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Wuertz is the IGA Match Play Champion
June 25-28 at Sunnyside Country Club, Waterloo
Michael Wuertz (L) and Denny Bull walk off the final green after Wuertz scored a 1 up win in the final match.
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It took them all 18 holes to decide it and in the end, Michael Wuertz came out on top. Wuertz, of Davenport, faced Dennis Bull of West Des Moines in the finals of the 24th IGA Match Play Championship Thursday afternoon at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo. In a match that was close throughout, Wuertz won the 17th hole to go 1 up and then a par at 18 gave him his first individual IGA title.
Wuertz advanced to the finals by winning another match that went down to the wire. In his semifinal with Ben Juffer he scored a 1 up victory as well. Meanwhile, Bull got off to a hot start in his semifinal match with Nate Dunn and cruised to the win. Birdies on the first three holes put him 3 up and he managed to hold on to the momentum, scoring a 6&5 win.
Even though this is his first individual IGA title, Wuertz is not a stranger to winning IGA events. He partnered with Nate McCoy to win the 2010 and 2011 IGA Four-Ball Championships. He also came close to winning an Iowa Amateur, losing in a playoff in 2008 at Davenport CC to Mike Oimoen.
Bracket w/Starting Times | Stroke Play Qualifying Results | Photo Gallery
Day Three Recap
It's down to four. The semifinalists for the 24th IGA Match Play Championship, being contested at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo, are Denny Bull of West Des Moines, Nate Dunn of Hiawatha, Michael Wuertz of Davenport and Ben Juffer of West Des Moines. All four survived two more matches on Wednesday with the afternoon quarterfinals being contested in mid-90 temperatures.
Dunn has made the quickest work of his opponents. In fact, he hasn't even played holes 16, 17 & 18 since Monday's qualifying round. He defeated Devin Leland 5&4 in the morning round of 16 and then took out Sunnyside member Michael Schuchmann 6&5 in the afternoon. He scored a 4&3 win in round one and a 6&4 win in round two.
Dunn now faces Denny Bull, who took out defending champion Jon Olson the second round. Bull had a pair of hard fought 2&1 matches on Wednesday, ousting Ben Peters of Bettendorf in the morning and then Josh Black of Oelwein.
Like Bull, Wuertz had two close matches on Wednesday. He scored a narrow 1 up victory against Dusty Stewart of Ottumwa and then a 2&1 win against Nate Steege of Cedar Falls in the afternoon. Wuertz just completed his senior year at Colorado State and will face another collegian in the second semifinal.
18 holes wasn't enough to decide it between Juffer, who plays at Kansas State, and Terry Cook of Johnston. Juffer finally ended things with a birdie on the 20th hole. The match featured some fireworks on the 17th hole, a long par-3. Cook, who had the honor, stuffed his tee shot to the 205 yard hole four feet away. Juffer then nearly made an ace as his ball rolled just past the cup, stopping just inches away. Cook conceded the birdie and then calmly drained his putt keeping the match all square heading to the 18th.
Click the links below to view the entire bracket with starting times as well as stroke play qualifying results.
IGA Women's Match Play Championship
Kelly Nelson of Waterloo (L) defeated Julie Bush in the finals of the IGA Women's Match Play
Kelly Nelson is the champion of the first ever IGA Women's Match Play. Nelson, of Waterloo, defeated Julie Bush of Cedar Rapids 3&1 in the final match. Nelson earned her way to the finals by ousting medalist Katelynn Hogensen of Ames 4&3 in the morning semifinals. Bush defeated Carroll Dethrow of Ames 3&2 in her semifinal match.
Bracket | Stroke Play Qualifying Results | Photo Gallery
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