Iowa Match Play: Final four set
BURLINGTON, Iowa (July 1, 2011) -- Jon Brown and Jon Olson each have a bit of a score to settle. Brown was defeated in the semifinals in 2005, the last time the Match Play was held at Spirit Hollow, while Olson was defeated in the semifinals last year. They find themselves in similar positions after advancing once again to the final four in the 23rd edition of the IGA Match Play Championship. Brown, who won the event in 2003 and 2006, will square off against Zach Steffen. Olson will face Iowa State golfer Blake Waller in the other semifinal.
Steffen earned his way to the final day of play first by defeating his Indian Hills Community College teammate Matt Solis 4&3 and then outlasting decorated mid-amateur Gene Elliott in 19 holes in the quarterfinals. Waller defeated Spirit Hollow employee Kyle Menke in the round of 16 2&1 and then caught fire in the afternoon against Michael Wuertz. Waller defeated Wuertz 7&6 and, with the traditional match play concessions, was six-under par through the 12 holes played.
While no player would call any match "easy", Brown did manage to cruise to victory in his two matches Friday with both ending on the 15th hole. He defeated Mike Patzia 4&3 in the morning and then got by Iowa Hawkeye golfer Ian Vandersee 5&3 in the afternoon. Olson won a hard fought match against Grandview University player Mike Slavin 2 up in the round of 16 and then defeated Ben Peters 4&3 in the afternoon match.
The field played 18 holes of stroke play qualifying on June 29th to determine the 64 players who advanced to the match play bracket. Two rounds of matches are played on June 30th, July 1st and the semifinals and finals are contested on July 2nd.
View results for Iowa Match Play
ABOUT THE Iowa Match Play
18 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine a 64-
player match play bracket. The defending champion
is exempt
from the 18-hole qualifying round. The defending
champion
may choose to compete in the qualifying round to
earn medalist
honors but is assured of no lower than the #2 seed
in Match Play. Must be an IGA member.
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