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Read DM Register writer Rick Brown's Recap of the final round Elliott captures second Gene Elliott made par on the first playoff hole to defeat Jon Olson and win his second Iowa Amateur Championship at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. His first championship came in 2000 at Ottumwa Country Club. Elliott, who trailed by four strokes heading into the final round, shot a 1-under 70 Wednesday to catch Olson. Olson came into the final round leading but his final round 3-over 74 left the door open for Elliott. After opening the door, Olson nearly slammed it shut on his final hole of regulation. After hitting into the water hazard on 17 and making a bogey to fall one behind Elliott, who was finished at 1-under, Olson knew he needed a birdie to force a playoff. The 2011 Iowa Mid-Amater and Match Play Champion's approach from 125 yards on the final hole nearly dropped for an eagle and the outright win. He landed the ball past the hole and as it spun back slid just over the right edge of the cup, coming to rest 2 feet below the hole. He tapped in for birdie to force extra holes.
Olson in position for third straight IGA Individual title Jon Olson is threatening history this week at the 109th Iowa Amateur Championship. The 31-year old from Ankeny, after winning the Iowa Mid-Amateur in May and the IGA Match Play in June, is looking to win his third straight IGA individual title. No golfer has ever won all three championships in the same year. Olson didn't make a bogey and birdied his final two holes to shoot a 3-under 68 at Glen Oaks Country Club in round two. He heads into the final round at 4-under 138. Right on his heels is 2008 Iowa Amateur Champion Mike Oimoen of Clear Lake. Oimoen followed his first round 70 with a 69 in round two and trails Olson by a single stroke. While Olson's second round featured zero mistakes and three birdies, Oimoen's was a bit more adventurous making only eight pars. He made six birdies to go along with four bogeys to make his two-under total. Another shot back is J.D. Anderson, who is a routine contender at IGA major championships. The West Des Moines resident has put together two rounds of 1-under 70 to sit at 140 through 36 holes. First round leader Gene Elliott followed his first round 67 with a 75 in round two and sits four shots out of the lead. The low round of the day was posted by Ben Peters of Bettendorf who used two eagles, one on #9 and on #15, to shoot a four-under 67. Peters is tied for fifth at even par 142.
Read DM Register writer Rick Brown's article on round 1 Elliott leads at Iowa Am Gene Elliott has won one Iowa Amateur, in 2000 at Ottumwa Country Club. He has put himself in a great spot after one round to win his second. The decorated mid-amateur fired a four-under par 67 on his home course, Glen Oaks Country Club, in the first round of the 109th edition of the championship. His round featured mostly steady play highlighted by a terrific stretch on holes 4 thru 9. Elliott birdied 4, 7, 8 and 9 to make the turn in 31. He then held serve with a bogey and a birdie on the back to finish with 67. Elliott is two clear of Dennis Bull of West Des Moines who birdied 8 and 9, his final two holes of the day, to shoot 69. Also within striking distance is Jon Olson of Ankeny who finished at 1-under 70. Olson has already won the Iowa Mid-Amateur and the IGA Match Play and is looking to make the unprecedented sweep this week. Perennial contenders J.D. Anderson and Mike Oimoen also had rounds of 70 and figure to make a run before the championship concludes.
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Championship Facts
109th Iowa Amateur
PAR AND YARDAGE:
Rounds 1 & 2 :
SCORE CARD: Click here to view Glen Oaks CC scorecard
ARCHITECT: The Glen Oaks golf course was designed by the top golf course architect in the United States, Tom Fazio, and was nominated by Golf Digest as one of the top new golf courses in the United States.
Fazio has designed more than 120 courses and has more courses ranked among the top 100 in the U.S. than anyone else in the business
GLEN OAKS AND THE IOWA GOLF ASSOCIATION: Glen Oaks has hosted six IGA Championships or USGA qualifying events since 2002, including: IGA Match Play (2002) U.S. Junior (2003 & 2008) U.S. Mid-Amateur (2004 & 2009)
THE FIELD: The IGA accepted 202 entries into the 109th Iowa Amateur. 68 exempt players entered which means there are 134 players qualifying for 76 spots. The final field will be determined July 19th, the day following the last qualifier at Coldwater Golf Links. The field is cut to the low 60 and ties for the final round.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY: Monday, July 25th: First round, 18 holes Tuesday, July 26th: Second round, 18 holes (field cut to the low 60 and ties after second round) Wednesday, July 27th: Final round, 18 holes - Awards Ceremony following play
PAST CHAMPIONS: 2010: Mike McCoy 2009: Ben Herrera 2008: Mike Oimoen 2007: Jared Walahoski 2006: Jon Brown 2005: Brian Verduyn 2004: Nate Dunn 2003: Scot Hart 2002: Bo Anderson 2001: Bo Anderson 2000: Gene Elliott 1999: Matt Gatchel 1998: Mike McCoy 1997: Chris Emanuel 1996: Mike McCoy 1995: Mike McCoy
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY: Mike McCoy holds the record for lowest score relative to par (-20) inan Iowa Amateur, established in 2010 at Bent Tree GC in Council Bluffs.
Art Bartlett holds the record for most Iowa Amateur victories with seven (7).
Rod Bliss Jr and Rod Bliss III are the only Father-Son combo to each win the Iowa Amateur
John Jacobs and Bob McKee are the only players with titles in three different decades
Jack Webb defeated brother Don Webb in the 1949 Iowa Amateur Championship Match
The Iowa Amateur switched from Match Play to Stroke Play in 1960
The Iowa Amateur was not held from 1943-1945 due to World War II.
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