The 66th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship, hosted by Sunnyside Golf & Country Club, was shortened to a one-day championship due to weather conditions before and during the originally scheduled Friday and Saturday rounds. Excessive rainfall left the course unplayable and created concerns that golf cart traffic would severely damage the property, with nearly every fairway and green impacted by water.

After considerable effort by the Sunnyside Country Club staff, the championship was able to take place on Sunday as an 18-hole event using the Modified Alternate Shot format.

Margaux Spence and Kyle Spence of Coralville (above), the 2024 champions, won their second title with a 1-under-par 70. The Spences carded four birdies during their round to finish one stroke ahead of Lauren Svejda and Seth Svejda of Clive. Amy Weiland and Ben Weiland of Cedar Rapids, along with Julie Buerman and Brian Buerman of Cedar Rapids, shared third place at 73.

In the Senior Division, Jean Bowen and Steve Bowen of DeWitt posted a 75 to win by eight strokes over Michelle Klein and Tom Klein of Jesup. Nancy Olberding and Dave Olberding of Cedar Rapids finished third, one stroke behind the Kleins.

Mindy Bowen and John Bowen of Coralville captured the Super Senior Division with a score of 79, edging Vicki Rodenberg and Brian Rodenberg of Guttenberg by one stroke. Laura Christensen and Tom Christensen of Waterloo, along with Konnie Bachelder and Richard Bachelder of Iowa City, tied for third, four strokes back.

The Iowa Golf Association extends its appreciation to the Sunnyside Golf & Country Club staff for their tremendous efforts in making Sunday’s championship possible, as well as to all participants for their patience and flexibility throughout the weather-related challenges. The conditions were beyond anyone’s control, and the cooperation of everyone involved allowed the championship to be completed.

Complete Results

Senior Division Champions – Jean Bowen and Steve Bowen of DeWitt

Super Senior Division Champions – Mindy Bowen and John Bowen of Coralville

Margaux Catafort-Silva and Kyle Spence (right) of Coralville cruised by most of the competition at the 64th Wife-Husband Championship contested at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo over the weekend.

Catafort-Silva/Spence experienced some travel troubles, which forced them to take it slow and play a shot at a time they admitted. 

“I was on a work trip this last week and I was supposed to fly back Friday night, but last minute my flight got canceled,” Catafort-Silva said. “I did not get home till 1:30 a.m., and then we had to get up at 5:30 to drive over on Saturday for our round”.

Despite little sleep and delayed travel they shot 71 (-1)  in the opening round and finished it off on Sunday with a steady 72 (E) to finish at 143 (-1) in the tournament. 

“It was a lot of fun and a much more difficult format than we would have anticipated,” Spence added.

Coming in runner-up two shots behind was Heather and Brian Lepa from Waterloo. Sitting in solo third with a two day score of 148 (+4) was Waukee couple Juile and Aaron Stevens.

In the Senior Division (110 years combined) Clive residents Robin and Doug Webb walked away the winners with a score of 151 (+7). Runner-up, three shots behind, belonged to past winners Sondra and Curtis Holck of Ankeny. Sitting in solo third was Teresa and Steven Perrin of Osage finishing at 160 (+16).

In the Super-Senior Division (130 combined years) Waterloo couple Renea and Tom Friedman rose to the top and claimed the victory carding 154 (+10). Runner-up was Liisa and Kevin Baker of Ankeny shooting 161 (+17), and two shots behind them were Marla and Bryce Dahm of Clive.

Click here for complete results

For the fourth time Julianna and Reed Burkholder found themselves at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the Iowa Wife-Husband Championship. They had previously won the title in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

This time it took a final found 68 (-4) to pull into the lead and win by five with a 143 total (-1), to outdistance Christi and Luke Imsland. Burkholder’s final round was a clean one – four birdies and no bogeys.

“We made our putts,” Reed Burkholder said with a grin. “That’s what you have to do at this tournament.”

In the Senior Division (110 years combined) Sondra and Curtis Holck (right) were consistent – a pair of 77s around Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo was good for a six shot win over a trio of teams, which included Nancy and Dave Olberding, Laura and Tom Christensen and Stacey and Bob Ketcham. The Olberdings closed with a round of 74 (+2) to climb close to the lead, but in the end the Holcks were just too steady.

In the Super Senior Division (130 combined years) Vicki and Brian Rodenburg rose to the top with rounds of 78-75 (+9), good enough for a three shot victory over Carroll and John Dethrow.

Click here for full results (including Flight Winners)

Defending champions, Julie and Brian Buerman (above), earned their second-straight title at the 62nd Iowa Wife/Husband Championship at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo over the weekend. The Buermans carded rounds of 77 and 69 to earn a one-shot victory over the side of Stephanie and Alan Johnson. 

After the first round, the Buermans found themselves two shots out of the lead. With an eight-shot improvement in the final round, the Buermans were able to complete the comeback over the Johnson’s and win their third career title in the event. 

Amanda and Ryan Lambert tied with the side of Bailey Hammerberg and Andy Tiedt for third place at seven-over-par. Victoria and Zachary Van Cleave rounded out the top-five with an eight-over, 152 total.

The Senior Division had another final round comeback from the side of Robin and Doug Webb to claim the title. In the first round, the Webb’s carded a 78 and found themselves five shots behind Laurie and Todd Slater. 

With four birdies and the lowest recorded score in the final round, the Webb’s raced back and grabbed ahold of the lead. The Slater’s fell two-shots short and finished at 11-over-par for the tournament. 

Laura and Tom Christensen placed third with rounds of 80 and 76. They finished one shot ahead of Michelle and Tom Klein, who posted 13-over. Marla and Bryce Dahm finished in a four-way tie for fifth place alongside Pam and Paul Netzel, Mindy and John Bowen and the side of Kelley and Joseph Paxson.

Renea and Tom Friedman (right) were crowned champions in the Super Senior Division with a 158 tally. The couple earned a four-shot victory over Jeanette and Raymond Fredericksen, who carded rounds of 82 and 80.

Karen and Mark Johnson took third place with rounds of 82 and 81 to finish at 19-over-par. Cindy and Peter Reinertsen tied with Carroll and John Dethrow to round out the top-five. 

Two tournaments remain on the Iowa Golf Association’s schedule. The Iowa Cup Matches on Thursday, September 29th at Geneva Country Club in Muscatine. Following the Iowa Cup Matches, the IGA Club Team will take place on October 3rd to close out the season.

Open Division
1. Julie & Brian Buerman 77-69=146
2. Stephanie & Alan Johnson 75-72=147
T3. Amanda & Ryan Lambert 78-73=151
T3. Bailey Hammerberg & Andy Tiedt 78-73=151
5. Victoria & Zachary Van Cleave 74-78=152

Senior Division
1. Robin & Doug Webb 78-75=153
2. Laurie & Todd Slater 73-82=155
3. Laura & Tom Christensen 80-76=156
4. Michelle & Tom Klein 77-80=157
T5. Marla & Bryce Dahm 78-83=161
T5. Pam & Paul Netzel 80-81=161
T5. Mindy & John Bowen 81-80=161
T5. Kelley & Joseph Paxson 83-78=161 

Super Senior Division
1. Renea & Tom Friedman 80-78=158
2. Jeanette Fredericksen & Raymond Fredericksen 82-80=162
3. Karen & Mark Johnson 82-81=163
4. Cindy & Peter Reinertsen 90-80=163
5. Carroll & John Dethrow 85-85=170

Brian and Julie Buerman claimed the 61st Iowa Wife-Husband Championship at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo. After a first round 75 in the Open Division, the Buermans knew they had some ground to make up to win this year’s championship.

Starting their final round, Brian and Julie posted a 37 on their front nine. With their back nine remaining, they started to heat up. After making the turn, the couple went four-under in their first five holes on their final nine.

Their final round 69 was enough to edge the second-place finishers in the Open Division, Amanda and Ryan Lambert and Juliana and Reed Burckholder. The Lamberts and the Burckholders finished the weekend with a 147 tally.

In fourth place was Alan and Stephanie Johnson, who posted a two-round 149 total. Fifth place went to Betsy and Ryan Ratchford after carding a 152.

In the Super Senior Division, Cindy and Peter Reinersten tied for the championship with Mary Fran and Mike Stopulos for first place with a two-round total of 159. Mary and Mike were in the lead by one shot over Cindy and Peter after the first round, but one shot was not enough to take the win outright.

During Cindy’s and Peter’s final round, they carded an 81 to finish the championship in an overall tie. Mary and Mike finished before them and that gave Cindy and Peter a number to shoot for.

Doug and Nancy Witham finished in third place in the Super Senior Division with a 162 tally. Alone in fourth place was Betsy and Jerry Munn after carding a 163. Jeanette and Raymond Fredericksen tied with Al and Mary Rausch for fifth place.

Open Division
1. Brian & Julie Buerman 144
T2. Amanda & Ryan Lambert 147
T2. Julianna & Reed Burkholder 147
4. Alan & Stephanie Johnson 149
5. Betsy & Ryan Ratchford 152

Super Senior Division
T1. Cindy & Peter Reinersten 159
T1. Mary Fran & Mike Stopulos 159
3. Doug & Nancy Witham 162
4. Betsy & Jerry Munn 163
T5. Jeanette & Raymond Fredericksen 164
T5. Al & Mary Rausch 164

Click here for full results

Impressive it was.

Cedar Falls’ Betsy & Ryan Ratchford (pictured above), following an opening round 78 (+6), got it going in a big way in their final round of the 60th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo.

The Cedar Falls couple fired a sizzling 68 (-4), that included five birdies, to win by five shots over Stephanie & Alan Johnson and Julianna & Reed Burkholder who both shot 151 (+7) for the championship.

Cooler temperatures and blustery wind conditions at times made scoring difficult for many participants in the field.

In the Super Senior Division Becki & Mike Wetter (pictured right) of Mason City claimed a two-shot victory over Joyce and Scott Hornstein, of Huxley. The Wetter’s posted consistent rounds of 84-81 – 165 (+21) to take home the title. Jeanette & Raymond Fredericksen finished in third place, just four shots off the pace at 169 (+25).

Flight winners included:
1st Flight – Brenda Samuelson / Greg Samuelson (165)
2nd Flight – Curtis Holck / Sondra Holck (169)
3rd Flight – Steven Perrin / Teresa Perrin (181)
Super Senior 1st Flight – Connie Miller / David Miller (177)
Super Senior 2nd Flight – Freda Pollock / Ken Pollock (192)

Click here for a full recap of scoring

After consultation with the course superintendent we have determined that the golf course is unplayable due to the amount of rain the course received overnight. It would not be possible to allow golf carts on the course without causing extensive damage during Sunday’s round.

We were fortunate that we were able to have everyone complete Round 1. Results may be viewed online by clicking here (Flighted results will indicate shop credit earned).

If you earned shop credit, you may redeem that at the Sunnyside Country Club Professional Shop any time prior to next year’s tournament.

For those players who were supposed to play their second round on Sunday, you have two options available to you:

– Schedule a comped round of golf anytime between now and the start of the event next year (Available for both husband and wife). If you plan on scheduling another round of golf, please make that arrangement with the Sunnyside Country Club Professional Shop by calling (319) 234-1707.

– You may receive a $40 refund. If you do want a refund, please let IGA staff know by September 29th, 2019.

It was familiar faces atop the leaderboard at the 58th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship this year. Reed and Julianna Burkholder (above) took home the title for the second year in a row. The Burkholders also shared the title in 2015. This year’s event was held again at Lake Panorama National Resort and couples played a modified alternate shot format in which both players would tee off, pick the preferred shot and then alternate from there.

The Burkholders opened with an impressive 68 (-4) in the opening round and followed that up with a 75 (+3) to finish the tournament under par at 143 (-1). Julie and Aaron Stevens were runners-up with rounds of 71-74 (+1). Rounding out the top five were Ryan/Amanda Lambert (+4), Brad/Kendra Henningsen (+4), Molly/Jeff Cleven (+7) and Robin/Doug Webb (+7).

In the Super Senior Division (combined age of 130 or more) Carroll and John Dethrow (right) outdistanced the field by three to win the division for the fourth time overall. The Dethrows, who shot 154 (+10) this year, captured the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Super Senior Division. Last year’s Super Senior champions, Jeanette and Raymond Fredericksen, finished in second place at 157 (+13), while John and Julie Lisle and Mike and Becki Wetter tied for third place at 171 (+27).

Flight winners included:
1st Flight – Kelli Koenigsberg / Kevin Koenigsberg (158)
2nd Flight – Andy Burton / Sheila Burton (159)
3rd Flight – Heidi Foster / Rodney Foster (169)
4th Flight – Eliza Ovrom / Mark Schuling (181)
5th Flight – Phyllis Connolly / Omar Connolly (190)
Super Senior 1st Flight – Tish Keltner / Job Keltner (178)

Click here to see a full recap of scoring.

Forest City’s Julianna and Reed Burkholder (pictured above) played 36 holes of fantastic golf to win the 57th Iowa Wife-Husband Championship contested at Lake Panorama National Golf Club. The Burkholders posted back-to-back rounds of 69 to win by eight strokes over Jeff and Molly Cleven of Cumming (+2 overall). Chris and Peggy Garrett and Aaron and Julie Stevens tied for third place at 149 (+5)

Following their opening round 69 (-3), which included six birdies, the Burkholders got off to a quick start in round two, going birdie-eagle on the first two holes. From there the couple cruised to their eventual six-shot victory. This marks the first outright victory in the event for the Burkholders as they shared the title in 2015.

In the Super Senior Division, Jeanette and Raymond Fredericksen (pictured above) defeated Char and Steve Maaske on the first hole of a playoff for the title. The Fredericksens posted consistent rounds of 79-80 (+15). Opening co-round leaders, Carroll and John Dethrow finished third at +18.

Click here to see a full recap of scores from the event.