Experience pays off for Dennis Bull at the 118th Iowa Amateur

Mid-am Dennis Bull felt comfortable from the get-go at the 118th Iowa Amateur Championship this week. “Coming into this week I had been playing really well,” Bull told the Iowa Golf Association. “Honestly I hit it awesome this week. I really had control of the ball and drove it well all three days.” That was until Wednesday’s final round where Bull self-admittedly felt shaky with the flat stick. “Today, I hate to admit it, but I was nervous with the putter most of the day,” he said. “I had a lot of opportunities but didn’t make any of them, other than a par putt on No. 5… I was really happy with the way I played today.” As he built a five-shot cushion over the first two rounds of the championship with an opening 5-under 65 and a 1-under 69, Bull knew the rest of his game could carry him through the final 18. Coasting through the front side at 1-under, Bull faltered slightly with a bogey on No. 10. Gaining the dropped stroke back on the par-5 13th, he fell stagnant on the day once again with a bogey on the 14th. “Obviously someone is going to make a run,” Bull said following his closing 69. “I just tried to stay patient and hit greens. I tried not to make mistakes coming in. There are some pins out here you just can’t go at.” The Norwalk, Iowa native not only carried his overnight lead to a championship win, but he built off of it, winning by six shots. Finishing runner-up as the only other competitor under-par was 2020 Iowa Golf Association Match Play winner Connor Peck. Peck, a University of Kansas senior, closed out the tournament with an even-par 70 for a 209 (-1) total. Bull used past experiences to take home the IGA Amateur as he worked at Davenport Country Club as a cart attendant in exchange for playing privileges. “I have played here (at DCC) 15-20 times here prior to this event,” Bull said. “I worked the cart barn out here one or two nights a week (several years ago), so I could play out here.” Griffin Parker (Northern Iowa) and Trent Lindenman tied for third at 1-over-par.