Category: Championships

Ricky Costello wins 70th Herman Sani Tournament on second playoff hole

August 12, 20190 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Ames’ Ricky Costello (pictured above) knew after his opening nine holes in the final round of the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises at Echo Valley Country Club he had nothing to lose.

Costello put together a bogey-free 33 (-3) on the back nine to get into a playoff with three others including Charles Jahn (Sperry), Frank Lindwall (Cedar Rapids) and Lachlan Barker (Ames), who all finished at 211 (-5) for the tournament. Costello, Lindwall and Barker are all teammates on the Iowa State men’s golf team.

Costello, who held the lead after the opening round with 68 (-4), admitted he wanted to play more aggressively in the final round. His aggressiveness paid dividends, after all four players made par on the first playoff hole (#18), as he almost drove the green on the second playoff hole (#11) and chipped up to tap-in range. His birdie was good enough to win and take home the title after birdie attempts failed from the other three players.

“The first day I had conservative approach to the course,” Costello said. “I made a lot of putts that day. Coming into today I told myself I am coming here to win. I wanted to play more aggressive than I had the first couple of days and I did. I tried to put confident swings on the ball. I figured I didn’t have much to lose (by hitting driver on #11 in the playoff).”

Costello, even after making a 25-foot birdie putt on #18 thought he was probably a shot or two short.

“I was able to make a couple birdies down the stretch to get it to -5,” Costello said. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough. I had a rough start (today) and was two-over par after seven holes. I was able to birdie #9 and I thought let’s see what we can do those last nine holes. I couldn’t of asked for anything more than that.”

In the Senior Division Gene Elliott (West Des Moines) put together rounds of 69-67-72 (-8) to win by three over Jon Brown (Adel). West Des Moines’ Joe Palmer and Terry Cook (-2) tied for third place.

Rob Christensen (Marshalltown) won his second Super Senior Division title in a row in this event with a five shot victory over Jim Campbell (Albia). Polk City’s Stephen Larson finished third, eight shots back of Christensen.

Jewell’s Trevor Ullestad (-3) finished at the low professional for the event.

Click here for a full recap of scores.

Jahn overtakes lead at 70th Herman Sani Tournament

August 10, 20190 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Sperry’s Charles Jahn, with rounds of 69-70 (-5), leads the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises. Jahn, who leads by a shot over Lachlan Barker (Ames) and Frank Lindwall (Cedar Rapids), made four birdies to vault into the lead during the second round at Echo Valley Country Club.

Barker and Lindwall play golf for Iowa State University, while Jahn, a 2016 Herman Sani Scholar, is a men’s golf team member at Bradley University.

Opening round leader Ricky Castello (Ames), professional Trevor Ullestad (Jewell), and Nick Pittman (Urbandale) sit just two shots back of Jahn’s lead at -4. Pittman is a 2019 Herman Sani Scholar. Ullestad posted a bogey-free 67 (-5) in the second round.

In the Senior Division Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, fired a 67 (-5) that included eight birdies in his second round. Eillott sits at -8 for the tournament, one shot clear of Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines. Palmer shot 66 (-6) in the second round that included seven birdies against just a lone bogey. Jon Brown, Adel, sits at -2 through two rounds.

Rob Christensen (+3 overall), of Marshalltown, continues to lead the Super Senior Division following a second round of 76. Jim Campbell, of Albia, and Dave Sergeant, of Fort Dodge, are tied for second at +8, five shots off the lead.

The final round will will be played tomorrow with the field will be cut to the low 45 & ties in the Open Division, low 24 & ties in the Senior Division and low 9 & ties in the Super Senior Division after 36 holes.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Ames’ Costello leads 70th Herman Sani Tournament

August 9, 20190 commentsChampionships, Herman Sani Tournament

Ames’ Ricky Costello put together a fine round of golf, posting 68 (-4) to lead after the opening round of the 70th Herman Sani Tournament presented by Coppola Enterprises being played at Echo Valley Country Club. The Ridge and Creek rotation are being used for this year’s event.

Costello, who will be a junior on the Iowa State men’s golf team this fall, made five birdies to go against just a single bogey. Following closely behind Costello, just a shot off the pace, include amateurs Charles Jahn (Sperry), Nick Pittman (Urbandale), Dylan Ellis (Parkersburg), Cody Holck (Grimes) and professional Darin Fisher (Albia). A trio of players sit at -2, just two back of the lead.

Pittman, a 2019 Herman Sani Scholarship recipient, captured the Frohwein Award for the low score after the first round of the scholarship winners, who play as a group to start the tournament. All scholarship recipients were honored at a dinner following the opening round.

In the Senior Division, Terry Cook shot 68 (-4) to lead by a shot over Gene Elliott and Jon Brown by two shots.

Rob Christensen (Marshalltown) leads the Super Senior Division at -1, four shots ahead of Jim Campbell (Albia). John Kinsey (Alleman) is tied by Stephen Larson five strokes off the lead. Kinsey’s opening round included three eagles on the day.

Round two will be played tomorrow with the field will be cut to the low 45 & ties in the Open Division, low 24 & ties in the Senior Division and low 9 & ties in the Super Senior Division
after 36 holes.

Click here for a full recap scoring.

 

Grady makes history, wins both divisions at 54th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur

August 6, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Women's Amateur

It took extra holes, but Margene Grady (pictured above) of Cedar Falls made history.

Grady captured her first Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur title. Grady found herself tied with first round co-leader Beth Duenow, of Saint Ansgar, and Kathy Fortune, of Rockwell City, with a two-round total of + 10, 154. A par on the first playoff hole was all Grady had to do as both Duenow and Fortune made bogey.

Along with the Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur title, Grady also captured the Super Senior Division title. This was her second Super Senior Division title and marked the first time in Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur history where the same woman won both division titles.

Finishing in a tie for fourth, at +13, 157, were defending champion Laura Leszczynski, of Saint Mary’s, Michelle Klein, of Jesup, and Jeanette Fredericksen, of Cedar Falls.

Both Duenow and Fortune were members of the Super Senior Division, as they finished tied for second. Finishing fourth in the Super Senior Division was Frederickson, with Janis Owens, Creston, finishing in 5th place at +15 159.

Janis Owens won the net portion of the tournament with a two-day total of -11, 133.

Complete results can be viewed by clicking here.

Cooney wins Northwest Amateur by four strokes, makes 25 birdies

August 5, 20190 commentsChampionships, News

JJ Cooney, of Pickstown, SD, (above left) put together four under-par rounds to win the 2019 Northwest Amateur Golf Tournament at the Spencer Golf and Country Club. Cooney, who shot rounds of 71-66-68-66 (-17), made a total of 25 birdies en route to a four stroke victory over Justin Kolb, of Sioux Falls, SD, and Trent Peterson of Eagen, MN. Cooney trailed by four strokes of the lead entering the final round.

A quartet of players finished in a logjam for fourth place at -11, including Joe Hunter (Altoona), Jon Brown (Adel), Matt Tolen (Eau Clarie, WI) and Loagan Schweinefus (Ossian).

In the Senior Division, Jon Brown edged out Booneville’s Brett Taylor. Brown posted rounds of 72-68 (-4) to win the division. Ankeny’s Curtis Hock finished third, four shots back of Brown.

Dick Vetter, of Charlotte, NC, also captured a one stroke victory in the Super Senior Division. Ron Eilers, of Columbia, MO, and Rob Pomerantz, of Des Moines, finished in a tie for second place.

Click here to view a full recap of scores and flight results.

Matthew Walker wins 2019 Iowa Open in playoff over Gavin Hall

August 5, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Open

Ottumwa native, Matthew Walker (pictured above) in his third Professional event of his career won the Iowa Open. Walker is the first Ottumwa product since Bob Moreland won the championship in 1981.

With two holes to go, Walker held a comfortable two-stroke lead against the field. Gavin Hall of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, came blazing into the clubhouse making birdie on the 17th hole and holing out from 122 yards on the par-4 18th hole to force the playoff.  Hall shot a 9-under par 63 to Walker’s 7-under par final round 65.

In the playoff, Hall hit first into a fairway bunker.  Walker put his drive down the middle of the fairway and applied pressure to Hall’s 2nd shot. Hall had an awkward stance in the bunker and could only advance the ball 100 yards. Walker threw a dart to the backside of the green. Hall pitched his third shot to 15-feet. Hall two putted from there to make a bogey 5. Walker etched his name into the history books with a two-putt par from 10-feet. Walker and Hall finished the three-day tournament 13-under-par.

Click here to read more from the Iowa Section PGA

Leszczynski, Duenow share lead 54th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur

August 5, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Senior Women's Amateur


The first round of the 54th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur took place today at Oneota Golf and Country Club in Decorah. Perfect weather allowed for ideal scoring conditions as two women stand atop the leaderboard. Defending champion, Laura Leszczynski (pictured above), Saint Mary’s, and Beth Duenow, Saint Ansgar, each fired 4 over par 76’s. Leszczynski’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 8th, where she holed out from 100 yards.

In the Super Senior Division, Beth Duenow leads the way with a 76. Jeanette Frederickson, Cedar Falls, and Janis Owens, Creston, are close behind after carding first round 78’s. Duenow birdied the par-5 18th to extend her lead to two going into tomorrow. Frederickson also had an exciting finish of her own after making a birdie on both 17 and 18.

For complete scoring, click here. Round two will take place on Monday, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Elliott finishes runner-up at British Senior Amateur, Palmer & McCoy tie for 19th

August 2, 20190 commentsChampionships

Iowa’s Gene Elliott, of West Des Moines, Mike McCoy, of Norwalk, and Joe Palmer, of West Des Moines, all competed in the 2019 Senior Amateur Championship this week which began on Wednesday. The championship was held July 31-August 2 at the historic North Berwick Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland. The field of 144 played 18 holes both Wednesday and Thursday, with the low 60 players & ties advancing to the final round on Friday.

All three Iowans not only made the cut but finished well, with Elliott finishing runner-up after a three-hole playoff with eventual champion Craig Davis. Davis made birdie on the third playoff hole to win the title. Elliott posted rounds of 70-67-70 – 207 (-9). McCoy and Palmer both finished at 214 (-2) to tie for 19th place.

Elliott, Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Member, finished as the low amateur last week at the 2019 British Senior Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club. He has excelled in this event in prior years, finishing in third place in 2018 at Royal Porthcawl and as the Runner-Up in 2017 at Sunningdale. He has won the Iowa Men’s Player of the Year title four times, and the Senior Player of the Year title three times.

McCoy, 11-time Iowa Men’s Player of the Year, was the low-amateur at this year’s US Senior Open in South Bend, Ind. He is Iowa’s most decorated amateur, with his career highlights including his victory at the 2013 US Mid-Amateur Championship, competing in the 2014 Masters Tournament and earning a spot on the 2015 Walker Cup Team. He has won the Iowa Amateur Championship six times, and was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

Palmer, 2018 Iowa Senior Player of the Year, competed in the Senior Amateur Championship for his first time. He placed third in the stroke play qualifying and advanced to the Round of 32 in the US Senior Amateur Championship in 2018 at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore. He has won the Iowa Senior Amateur title three times and has made multiple USGA Championship appearances, including the 2006 US Mid-Amateur and the 2014 US Senior Open.

To see a recap of championship scoring click here.

Jon Brown wins 117th Iowa Amateur Championship on fourth playoff hole

July 28, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Amateur

It took four playoff holes, but Jon Brown (pictured right) weathered the storm and came out on top at the 117th Iowa Amateur Championship played at The Ridge Golf Club, Sioux Center. This is Brown’s second Iowa Amateur Championship, winning in 2006 as well.

After both finished at 208 (-5) for 54-holes, Jordan Even and Brown locked horns in a playoff duel. Both players made two-putt pars on the first playoff hole (#18) and then Even made an incredible up and down for par on the second playoff hole (#17), after hitting his drive into the right fescue. Brown had a putt for birdie after hitting it close, only to have it to slide by.

On the third playoff hole, both players missed the green, with Brown finding the bunker with an awkward stance. Neither was able get up and down for par, with Even’s par lipping out.

On the fourth playoff hole (#17) Brown’s par won the playoff against Even’s six. Even’s six included a two-stroke penalty for tapping down a pitch mark on the fringe that was on his line of play prior to playing his third shot from off the green.

“This gives me goosebumps,” Brown said following his playoff victory. “This means the world to me. I won the match play last year and I thought that might be the last ‘big’ one I win. These kids are so tough and it’s tough to win these. To win a second (Iowa Amateur), I am just thrilled.”

Even’s 68 (-3) in the final round tied for the low round of the day.  It included six birdies. Brown’s final round (71) featured three birdies to go against three bogeys. Charles Jahn, who held the 36-hole lead, finished in third place after a 73 (+2) in the final round to finish at 209 (-4), just a stroke out of the playoff.

Click here to see a full recap of scoring from the championship.

Jahn shoots 66 (-5) in second round, leads 117th Iowa Amateur Championship

July 27, 20190 commentsChampionships, Iowa Amateur

Charles Jahn wasted little time climbing the leaderboard in the second round of the 117th Iowa Amateur Championship being played at The Ridge Golf Club, Sioux Center.

Jahn, who opened with 70 (-1) yesterday, posted a round of 66 (-5) this morning, which included a total of seven birdies.

“I was able to take advantage of the par 5s today,” Jahn said. “They are all pretty reachable for me. I hit my driver really well and I was getting 30-40 yards of roll out there. I was able to hit some approach shots close (as well). You can’t give yourself a lot of long putts, because these greens are so fast.”

Jon Brown, who won the Iowa Amateur in 2006 at Whispering Creek Golf Club in Sioux City, sits just a shot back at -5 through two rounds. The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member, Brown, birdied six holes in his second round.

“I made my share (of putts) today,” Brown said. “It was a different day, the greens were softer for me yesterday. I was happy with the way I played. It’s great to be in the final group. There are a lot of guys that are a shot or two back. I have no idea what it will take tomorrow. It will be a fun day.”

Logan Schweinefus and first round co-leader Cody Holck are three shots back of Jahn, at -3 through 36-holes.

Hot Round – Clive’s Hank Weresh put together a blistering round of his own with a 66 (-5), which included a total of eight birdies. Weresh is four shots back of Jahn’s lead.

“I was just trying to recover from yesterday’s round (74),” Weresh said. “I started making putts and not thinking too much today. I came in too focused yesterday, so I will keep it loose tomorrow (in the final round).”

A total of 60 players made the cut and will play the final round on Sunday.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

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