Storms and weather delays made for a long, challenging day at Cedar Falls’ Beaver Hills Country Club during the USGA U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifier. Despite the soggy conditions and extended delays, three Iowans rose to the occasion and punched their tickets to one of amateur golf’s most elite stages.

Luke Slaymaker (right) of Marion led the field with a flawless round of 66 (-6), earning medalist honors and securing his place in the championship. Slaymaker recorded six birdies and was the only player in the field to go bogey-free.

“I did a really good job putting myself in position off the tee today,” Slaymaker said. “With the wet conditions and soft greens, the course was really gettable, and I was able to take advantage of the birdie opportunities.”

His exceptional round came after a difficult start to the day. Slaymaker arrived on site at 7:30 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. tee time but had to wait five grueling hours due to inclement weather.

“The morning was tough with all the storms,” he said. “I had to warm up twice, so that was a bit different.”

Slaymaker’s poise in navigating the delays speaks to his resilience and adaptability—qualities that will be crucial as he competes in his first USGA championship.

“This is my first USGA championship, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to compete,” he said. “I used to live in the Scottsdale area, so I’m excited to make the trip back.”

Joining Slaymaker at the national championship will be Dennis Bull of Norwalk, who fired an impressive 69 (-3). His round featured two birdies and an eagle, and he capped the day with a clutch birdie on the par-4 18th to clinch his qualifying spot.

Frank Anderson of Marion claimed the third and final qualifying spot with a 70 (-2), emerging from a three-man sudden-death playoff against Adam Moyers of Burlington and Willis Gaer of Des Moines. The trio played two extra holes before Anderson secured the last spot.

The 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be held September 13–18 at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Dennis Bull

Frank Anderson

Complete Results

Dozens of men and women from across the country gathered today at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk to compete for coveted spots in the prestigious USGA U.S. Senior Amateur and U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships.

In the men’s division, Kirk Macumber (right) of Winterset claimed medalist honors after a dramatic three-hole playoff against Dave Gaer of Des Moines. Gaer forced the playoff with a clutch birdie on the par-five 18th to tie Macumber at 69 (-3), but Macumber sealed the victory with a birdie of his own on the third extra hole.

In the women’s division, Deanne Stolarik of Zion, Illinois earned medalist honors with a round of 74 (+2). After a challenging front nine, Stolarik rallied with three birdies on the back nine to secure the top spot.

Joining Stolarik at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will be Tina Jones of Wildwood, Missouri, who claimed the second qualifying spot with a solid 78 (+6). Her round featured 12 pars and one birdie, edging out first alternate Kelly Nelson of Waterloo by a single stroke.

The U.S. Senior Amateur Championship will take place August 23–28 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas. The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship is scheduled for September 13–18 at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.

Deanne Stolarik of Zion, Illinois earned medalist honors with a round of 74 (+2).

Joining Stolarik at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will be Tina Jones of Wildwood, Missouri, who claimed the second qualifying spot with a solid 78 (+6).

Complete Results

Ninety-six junior golfers braved gusting winds and torrential downpours over the past few days at Ames Golf & Country Club, all vying for a coveted spot in the 2025 USGA U.S. Junior Amateur Championships. When the final putts dropped, four boys and one girl emerged victorious, punching their tickets to the prestigious national event.

In the boys division, Stuart Boulware of Fairway, Kansas earned medalist honors with a stellar round of 65 (-6). Boulware carded seven birdies, including an impressive stretch of three in a row on holes 15 through 17 to cap off his round.

“I made some really nice putts towards the end of my round today, and my wedge shots were really working for me,” said Boulware. “I’m really looking forward to playing in Texas at Trinity Forest Golf Club at the national USGA Championship.”

Joining him at the championship will be Zach Huang of Sammamish, Washington, who fired a 67 (-4). Huang surged early with a front-nine 31 (-4), putting himself firmly in contention from the start.

The final two qualifying spots were claimed by Nolan Kunkel of Oakdale, Minnesota and Carson Korver of Orange City, Iowa, who both posted rounds of 68 (-3) to secure their places in the national field.

In the girls division, Ruihan Kendria Wang of Bellevue, Washington delivered a dominant performance, earning medalist honors with a 69 (-2). Wang opened with back-to-back birdies and added three more on the back nine to finish atop the leaderboard.

The USGA U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (Boys) will take place July 21–26 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas. The Girls Championship will be held July 14–19 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Complete Results

From left – Matthew Walker, Isaac Rumler, Sean McCarty and Gage Messingham.

A total 76 players teed it up Monday at Cedar Rapids Country Club with the hope of advancing to U.S. Open Final Qualifying.

By the end of the day, those four had been identified and advanced.

Gage Messingham (amateur), of Arvada, Colorado, followed up his win at the IGA Four-Ball by claiming medalist honors. The Iowa Hawkeye fired 69 (-3) en route to medalist honors. Messingham’s day began on the 10th tee and he played the front nine at -4. On #1, Messingham was tested when he made a double bogey, but found a way to grind out the round.

Messingham credited his strong play to his driver and positioning off the tee. For final qualifying Messingham will rely on the confidence he has built early this summer and his excitement for the opportunity.

Matthew Walker (professional), of Ottumwa, took the second qualifying spot with 70 (-2). Sean McCarty (professional) of Solon and Isaac Rumler (amateur) of Moline, Illinois, took the third and fourth qualifying spots with a score of 71 (-1). Cedar Rapids Country Club was friendly to the Hawkeyes as Messingham is a current player at Iowa and McCarty and Walker are both alumni.

The four men will have a chance to qualify for the US Open at final qualifying. There are a variety of sites the players can choose from for the 36-hole qualifier, also known as “the longest day in golf.”

After a one-hole playoff Matthew Jennings (professional) of Prairie City earned the First Alternate spot and Mac McClear (professional) of St. Louis, Missouri, earned the Second Alternate position. Both men shot a score of even par 72 earlier in the day.

Complete Results

From left – Eddie Doyle (67), Josh Janeczko (Medalist – 66) and Andrew Huseman (67).

August heat topped off at 100 degrees during the U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying contested at Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids on Monday.

West Des Moines’ Joshua Janeczko was this year’s medalist carding a 66 (-4). Janeczko racked up five birdies on the day against just one lone bogey.

Eddie Doyle of Fort Dodge and Andrew Huseman of Ankeny secured the final two spots of the qualifier with a pair of 67s (-3). 

There was a five-way tie at -2 for the two alternate spots. The first alternate spot was obtained by Ankeny’s Connor Peck with a birdie on the opening playoff hole. Cedar Rapids’ Andrew Roberts and Nate Dunn fell short carding bogey, leaving Willis Gaer of Des Moines and Marion resident Drew Dalziel carding pars. Gaer would card a par on the second playoff hole to secure the second alternate spot.

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Glen Oaks Country Club, in West Des Moines, was the host of this year’s U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying and it proved to be a challenge. As the day went on the wind picked up and firmed up the course that much more. Luke Honner (right), this year’s medalist, shooting a well deserved 67 (-4) and one of seven qualifiers into Final Qualifying on the day, demonstrated having patience and hitting fairways was key to success in today’s round.

“Off the tee was really well, again no bogeys, and just stayed patient,” Honner said following his round. “I putted solid, but again just making minimal mistakes.”

Charlie Zielinski, who shot a very respectable 68 (-3), proved finding the fairways as often as possible was the key to success on the day.

“Hitting the fairway does help a lot, I hit seven fairways today,” Zielinski said. “I was looking through my stats at the end of the round. Even if I was in the rough, I was never really out of position. But, as the day went on and the wind picked up, being in the fairway was definitely a premium.”

Also qualifying, with never giving up even after a slow start, was Christopher Atkinson shooting 69 (-2).

“Got off to a slow start, I hit it right off 10 and made a good bogey after getting up and down,” Atkinson said. “I collected myself after the first few holes and started playing solid. Hitting fairways is key out here, I do not need a driver out here a lot. I started hitting a lot of two irons down the middle, I was able to hit it on the green and make some putts which lead to birdies.”

Also qualifying in at 70 (-1) was Connor McCall, Radley Mauney, Reed Malleck and Dennis Bull.

In a thrilling five hole playoff Grant Greazel secured the first alternate spot and Wade Pettitt was awarded the second alternate spot.  

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Birdies were to be had at U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying hosted by Cedar Rapids Country Club. This is turn led to a packed leaderboard.

The side of Matt Meuret / Sam Meuret (right) earned medalist honors, posting 64 (-8), one shot clear of four sides that would playoff for the final qualifying spot.

“We got off to a shaky start but each of us scratched out a well-timed par to keep us on track until we made quite a few birdies in the middle of the round,” Sam said. “Matt can putt circles around me, so it was fun to have his putter on my side for a change and he bailed us out a couple times late in the to put up a good score.”

Sam, who raddled off six birdies in a row at one point, commented that it will be a treat to play at the national championship with his brother.

“Playing in any USGA championship is a great experience but being able to do it with my brother will make it extra special,” Sam said.

As mentioned, a total of four sides finished the day at 65 (-7) and a playoff was needed to identify the final qualifier.

The side of Charlie Jacobson / Ryan Trasamar (right) wasted little time and made birdie on the first hole of the playoff to punch their ticket the the 2024 championship. Marc Gladson / Nate Dunn earned first alternate and Ethan Mechling / JD Anderson earned second alternate.

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The course didn’t let up.

That was the story at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifier contested at Des Moines Golf & Country Club.

With winds swirling and pars coming at a premium, three players advanced to the national championship – Leeann Fairlie (78), Claudia Pilot (79) and Rose Kubesheski (80).

Oklahoma City’s Fairlie, who stayed away from the double bogey or worse all day earned medalist, while Rio Verde’s Pilot admitted she played 17 ‘good’ holes of golf, with only one disaster coming on the 14th hole.

Dubuque’s Kubesheski looked to be sailing smooth through 12 holes before the bogey train arrived, but a birdie on the 17th hole helped ease the pain of her finish, with a double bogey on 18, and left her one shot clear of fourth place and good enough for the last qualifying spot.

Elizabeth Wanek earned 1st Alternate position in a playoff, while Robin Webb earned 2nd Alternate.

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Leeann Fairlie (left) and Claudia Pilot

Rose Kubesheski