Category: News

Iowa Golf Association Partners With Affinity Travel Benefits

Now Offering Massive Discounts On Hotel Lodging, Movies & More!

The Iowa Golf Association announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Affinity Travel Benefits, a leading edge, online travel aggregation platform providing exclusive discounts up to 70% off retail rates at hotels and resort properties.

Affinity has obtained heavily discounted rates that are not available to the public on travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, Trivago, and Orbitz so your next hotel booking is guaranteed to be the lowest rate on the internet. As a member of IGA you will now have access, in addition to hotel price savings, other discounts include different theme and water parks across the country, movie tickets, sports and concert tickets, and, of course, hotel deals, both national and international.

“We are delighted that the International Association Of Golf Administrators put together an over-arching agreement allowing each State Association a simple and quick path for bringing travel discounts to members and players. Members of golf associations travel for many reasons. Offering a guaranteed low-price hotel room adds immense value to a growing association and its membership benefit programs. Our philosophy is to promote our client’s brand, deliver exceptional service, and share revenue to make this partnership win-win”, says Stephen Boyd, President of Affinity.

ABOUT THE IOWA GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Iowa Golf Association is the governing body for golf in the state of Iowa and exists as a non-profit organization that works to preserve, protect and promote the best interests and spirit of the game. As “caretakers” of the game we work to preserve the rich history of golf in our state and to provide numerous services that benefit all that play the game in Iowa.

ABOUT AFFINITY TRAVEL BENEFITS
Affinity Travel Benefits operates a leading-edge, online travel and entertainment aggregation platform with travel opportunities available to over 700,000 hotels and vacation rental properties globally. Leveraging a vast and established network of hospitality properties, travel wholesalers, and bulk travel buyers, Affinity’s data center delivers real-time streaming of highly discounted, “unpublished” and exclusive rates on hotels and resort properties. Affinity is a one-stop shop for its partners and members and always operates under a Lowest Rate Guarantee Policy.

Missouri wins 50th Girls’ 4-State Championship

ROUND 1

The 50th Junior Girls’ 4-State kicked off July 2, at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames.  The top five junior girls’ from the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska came together to play 36-holes of golf over a two-day period.  

The opening round brought beautiful weather and light wind, perfect for 18 holes.  Amber Wilson shot a 71, an even par and the lowest score of the day, to pave the way for Team Missouri. Danica Badura carried Team Nebraska with a 72. Abby Glyn shot a 74 to lead the way for Team Kansas along with Sarah Nacos for Team Iowa.

After the first day of team stroke play team Nebraska sits at the top of the leaderboard with +23 while team Kansas is only one stroke back, with +24.  Team Missouri is in third with +28 and Team Iowa has a +41.

ROUND 2

With a prompt tee off at 7:30 a.m., the second day of the Junior Girls’ 4-State tournament started early. 

Team Missouri and Team Kansas were neck and neck all day.  Ultimately Team Missouri pulled away for the win with a two-day score of 620, Team Kansas finished four strokes back with a 624.  Team Nebraska ended with a 630 and Team Iowa posted a 634.

Sarah Bell (Team Missouri) was the medalist of the tournament with a score of 144.  Bell’s round included an eagle and three birdies. Amber Wilson (Team Missouri) took second with a 148.

Brooke Boardman (Team Iowa) finished with a solid 149 to secure third place.  Sarah Nacos was not far behind with a 150. Paige Hoffman fired a 73 in the second round, 18 strokes better than her opening round score.

Team Missouri takes home the trophy for the first time since 2015.  The 2019 Girls 4-State Championship will be held next year in Nebraska.

Click here to see a recap of scoring

Snyder named to American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Golf Team

The 2017-18 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Golf Teams were selected based on performance, level of competition and strength of schedule. Junior golf success was a secondary consideration, and those who did not compete regularly for their high school were not considered. Players from states that play in the fall or spring were eligible for selection.

Britta Snyder (pictured above – photo by Kelsey Kremer, The Register), a First Team selection, played 15 matches for Gilbert High School this spring and won them all, including a runaway victory at the Iowa Class 3A state tournament where her 2-under-par 142 left her 13 shots clear of the field. The No. 50-ranked player in the country by the American Junior Golf Association, she also won the Iowa Women’s Amateur last summer by 13 strokes.

Youth is served on this year’s team with five sophomores, including repeat ALL-USA Golfer of the Year Rachel Heck from Tennessee, and two freshmen dotting the teams.

North Carolina is the only state with multiple members, including three-time selection Jenny Chang. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey and Washington also are represented on the team.

Click here to read more.

Doak, Peterson & Sergeant take home titles at Fort Dodge Amateur

Niel Doak (above left) and Ron Peterson (right in blue shirt) were sporting first-timer smiles after securing championships at the 70th Fort Dodge Amateur golf tournament here on Sunday.

And while Dave Sergeant may be an old hat at winning on his home Fort Dodge Country Club soil, the end of an eight-year drought in this event made the 73-year-old local attorney grin from ear-to-ear as well.

Doak earned the open division title by finishing at even-par 213, which was four strokes clear of defending champ Joe Urbanek and first-round leader Willis Gaer. Peterson prevailed in the senior standings by defeating Terry Cook and Dave Henry in a two-hole playoff, and Sergeant fought through iron trouble to come out on top in the super senior bracket.

Click here to read more from Eric Pratt of the Fort Dodge Messenger’s recap

2018 Herman Sani Scholarship recipients named

Herman Sani (right) is seen talking with Gene Sarazen in August, 1950.  Sani served as IGA President in 1929.

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is pleased to announce the 2018 recipients of the Herman Sani Scholarship Awards. Ryan Fedders, of Sioux Center, Lucas Scherf, of Grinnell, Mia Hoogeveen, of Lester, and Somer Sinnard, of Carroll, will receive a four year scholarship of $2,000 per year. The individuals will be recognized at the Herman Sani Golf Tournament held at Hyperion Field Club, Johnston, Fri-Sun, Aug 10-12.

Ryan Fedders is the son of Ron and Marg Fedders. He is a graduate of Unity Christian High School and will be attending Dordt College in the fall to study Finance and Accounting. He will also be playing golf for the Defenders.

“I am extremely thankful for being selected as a Herman Sani Scholar,” Fedders said. “It is a huge honor to be chosen by the selection committee from the large list of applicants. This is something I will remember for years to come.”

 

Lucas Scherf is the son of Steve and Heidi Scherf and is a graduate of Grinnell Community Senior High School. Lucas plans to attend Drake University in the fall and will focus on studying Finance and Accounting and play golf for the Bulldogs.

“It is an honor to be a recipient of the Herman Sani Scholarship and join a long list of incredible men and women,” Scherf said. “Through golf, academia, and life, I seek to continue to uphold Mr. Sani’s values he set forth in his own life.”

 

Mia Hoogeveen is the daughter of Jeff and Missy Hoogeveen. She is a graduate of West Lyon High School and will be attending Northwestern College this fall. She will be be studying either Pre-Med or Secondary Education. She will also be playing both basketball and golf at Northwestern.

“I would like to thank the Herman Sani Scholarship Committee for awarding me this scholarship,” Hoogeveen said. “I am very honored and grateful to receive this scholarship. I am excited to have the chance to play in the Herman Sani tournament, and look forward to using the money awarded to help me pay for my education at Northwestern College next year.”

 

Somer Sinnard is the daughter of Steve and Keeley Sinnard and is a graduate of Carroll High School. She will be attending the University of Iowa and plans to study Engineering.

“I just think it’s really awesome that I was able to turn my love for golf into something that really benefits my future with this scholarship,” Sinnard said. “I won’t be golfing in college, but all the hard work I put in to improve my game during high school feels like it has paid off in more ways than one. Receiving this scholarship is a huge honor and I feel privileged to be one of the golfers selected.”

 

The Herman Sani Scholarship Program was established in 1958. Herman Sani had a passion for golf for golf and young people. Sani was the first director of the Iowa Golf Association and served the organization for over 30 years. This scholarship was created his memory with the purpose to assist Iowa students to further their education. As of 2017, 175 college-bound students have been awarded this four-year scholarship.

Most of the scholarship money comes from the generous donations by individuals and corporate sponsors. Since 2013 the Coppola family of Norwalk has contributor $250,000 to the Herman Sani Scholarship Fund. The Iowa Golf Association and point events from around the state also make significant contributions to the fund. For more information about the scholarship visit our website at www.iowagolf.org/scholarships.

The Iowa Golf Association serves as the governing body of golf for the state of Iowa. Run by amateur golfers the IGA provides a variety of programs and services that benefit everyone who plays the game.

2018 Ann Griffel Scholarship Winners Announced

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is pleased to announce the 2018 recipients of the Ann Griffel Scholarship Award (Griffel is pictured above in sport coat). Casey Noble, Alisha Ford, Molly Carey, Bailee Frayne and Robyn Stillmunkes will receive a one year scholarship of $2,000. These girls will join a group of 228 other students to have received this award since 1963.

Casey Noble is the daughter of Scott and Tammy Noble. She is a graduate of New London High School and plans on attending Mount Mercy University. She intends to study Accounting while in college.

“Thank you to the Ann Griffel committee for selecting me for this honor,” Noble said. “The game of golf has always been a big part of my life and to be able to play golf in college along with earning a golf scholarship is a dream come true. I hope to be a role model for young golfers in the future as it is also my dream to become a high school golf coach.”

 

 

 

Molly Carey is the daughter of Jeff and Kim Carey. She is a graduate of Van Meter High School and will attend Graceland University this fall. She plans on majoring in Mathematics.

“I couldn’t have been more excited when I received the text notifying me about being selected for this scholarship while I was playing golf with my family,” Carey said. “It is such an honor for me to receive a golf scholarship in general and even more incredible to get this one! Thank you so much, and I look forward to attending the banquet with my family.”

 

 

Bailee Frayne is the daughter of Bryan and Cheila Frayne. She is a graduate of Garner Hayfield Ventura High School and will be attending William Penn University to study Elementary Education this fall.

“It is such an honor to be chosen as one of the recipients of the Ann Griffel Scholarship,” Frayne said. “I admire the work Ann did in promoting the game of golf and her focus on women in golf especially. I hope to do my part in continuing to promote the sport and represent the Ann Griffel Scholarship the best way I know how. I am very grateful to have been selected.”

 

 

Robyn Stillmunkes is the daughter of Randy and Renee Stillmunkes. She is a graduate of Bellevue High School and will attend the University of Iowa to study Human Health and Physiology (Pre-Med) this fall.

“Being selected for this scholarship is a huge honor,” Stillmunkes said. “I have always loved golf but I never thought I would get a scholarship for doing something I love. I appreciate this opportunity and I am very excited to be attending the University of Iowa next year. I want to thank the Ann Griffel Scholarship Committee for helping me achieve my goals of pursuing higher education.”

 

Alisha Ford is the daughter of Anita and Tom Ford. She is a graduate of Grinnell High School. She will be attending Wartburg College in the fall. At the time of this release she was undecided on an area of study in college.

“It’s truly an honor to be selected as an Ann Griffel scholarship recipient,” Ford said. “I am thankful that I had the opportunity to play and achieve many great things playing the game of golf. Golf has influenced me as a person by giving me confidence in my abilities and teaching me to persevere during tough times. It taught me how to work hard for something that I want, which has built my character. I am so grateful for all of the people who encouraged me in my love for the game and believed that I could and will continue to achieve my goals. I can’t wait to be on the Wartburg College golf team next year and continue playing the game I love.”

The Ann Griffel Scholarship was established in 1963. It originated as just one $350 scholarship awarded by the Iowa Women’s Golf Association (IWGA) and has evolved into a $2,000 scholarship awarded to multiple high school senior girls who intend to further their education at an Iowa institution of higher learning, whether a college, university or trade school.

The Iowa Golf Association Foundation (IGAF) was established to preserve the game and develop more programs to promote the future of golf in Iowa. The IGAF awards the Ann Griffel scholarship each year. This scholarship was named after the long time IWGA President, Ann Griffel, who during her 23 year term started the Girls’ State Junior, Forever 39, State Wife-Husband and Senior Women’s Championships.

The Iowa Golf Association serves as the governing body of golf for the state of Iowa. Run by amateur golfers the IGA provides a variety of programs and services that benefit everyone who plays the game

Sani Scholar Broc Everett wins NCAA D1 National Championship

Broc Everett (right), of West Des Moines, never stopped working hard. His determination came to its peak on Monday as he captured the 2018 NCAA D1 National Championship at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, OK.

Playing for Augusta and ranked #153 according to Golfstat, Everett kept kept his head down and put together rounds of 70-70-70-71, which put him at 281 (-7) and tied with Auburn’s Brandon Mancheno. A birdie on the first playoff hole gave Everett the championship and sent shockwaves all the way back to central Iowa. The win marked Everett’s first win in college – it’s safe to say he saved his best for last.

Everett (pictured above – back right), a 2013 Herman Sani Scholarship winner, made a total of 14 birdies over four rounds, but more importantly made no worse than bogey at the challenging Karsten Creek.

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

Fields makes comeback, wins 2018 Tri-State Masters

Courtesy of Barry Poe, Sioux City Journal

It took a monumental collapse for it to happen, but Adam Fields (right) achieved a rare and coveted feat Sunday at Green Valley Golf Club.

The 30-year-old Sioux City native and Pottawattamie County sheriff’s deputy came from behind to win the Tri-State Masters by one shot and complete a career grand slam of “major” golf titles.

Fields, who bested Corey Matthey by a stroke, added the Tri-State crown to his Men’s City (2009) ,three River-Cade Amateur (2013-14-15) and Interstate Amateur (2016) victories.

That alone is noteworthy enough, but Fields prevailed after starting the day eight shots behind Des Moines resident Sam Pieczyznki, who completely unraveled after two superb rounds.

Read more from Barry Poe, Sioux City Journal

Click here for a full recap of scoring

Family affair at 2018 Southeast Iowa Amateur

It was a family affair at this year’s Southeast Iowa Amateur. While Willis Gaer (right) ran away with the Open Division title by 10 shots, his dad, Dave charged to the win in the Senior Division after trailing by two going into the final round at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake.

Willis, who opened with a pair of 68s, finished with a tournament record 170 (-10) after the 45 hole event. He made 10 birdies and a pair of eagles to outdistance Patrick Hall and Pedro Velasco, who finished second and third respectively.

In the Senior Division, Dave Gaer posted a pair of 69s, including a sizzling 31 on the back nine in the second round to edge opening round leader Joe Bates by two strokes. The elder Gaer finished with a total of 9 birdies over 36 holes to take take the victory.

In the Super Senior Division, Jim Campbell posted rounds of 70-78, good for a four shot victory over Del Harken and Tim Taylor.

Click here for a recap of scoring

Cook, Brown take home titles at The Classic

Clive’s Scot Cook (Open Division) and Jon Brown (Senior Division) took home the titles from the inaugural ‘The Classic’ held at Elmwood Country Club, in Marshalltown. The Classic, is the first Iowa Golf Association point event played under a modified stableford format, in which players earn points per hole based on their score as follows:
Double Eagle: 12 points
Eagle: 8 points
Birdie: 4 points
Par: 2 points
Bogey: 1 point
Double Bogey or worse: 0 points

Cook (above left), posted rounds of 42 and 41 points respectively to outdistance a trio that included Dustin Atkinson, Ethan Mechling and Jeff Collett, who all finished seven points behind Cook. Over the two-day event, Cook made 10 birdies.

Jon Brown (78 points), playing in his first Senior Division event after turning 50 last fall, edged Ron Peterson by a single point to capture the title. Brown (above right) also collected 10 birdies on the weekend, including three in a row to finish his first round. Rob Christensen (see video Christensen’s birdie on #18), an Elmwood member, finished in third place, seven points back of Brown’s total.

 

Scott Cook receives the ceremonial white jacket as champion of The Classic.

Jon Brown slips into this white jacket after winning the Senior Division of The Classic.

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