Steffen makes Sunday charge, wins 72nd Herman Sani Tournament

 

 

He did it again.

 

Zach Steffen, of Des Moines, is now the owner of two (2018, 2021) Herman Sani Championships, both times his success has come at Hyperion Field Club. This year finishing at 18-under-par. Steffen fired rounds of 63, 71 and 64 and stayed one shot ahead of Iowa State University graduate, Tripp Kinney.

 

“I looked at the leaderboard on number seven and saw that the guys ahead of me were playing well,” Steffen said. “I knew I had to step on the pedal a little and keep making birdies. I would check it periodically and I looked on 16 tee and saw that I only had a one-shot lead. I was able to make a birdie on 17 and I knew par on 18 would get it done.”

 

Steffen’s second round score of 71 set him back a little, but he knew he could fire another low round on Sunday. With help from his first round of 63, Steffen was able to stay two shots off the lead following Saturday’s play.

 

“It is always hard to follow up a round of 63, like I had during Friday’s round,” Steffen said. “I lost my swing a little bit there, but I was able to find it last night and saw my swing on video and was able to see where I got off.”

 

Kinney’s runner-up place finish was nothing short of remarkable. Hunting pins seemed to be Kinney’s motto for the tournament. After 54-holes, Kinney only recorded three bogeys and filled the score card with 20 birdies.

 

 

Finishing in a tie for third with a final score of 14-under, Lachlan Barker (above) claimed the low-amateur honor this week after a three-player playoff. Barker, a fifth-year player at Iowa State, carded rounds of 64, 71 and 67 and was just four shots off the lead.

 

Anthony Ruthey, of Port Byron, also finished in a tie for third, but couldn’t save par on the first playoff hole. It came down to New Sharon’s Trent Lindenman and Barker for the low-amateur trophy. Barker stuck it close ,but missed his birdie putt on the second playoff hole. Lindenman had a chance to send it to extra holes but missed his parr putt.

 

 

There was a battle in the Senior Division between Jay Gregory (above), of Lineville, and Joe Palmer, of Norwalk. The. The two competitors ended up in a playoff and Gregory was able to win it on the first hole. Palmer, who has had one of his best seasons, could not get it going during his back nine.

 

Palmer started his day at five-under through his first eight holes, but two bogeys and two doubles placed him in a playoff with Gregory. Gregory continued to fight and made pars down the stretch to put himself in a position to win. The two battled, but Gregory came out with the victory.

 

 

A first-time winner, Bill Tank (above) of Bettendorf, took the Super Senior Division. Tank shot rounds of 74, 75 and 72 and won the playoff over Jim Madsen. Tank’s tee shot on the first playoff hole went left, but he stayed focused and was able to tie the hole.

 

“I actually gave myself a putt to win the match after that tee shot, but it didn’t go in,” Tank said. “I was able to win on the next hole after a good chip.”

 

Playoff matches in three of the four divisions means there was good golf being played. Zach Steffen, Lachlan Barker, Jay Gregory and Bill Tank will place their names in the rich history of this tournament.

 

Open Division (Overall)
1. Zach Steffen (p) 63-71-64-198
2. Tripp Kinney (p) 67-68-64-199
T3. Lachlan Barker 64-71-67-202*
T3. Anthony Ruthey 67-68-67-202
T3. Trent Lindenman 67-68-67-202
T3. Andrew Petersen (p) 65-67-70-202

 

*Won the playoff for the Low-Amateur

 

 

Senior Amateur Division
1. Jay Gregory 72-69-71-212*
2. Joe Palmer 68-71-73-212
3. Curtis Holck 75-69-69-213
4. Mike Gaul 73-68-75-216
T5. Bret Taylor 76-72-71-219
T5. Ron Peters 73-71-75-219

 

*Won the playoff

 

Super Senior Amateur Division
1. Bill Tank 74-75-72-221*
2. Jim Madsen 74-75-72-221
3. Pat Ryan 77-71-75-223
4. Scott Hornstein 76-75-75-226
5. Rob Christensen 76-75-76-227

 

*Won the playoff