Connor Peck (pictured above left), of Ankeny, was in the driver’s seat all weekend, finishing four shots clear of the field to capture the 2020 Briarwood Amateur title.

Peck shot an opening round of 66 (-6) on Saturday and followed it up with a 4-under par round of 68 on Sunday to post a 36-hole total of 134 (-10). Peck has been a dominant force on the Iowa golf scene this summer, collecting victories at the 32nd IGA Match Play Championship, 24th IGA Four-Ball Championship, as well as a runner-up finish at the 119th Iowa Amateur Championship.

Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Jon Brown, of Adel, looked to defend his 2019 Briarwood Amateur title this past weekend. Brown posted a final round of 68 (-4) to finish runner-up with a weekend tally of 138 (-6). New Sharon’s Trent Lindenman and Ankeny’s Nate McCoy finished in a tie for third with 36-hole totals of 141 (-3).

In the Senior Division, Bret Taylor (right), of Booneville, outlasted Norwalk’s Joe Palmer in a five-hole sudden death playoff to clinch the title.

Taylor found himself four off the lead heading into the final round, where he carded six birdies and an eagle on his way to firing a 6-under par round of 66 to force a playoff with Palmer. Terry Cook, of Norwalk, earned a third-place finish after posting two consecutive rounds of 70 (-2) to finish with a 140 (-4) total for the weekend.

In the Super Senior Division, West Des Moines’ David Studer (bottom right) finished one shot clear of the field to earn the title with a 36-hole total of 142 (-2).

Studer mounted a comeback on Sunday afternoon, carding four birdies on his final nine holes to secure his victory. Rick Gorbell, of Cedar Falls, and Greg Eckhardt, of Ankeny, tied for runner-up with 36-hole totals of 143 (-1).

The third event of the 2020 IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series was contested at A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines, Iowa this past Saturday, August 22nd. The event was played in a four-ball (2 Gal Best Ball) format and featured teams of ladies from across the state.

The side of Erin Schaffer & Leanne Smith, of Johnston and Indianola (pictured right) respectively, captured the title following a sudden death playoff victory on Saturday. The duo’s round of 73 was matched by the team of Michelle Klein & Kelly Nelson, and the players headed to the first tee to decide who would be crowned champions.

All four players struck solid tee shots into the fairway and looked to be in good position to make a run at birdie. Ultimately, only one birdie was made, as Erin Schaffer calmly rolled in her birdie putt to seal the deal on the first playoff hole.

Finishing in third place both overall and in the Net Division was the team of Kelly Grimes & Sue Harmon, who rallied on the back nine to post a round of 76 (+4).

In the Net Division, Jane O’Hollearn & Mary Nelson, of Johnston & Ankeny respectively, finished three shots clear of the field with their net score of 62 (-10). Finishing in second place was the side of Nicki Clayton & Julie Hartman, who made three birdies collectively en route to posting a net score of 65 (-3).

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Nate Vance (pictured right) took control on Sunday afternoon, posting a final round of 67 (-5) at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course to capture the title at the 2020 Waterloo Open. The Marshalltown native opened with a round of 67 (-5) at South Hills Golf Course on Friday, followed by a second round of 65 (-7) at Gates Park Golf Course on Saturday, before running away with the lead during Sunday’s final round to finish with a 54-hole total of 199 (-17). 

Nate McCoy, of Ankeny, fired a bogey-free round of 66 (-6) on Sunday to earn himself a runner-up finish with a 54-hole total of 208 (-8). Rounding out the podium was Manchester’s Clayton Larsen, who carded rounds of 65-72-72 for a 54-hole tally of 209 (-7) to finish in third place. 

In the Senior Division, Dunlap’s Jeff Ott separated himself from the field on Sunday, posting a final round of 70 (-2) to win the title by three strokes at a 54-hole total of 208 (-8). Close behind was Joe Bates, of Albia, who posted rounds of 70-67-74 on his way to a runner-up finish with a final tally of 211 (-5).

Richard Gorbell, of Cedar Falls, successfully defended his 2018 and 2019 titles in the Super Senior Division, posting rounds of 73-76-74 to win his third consecutive Waterloo Open with a 54-hole total of 223 (+7). Gorbell was Co-Champion of the event in 2018 and Champion in 2019. 

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When Sperry’s Charles Jahn (pictured left with John Nervig) took the lead in the 83rd Iowa Masters, he didn’t look back. Jahn began Sunday’s final round at 6-under par, holding a two-stroke advantage over reigning champion Nate McCoy, of Ankeny.

After top 5 finishes in last year’s 117th Iowa Amateur Championship and 70th Herman Sani Tournament, this was Jahn’s time to shine. He executed with near perfection on Sunday, carding five birdies, an eagle, and a mere bogey on his way to a round of 66 (-6) and grand total of 204 (-12). McCoy played steady on Sunday, posting a round of 70 (-2) for a final total of 210 (-6) to finish runner-up. Nate Vance, of Marshalltown, finished in third place with a three-day total of 213 (-3).

Joe Palmer (pictured right with John Nervig), of West Des Moines, clinched the title in the Senior Division, finishing 11-shots clear of the field with rounds of 70-74-71 for a total of 215 (-1). Winterset’s Kirk Macumber finished runner-up with a final tally of 226 (+10).

In the Super Senior Division, Marshalltown’s Pat Ryan mounted a final round comeback, carding a round of 73 (+1) to finish two shots clear of Richard Gorbell, of Cedar Falls. Ryan posted rounds of 73-82-73 for a total of 228 (+12).

Clive’s Jake Calhoun rose to the top in the Cyclone Flight, posting rounds of 84-74-72 for a 230 (+14) total

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The second event this year in the IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series took place this past weekend, July 11, at Edmundson Golf Course in Oskaloosa. This year’s tournament format was a modified alternate shot which saw Rose Kubesheski and Margene Grady (pictured above) shoot 69 (-1) to claim the title. The duo carded a front-9 36 that featured 8 pars and just a single bogey.

As they made the turn, Kubesheski and Grady started to find a groove, which featured back to back birdies on holes 12 and 13. After making two bogies, the pair went on to finish their final three holes in two-under par to claim a seven-stroke victory over Nancy Lorenzini and Laura Leszczynski.

In the Net Division, Nicki Clayton and Julie Hartman (pictured above) took home the title after a round of two-over 72. They beat out Janece Schwartzkopf and Kathy Fortune, who also shot 72, in a scorecard playoff.

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The third and final event in the IGA Women’s Mid-Am Series will take place on Saturday August 22^nd at A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines. Tournament information and registration can be found here.