View stories by Matt Levins of the Burlington Hawkeye

Jon on the spot
by Matt Levins

Setting up the duel
by Matt Levins

Local contigent hopes to be a factor
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The battle for the crown
by Matt Levins

Juffer forced to withdraw
by Matt Levins

Mike is the real McCoy
by Matt Levins

Elliott is still a contender
by Matt Levins

Jon Olson tied the competitve course record with a 64 in the final round of the Iowa Amateur Championship. He won by 8 shots over Josh Black.

A year later, Olson is Iowa Amateur Champion

Jon Olson led heading into the final round of last year's Iowa Amateur Championship but lost in a playoff to Gene Elliott. This year, he made certain he wouldn't suffer the same fate.

Olson, trailing by a stroke to Josh Black of Oelwein heading into the final round, tied the competitive course record at Spirit Hollow with a 64 on Sunday. That gave the Ankeny resident an eight shot win. His round was highlighted by a hole out for eagle on the par-4 9th hole.

In addition to his eagle Olson made six birdies and no bogeys during his record-tying round. He had a 20 foot eagle putt on the last hole to set the record but burned the edge and simply tapped in for a birdie and the easy win. It was the first Iowa Amateur title for Olson, who was the 2011 Iowa Mid-Amateur and 2011 IGA Match Play champion.

Black fired a final round 73 to finish as the runner-up, while defending champion Elliott posted a 69 to finish in third. Five-time Iowa Amateur champion Mike McCoy ended up in fourth after a 68 on Sunday.

Eagle spurs Olson's Iowa Amateur win
by Rick Brown, DM Register

Jon Olson ran away from the competition during Sunday's play

Black has one stroke lead over Olson heading into final round

Josh Black followed up his opening round 69 with a two-under par 70 Saturday at Spirit Hollow Golf Club and leads the Iowa Amateur. Jon Olson shot a championship low 68 in round two to come within a stroke of Black and join him in the final pairing on Sunday.

Black, from Oelwein, once again had five birdies over his 18 holes, just like in round one, but had one more bogey in round two. Olson, after making a bogey on his first hole of round two, birdied three of the next four and was off and running. All told, he carded six birdies against two bogeys.

Connor Peck of Ankeny tied Olson's 68 for the low round of the championship after posting a 78 in round one. He sits seven shots out heading into Sunday.

Black leads after opening 69

Josh Black of Oelwein used his length to jump out to a two-stroke lead after round one of the Iowa Amateur Championship on Friday. He shot a 3-under 69 and leads by two over a pair of seniors, Scott Briggs of Burlington and Tom Schill of Gowrie.

Spirit Hollow Golf Course in Burlington was setup at over 7,000 yards for the 154 competitors that started play and Black is one of the longer hitters on the Iowa amateur circuit. He took advantage of the par 5's, making birdie on three of the four.

Lurking close behind is Jon Olson of Ankeny, who won the IGA Match Play at Spirit Hollow in 2011, defending champion Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, and 2006 champion Jon Brown of Urbandale and 5-time champion Mike McCoy of West Des Moines. Olson shot an even par 72 while Elliott, Brown and McCoy each posted 1-over 73.

Championship Facts

110^th Iowa Amateur

Photo Gallery

COURSE STATISTICS:
Round 1 Stats
Round 2 Stats
Round 3 Stats
All Rounds Stats

PAR AND YARDAGE:

Rounds 1 & 2:
Front 9 - 3,548 yards Par 36
Back 9 - 3,494 yards Par 36
Total - 7,042 yards Par 72

Round 3:
Front 9 - 3,584 yards Par 36
Back 9 - 3,591 yards Par 36
Total - 7,175 yards Par 72

SCORE CARD:

Click here to view

Spirit Hollow GC scorecard

ARCHITECT:

The Spirit Hollow golf course was designed by Rick Jacobson and opened for play in 2000. Jacobson has designed or renovated numerous courses around the globe, including many in China.

SPIRIT HOLLOW AND THE IOWA GOLF ASSOCIATION:

Spirit Hollow has hosted nine IGA Championships, IWGA Championships or USGA qualifying events since 2002, including:

Iowa Amateur (2002)
IGA Match Play (2005, 2011)

Iowa Senior Amateur (2009)
Iowa Women's Amateur (2007)
U.S. Open Local (2006, 2010)

U.S. Amateur (2004, 2007)

THE FIELD:

The IGA has accepted 159 entrants into the 110th Iowa Amateur. The IGA will accept withdrawals without replacing an entrant until the field reaches 156 players. If the field falls below 156 the IGA will replace players with those on a waiting list to bring the field size back to 156. Pairings will be released on Friday, July 20th.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY:

Friday, July 27^th: First round, 18 holes

Saturday, July 28^th: Second round, 18 holes (field cut to the low 60 and ties after second round)

Sunday, July 29^th: Final round, 18 holes - Awards Ceremony following play

PAST CHAMPIONS:

2011: Gene Elliott
2010: Mike McCoy

2009: Ben Herrera

2008: Mike Oimoen

2007: Jared Walahoski

2006: Jon Brown

2005: Brian Verduyn

2004: Nate Dunn

2003: Scott Hart

2002: Bo Anderson

2001: Bo Anderson

2000: Gene Elliott

1999: Matt Gatchel

1998: Mike McCoy

1997: Chris Emanuel

1996: Mike McCoy

MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY:

Mike McCoy holds the record for lowest score relative to par    (-20) in an 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.

Copyright © 2012 Iowa Golf Association