×

On the green

—Messenger file photo Eddie Doyle competes at last year’s Fort Dodge Amateur. Doyle finished as runner up to Grant Smith. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

After a one-year July trial run, the Fort Dodge Amateur men’s golf tournament returns to its tried and true third week in June time slot beginning with Friday’s opening round.

The 69th annual event, one of the state’s oldest and most tradition-rich Iowa Golf Association point competitions, will welcome nearly 100 players to the Fort Dodge Country Club this weekend. A number of them are familiar faces on the area golf scene, including 2015 FD Am champion J.D. Anderson — formerly of Pocahontas — and ’16 runner-up Eddie Doyle, a St. Edmond graduate.

While defending titleists Grant Smith (open) and Joe Bates (senior) aren’t in the field as of Thursday, the pairings are still rich with talent. Five players who have claimed a total of seven senior titles since 2009 — Joe Palmer of West Des Moines (2014 and ’15), Mason City’s Joel Yunek (2012 and ’13), Bill Manske of Algona (2011), Dave Sergeant of Fort Dodge (2010), and Gowrie’s Tom Schill (2009) — are signed up and ready for action.

Doyle, who carded a six-under par 207 a year ago to finish one stroke behind Johnston’s Grant Smith in the open race, currently plays for the University of Tampa. He is a former Gael and Kirkwood standout.

Doyle is paired with his younger brother, Charlie — a former state runner-up for St. Edmond.

Recently-christened Briggs Woods Amateur champ Alec Fuhs of Webster City is expected to be in the hunt, along with his twin brother, Avery. The current DMACC team members are in the same foursome on Friday and Saturday.

Iowa Central’s Wesley Buntenbach, Derek Damman and Court Bates are on the tee with ex-Fort Dodge Dodger and Triton player Thomas Hartley. Buntenbach, Damman and Bates were a member of the national-qualifying ICCC squad this past spring.

Former city golf champions Lucas Peed, Austin Morrow, Terry Miller and Tony Malizia are entered as well.

The first two 18-hole rounds on Friday and Saturday will set up Sunday’s championship competition. Pleasant weather is expected, with highs in the 70s all three days and very little chance of rain.

Joe Brown of Des Moines captured the first FD Am crown in 1948. The senior division is in its 22nd year, with Sergeant and Yunek — a 1972 Lake City High School graduate — leading the way with four titles a piece.

The Country Club is a par 35-36–71 layout.

FD AM TEE TIMES

Friday Morning (No. 1)

7:30 a.m. — Charlie Doyle, Eddie Doyle, Cody Jaeschke, Trenton Sann.

8 a.m. — Dave Henry, Scott Henry, Alec Fuhs, Avery Fuhs.

8:20 a.m. — Jay Hickman, Kerry Shannon, Noah Miller, David Pratt.

8:50 a.m. — Steve Smith, Bill Manske.

9 a.m. — Thomas Hartley, Court Bates, Wesley Buntenbach, Derek Damman.

9:30 a.m. — Randy Studer, Charlie Taylor, James Blackburn, Del Harken.

Friday Morning (No. 10)

8 a.m. — Connor Chesky, James Calkins, J.D. Anderson.

8:30 a.m. — Brandon Russell, Cody Holck, Jake Lee Beck, Matt McAleer.

9 a.m. — Doug Rhodes, Lee Sullivan, Steve Wermerskirhen.

9:30 a.m. — Ned Palmer, Terry Miller, Rob Dickerman.

Friday Afternoon (No. 1)

12:30 p.m. — Joe Palmer, Terry Cook, David Studer, Bret Taylor.

12:40 p.m. — Tom Schill, Dave Sergeant, Ron Peterson, Tim Taylor.

1:10 p.m. — Bruce Greiner, Jay Slings, Rod Peterson.

1:40 p.m. — Ben Krapfl, Matthew Junge, Austin Morrow.

1:50 p.m. — Kevin Hinz, Thomas Lehmkuhl, Richard Jones, Terry Krapfl.

2:20 p.m. — Dave Gaer, Joel Yunek, Brian Fell.

2:30 p.m. — Ryan Reeder, Lucas Peed, Scot Knudsen, Johnny Jensen.

Friday Afternoon (No. 10)

12:30 p.m. — Ryan Banwart, Nick Owen, Brad Mickelson, Tyler Wierson.

12:50 p.m. — Matt Dominick, Brad Emick, Mike Worthington, William Vanderpool.

1:10 p.m. — Ben Dooley, Dylan Hanson, John Siela, Ryan Horner.

1:50 p.m. — Mark Urbanek, Joe Urbanek, Scott Morgensen.

2 p.m. — Dean Wendell, Tony Malazia, Rob Christensen, Mike Mumma.

2:10 p.m. — Matthew Pitts, Austin Winchell, Noah Wilkening, Alex Shattuck.

2:20 p.m. — Willis Gaer, Jack Ohringer, Keegan Goodwin.

2:30 p.m. — Ethan Mechling, Kirk Macumber, Jared Gillespie, Jordan Eng.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today