Jim Butler (super senior), Dennis Bull (mid-amateur) and Bob Brooks (senior) (IGA photo)
Dennis Bull played steady golf for two days at Briarwood Club in Ankeny, Iowa, to earn a one-shot victory at the Iowa Mid-Amateur. The victory marks Bull’s first “solo” Iowa Golf Association title after winning Iowa’s Four-Ball last year.
After an opening 1-over 73, Bull was one shot behind first-round leader John Burgett of Waukee, Iowa. Burgett’s lead grew to three strokes early in the second round, but Bull remained patient. The back-and-forth truly started when Bull birdied the fifth hole.
Fast forward to the 14th hole, where Burgett holed an eagle putt to take sole position of the lead, and by three shots.
“John made eagle on No. 14, which was fantastic and then I fail to make birdie, so (once again) I am three (strokes) down,” Bull told the IGA. “I didn’t think I was out of it after he made eagle. I had good looks on Nos. 16-18 for birdie, just didn’t make any of them and he made a couple bogeys coming in.”
Bull’s final round included a pair of birdies to offset his two bogeys, which was good enough finish one ahead of Burgett and three ahead of West Des Moines’ Ryan Bishop. Bull, who shot 1-over 145 for the championship, admitted that with the cooler, windier weather in the final round, birdies would be hard to come by.
“My mindset was trying to stay patient today,” Bull said. “I drove the ball so-so early on, but didn’t make many mistakes. Scores were a little higher due to the weather. There was a little bit of wind and it was cold. But it’s nice to win one of these, I have been trying for a while.”
In the Senior Division, West Des Moines’ Bob Brooks defeated Brian Verduyn of Polk City after both players finished with a two-round score of 1-under 143. Jim Butler, of Fort Madison, claimed the super senior title by a six shots over Dave Sergeant of Fort Dodge.
Information from the Iowa Golf Association used in this reportView results for Iowa Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE Iowa Mid-Amateur
54-hole stroke play championship with Mid-Amateur
(25+), Senior (50+) and Super Senior (65+) divisions.
Eligible entries
must be amateur golfers as defined by the USGA
rules, must be a resident of the State of Iowa and
must
have reached their 25th birthday by the start of the
tournament.
View Complete Tournament Information