Joe Palmer holds off Gene Elliott for win at Iowa Senior Amateur
8/26/2015 | by Iowa Golf Association
see also: View results for Iowa Senior Amateur, Coldwater Golf Links
Palmer's final-round 66 was best during a wire-to-wire finish against the defending champion
ANKENY, Iowa — It was a clash of two of Iowa’s top senior amateurs.
Joe Palmer and Gene Elliott put on a show at the 37th Iowa Senior Amateur at Otter Creek in the final round of play.
Down to the wire, neither would give an inch.
Elliott, of West Des Moines, entered the final day with a one-shot advantage over Palmer.
But birdies on #3, 4 and 6 would give Palmer a two-shot lead heading into the back nine on Wednesday.
Down, but not out, Elliott responded with a flurry of birdies of his own on four consecutive holes (#12-15), to grab a one-shot lead with just three holes left. Elliott’s birdie on #15 followed Palmer’s own deuce on the hole.
“The hole looked like a bucket to him,” Palmer said.
Once again Palmer would respond. A birdie on the 17th hole would bring him into a tie for the lead with one hole remaining.
A two-putt par on the final hole, after Elliott was unable to get up and down for a par of his own from the front-right bunker, gave Palmer a three-day total of 205 (-8) and the title he won as a ‘rookie’ in 2013.
“I hope we can battle for a lot more years,” Palmer said of his duel with Elliott for the Iowa Senior Amateur crown.
In the Super Senior Division (65 years and older), Urbandale’s Tom Sandie claimed a one-stroke victory over Bob Johnson, also of Urbandale. Sandie birdied the 18th hole to claim the Super Senior title. Sandie’s 71 in the final round matched his age, which he bettered in the second round with a 70 (-1). Sandie finished the tournament with a three-day total of 214 (+1).
About the Iowa Senior Amateur
Must be an active Iowa Golf Association member and maintain a residence in Iowa. 54-hole stroke play tournament with Championship (ages 50+) and Super Senior (ages 65+) divisions.
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