Gregory, who played in the morning wave, made eight birdied to go against two bogeys. Elliott, who played in the afternoon, made a total of seven birdies and only a lone bogey during this round. Jon Brown (69), of Adel, sits three shots back of the lead. Brown and Gregory were in the same group and provided plenty of fireworks throughout the day.

In the Super Senior Division Jim Campbell, of Albia, leads by one over Marshalltown’s Rob Christensen after a round of 70 (-2). Campbell’s round included four birdies.

The field will be cut to will be a cut to the low 60 and ties and include all those within 10 strokes of the lead after tomorrow’s round. The breakdown of the 60 and ties will be a ratio of entries between the two divisions.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

West Des Moines’ Joe Palmer (above) is used to serving up winners.

Palmer added his name to the Iowa Senior Amateur trophy on Wednesday afternoon for the third time. Palmer won the event in 2013 and 2015 prior to his recent victory.

Palmer, who was in a dogfight with Jon Brown most of the day in the final round, got off to a nice start. Both Palmer and Brown turned in 33 (-3) and Brown pulled ahead after Palmer found trouble on #13 and made double bogey.

Palmer needed something to happen and it did. Palmer birdied three of his last four holes, including back to back on #15 and #16, to outdistance Brown by two when the dust had settled.

“Those (the back to back birdies on #15-16) got the round salvaged,” Palmer said. “I didn’t make many mistakes (early today) and then I hooked it into the bushes on #13 and had to take an unplayable. That kind of derailed me a bit, but I just tried to stay in the moment. It was unfortunate that Jon had some trouble in the bunker (on #16).”

Stay in the moment he did and closed the door on Brown with a 25 foot birdie putt on #18 (pictured right) that looked good from the start. Palmer who will head to Oregon for the U.S. Senior Amateur on Thursday commented that this is an event that is very important to him.

“The bomb on #18 was awesome,” Palmer said. “It looked good about 10 feet out. I don’t want to ever miss this event if I can. I wanted to commit to our senior major (event). I have time to get to Oregon and I am excited to get there.”

Palmer said playing 54 holes and winning the 40th Iowa Senior Amateur is the best prep he could ask for heading into the U.S. Senior Amateur.

“This was as good of a warm up as any,” Palmer said. “One of the keys this week for me was only having to play six holes on the first day (due to weather delay), it was getting dicey out there. I used to consider myself a ‘mudder’, but maybe not so much anymore. It was nice to get a restart and play 30 holes on day two at one under. I was glad to get 54 holes in.”

In the Super Senior Division, Dave Sergeant (left) bettered his age (73) in both the second and third round to win by two strokes over a hard charging Jim Butler. Sergeant put together rounds of 75-72-71 (+2) for the event and admitted he didn’t really know where he stood coming down the stretch. Butler closed with a 33 (-3), including three birdies in his first four holes coming in on the back nine (Butler started on #10).

“I thought Jim was leading with all the birdies he was making,” Sergeant said. “I am really happy to win.”

Click here to see a full recap of scoring.