Sam Billmeyer (above), of Ankeny, IA, punched his ticket to the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur after firing an even par 72 at Cedar Rapids Country Club. Billmeyer’s round was highlighted by four consecutive birdies on holes three through six which helped him make the turn in 3 under par 33. James Butler, of Fort Madison, IA, also shot 72. Butler had two birdies on the day, coming on the 3rd and 8th holes. With his runner-up finish, he claims the first alternate spot.

The U.S. Senior Amateur will take place August 24-29 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

From left – Leeann Fairlie, Therese Quinn and Susan Marchese.

Heidi Person (left)

Sixteen women from across the United States teed it up today for a chance to make it to the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur. With four spots on the line, Therese Quinn, Jacksonville, FL, Heidi Person, Pauma Valley, CA, Leeann Fairlie, Oklahoma City, OK, and Susan Marchese, Omaha, NE, all punched their tickets to the national championship. Therese Quinn fired a 7 over par 79 to claim medalist honors. Her round was highlighted by a birdie on the 10th hole. Heidi Person shot a 9 over par 81, Leeann Fairlie and Susan Marchese both shot 10 par over 82.

The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will take place August 24-29 at Cedar Rapids Country Club.

Click here for a full recap of scoring

When the dust had settled at Wakonda Club after 36 holes of golf, Cedar Falls’ Jonathan Feldick (69-72) and Ankeny’s Nate McCoy (71-71) grabbed the two spots available into the U.S. Amateur on Monday.

Each player took different roads to earn their spot to Pinehurst however.

Feldick (pictured above), who was medalist, rode a rollercoaster for most of the afternoon finishing with 11 birdies over his 36 holes. Meanwhile, McCoy settled for a bushel basket of pars, making 32 on the day. McCoy then survived a playoff against Sam Vincent, of Ames, to secure his spot into the U.S. Amateur.

“I just tried to keep it in play off the tee,” Feldick said. “I struggled with that though, but I putted well today and I finished strong. I birdied the last two holes (this afternoon). It has been a life-long dream of mine to qualify for the U.S. Amateur. Wakonda Club has been good to me, I qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur when I was 17 here. I can’t be happier, I am shocked to be honest.”

Feldick, who opened with 69 (-3) in the morning, said he didn’t really have a number in mind in the afternoon, he just knew he couldn’t let up.

“I didn’t have a number in mind,” Feldick said. “Luckily I birdied the last two holes to finish even (for the afternoon round). I just wanted to get back to even and finish strong, other than that I was just trying to make as many birdies as I could.”

McCoy (right) admitted he simply could not get a birdie putt to find the bottom of the cup

“I had 32 pars today,” McCoy said. “I was getting frustrated out there actually, I just couldn’t get a putt to fall. When you’re stuck around even par you feel like people are passing you. I gave myself a lot of opportunities, but I just couldn’t get any to drop. The greens were tough and I was grinding a lot.”

McCoy admitted that playing with Vincent (1st Alternate via the playoff loss) was enjoyable and kept his mind sharp the whole day.

“I had a ton of fun playing with Sam,” McCoy said. “I knew he was going to be tough. I just tried to stay even with him most of the day.”

Nate will also join his dad, Mike, who is exempt into the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst. It is believed to be only the fourth time a father/son dou has played in the same U.S. Amateur. Nate commented that it will be a special week for sure in North Carolina , August 11-18.

“He (my dad) kept telling me to go punch your ticket,” Nate McCoy said. “I hope we can play a few practice rounds together. Hopefully it will make my hotel rental a little cheaper. It might be a win-win for me.”

Earning Second Alternate was Ankeny’s Jon Olson.

Click here for a full recap of scoring.

Bettendorf’s Matthew Garside (above left) and Urbandale’s Jarred Bowser (above right) grabbed two of the three qualifying spots at the U.S. Junior Amateur Sectional Qualifier held at Urbana Country Club, Urbana, IL on Thursday, June 20.

Garside earned medalist honors with a round of 69 (-3), which included a blistering 31 on the front nine. Bowser earned the third and final qualifying spot with an even par round of 72, which included a trio of birdies.

The U.S. Junior Amateur will be played at Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio, on July 15-20.

Click here to see a recap of all scores

Spirit Hollow Golf Course was a firm test for players in today’s U.S. Junior Amateur Sectional Qualifier. Mix in rain and wind off and on most of the day, the course simply played tough.

Drew Salyers (above left), of Howard, OH, posted an even round 72, that included four birdies on the day to help offset four bogeys, to earn medalist honors. His bogeys came in a four hole stretch on (#6-9). Salyers turned in 39 and was able to shoot 33 (-3) on the back nine.

“I was playing pretty good to start the day,” Salyers said. “Then I got a little off the rails little bit, but started putted well on the back nine. I kept doing what I was doing and got it done. The qualifiers in Ohio didn’t know out for me due to scheduling conflicts. This course looked good to me.”

Sean Curran (above right), of New Lenox, IL, had a fine day as well, shooting 74 (+2) to claim the second and final qualifying spot. Curran who was under par after the opening nine holes (35), however made three bogeys coming in, but his 74 was still good enough.

Overall a total of 14 players were able to break 80 on a tough, challenging day.

Matthew Briggs, of Burlington, and Zach Place, of Roselle, IL, both shot 75 (+3) to finished a shot behind Curran. Briggs won the playoff for first alternate on the third playoff hole with a birdie. Place will be second alternate.

Click here for a recap of scoring

Known by many as ‘Golf’s Longest Day’, several player from or with connection to the state of Iowa will compete at Sectional Qualifying for the U.S. Open. Those entered will compete over 36 holes to qualify for the 119th U.S. Open Championship, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif., June 13-16.

Century Country Club & Old Oaks Country Club
Purchase, N.Y.
– Mike McCoy, Norwalk

Brookside Golf & Country Club and Scioto Country Club
Columbus, Ohio
– Charles Jahn, Sperry
– Sean McCarty, Solon
– Brian Bullington, Former University of Iowa player

Springfield Country Club
Springfield, Ohio
– Frank Lindwall, Cedar Rapids
– Carson Schaake, Former University of Iowa player

Note – Former Iowa State University golfer Denzel Ieremia participated in the Sectional Qualifier at Bent Tree Country Club and Northwood Club on May 20, but was unable to advance.

Davenport Country Club didn’t give up much during Monday’s U.S. Open Local Qualifier. Only four players were able to shoot par or better, with David Lawrence, of Moline, IL, being the only player to break par to earn medalist honors.

Lawrence (right), who admitted he has chased the professional golf dream all over the world, shot 69 (-1) on a day that saw many players struggling to find success.

“I thought anything around par was going to be a great score today,” Lawrence said. “I really thought par was 72 today, especially with the wind directions and hole locations. I made a nice, solid par on #1 which is a good way to get your day going. It’s a tough hole. I had a tap in birdie on #2 and slid one in on #4. When you see a couple go in and your pace is good it really sets the tone for the day nicely.”

Being from the Quad Cities area Lawrence admitted it was nice to be close to home for the qualifier and felt like he knew, to some degree, what to expect at Davenport CC.

“I have played out here occasionally over the years, but the course has changed over that time too,” Lawrence said. “I have only played it a couple times over the last three years or so. I am a huge fan of the course.”

The final two qualifying spots into U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying went to (pictured left) Sean McCarty, of Solon, and Frank Lindwall, of Cedar Rapids, via a three-way playoff along with Charles Jahn (1st Alternate), of Sperry, who all finished at 70 (E). Second alternate went to Broc Everett who posted 71 (+1).

Click here for a full recap of scoring

264 Juniors Will Compete for 2020 Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club

Aligning with ongoing initiatives to expand its support of junior golf, the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that the field size for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will increase from 156 players to 264, beginning with the 2020 championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. (July 20-25). Chaska Town Course will serve as the stroke play co-host course, as it did for the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National.

“Increasing the U.S. Junior Amateur field to 264 players gives an additional 108 deserving junior golfers an opportunity to compete in the preeminent championship in junior golf,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director for Championships. “The larger field will allow for an expansion of exemptions that will ensure deserving players from around the world will have the chance to compete for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship Trophy and a spot in the U.S. Open.”

In 2017, USGA announced several significant enhancements to the U.S. Junior Amateur. The maximum age for USGA junior championships was raised from 17 to 18, the field size was increased from 156 beginning in 2020, and a U.S. Open exemption was awarded to the champion. Noah Goodwin, the 2017 Junior Amateur champion, played in the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

“As we do with all our championships, we annually evaluate and refine the conduct of our competitions. Any strategic changes come from that work, which includes valuable input from players, coaches and Allied Golf Associations,” said Greg Sanfilippo, director of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. “We look forward to welcoming more players to the championship venue and providing them with a world-class experience.”

The U.S. Junior Amateur was first played in 1948. The championship is open to amateurs who have not reached their 19th birthday by the conclusion of the championship and who have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 4.4. Tiger Woods (three times), Jordan Spieth (twice), Johnny Miller, David Duval and Hunter Mahan are among the notable U.S. Junior Amateur champions. The USGA accepted 3,693 entries for the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club, won by Michael Thorbjornsen.

The 72nd U.S. Junior Amateur will be contested July 15-20, 2019, at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. The 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur will be conducted at the Country Club of North Carolina. The Dogwood Course will serve as the primary course and the club’s Cardinal Course will serve as the stroke play co-host.

J.D. Anderson (pictured above on right with U.S. Mid-Amateur Committee Member Jamie Blackburn) was the medalist and lone qualifier at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier held at Otter Creek Golf Club on Monday, Aug. 13. Anderson posted 67 (-4), which was good by one stroke over Joe Palmer and Jeremy Tetrault. Anderson made five birdies on the day and only a single bogey.

Palmer earneed 1st Alternate position following a birdie on the first playoff hole (#1). The U.S. Mid-Amateur will be held Sept. 22-27, in Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte Country Club and Carolina Country Club will be used for the stroke play qualifying portion of the championship.

Anderson will join Iowa’s Mike McCoy and Gene Elliott who are already exempt into the championship.

Click here for a recap of scoring

Joe Palmer of West Des Moines claimed the lone qualifying spot into the USGA Senior Amateur Championship on Monday, July 30th at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo.  Palmer defeated Tom Norton of Muscatine in a playoff after both finished on 1-under par 71.

Both Palmer (right) and Norton got off to rough starts but then battled back with excellent play down the stretch.  Palmer made bogey on his first two holes, birdied #3, then managed 13 pars and 2 birdies the rest of the way.  Norton, meanwhile, made bogey on the first three holes then, after pars on 4 thru 7, he started making birdies.  He birdied 8, 11, 12, 15 & 18 while making a lone bogey at 9 to storm into a tie with Palmer and force the playoff.

In the playoff, Palmer made a par on the first playoff hole (which was #15) while Norton made a bogey.

Don Peterson of Wayzata, MN earned 2nd alternate status after he and Sam Billmeyer each shot 73.

CLICK HERE FOR SCORING

JULY 30, 2018 – WATERLOO, IA

20 golfers will be competing for a single spot into the USGA Senior Amateur Championship on Monday at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo.

In what is a bit of a sprint rather than a marathon, players will play a single round to try and earn the coveted spot.  The winner will advance to compete at the national championship at Eugene Country Club in Oregon from August 25-30.  There they will face 36-holes of stroke play qualifying to try and make the 64-person match play draw.

Iowans Mike McCoy and Gene Elliott are exempt from qualifying.  Scores from the qualifier will be updated after 9 holes.

CLICK HERE FOR SCORING

It was a marathon day at Beaver Hills Country Club during Monday’s U.S. Amateur Qualifier. Players battled high temperatures and fatigue over 36 holes of golf in Cedar Falls.

Harrison Ott (Brookfield, WI) and Cedar Rapids’ Frank Lindwall (pictured above – Ott on the left) would share medalist honors at 141 (-3). Both players shot 73 (+1) in the morning round and followed that back up with 68s (-4) in the afternoon. Scores were not as low as some, including Lindwall, predicted in the morning round

“I figured four or five-under on this course would be leading in the morning,” Lindwall said. “When I saw 70 was low, I thought if I could shoot a few under on the second round, I would have a chance. It feels good to qualify. I just tried to stay positive and patient. I felt a little off, I didn’t drive it real well. I was able to make some key putts in the second round. I’ve been playing well the last few months and knew I was good enough. I tried to control what I could control.”

Dennis Bull (right), of Norwalk, captured the final qualifying spot in the playoff over Dusty Drenth, of Davenport. Both players posted 142 (-2). A birdie on the first playoff hole would be the difference for Bull and punch his ticket to the U.S. Amateur. This year’s U.S. Amateur will be contested at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in California.

Bull admitted after his playoff victory he didn’t have his best stuff for most of the day.

“I was not playing well today, but just tried to hang on this morning,” Bull said. “It was manageable in the afternoon, I just didn’t make many putts. This day, you have to remember, is a shot here and a shot there. When I found out I was in the playoff it was energizing. I am exhausted, but it was awesome. It was a gritty day, I thought if I could shoot even in the morning, I might have a chance in the afternoon. A day like this is a marathon. I am not 20 anymore, I remember those days, you feel like you can run through a wall at that age.”

Drenth will be 1st alternate and Wes Buntenbach earned the 2nd alternate spot with his own playoff win over Sam Vincent.

Click here for a full recap of scores