For the second consecutive year and fourth time overall, Doyle emerged victorious as the men’s open division champion at the 45th annual Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota regional golf tournament on Sunday.

Doyle held off a hard-charging Cody Jaeschke to secure the title on a perfect evening at the Fort Dodge Country Club. Kevin Roberts (men’s senior), Craig Patterson (men’s super senior), Rick Jones (men’s legends), Samantha Pingel (women’s) and Peg Christensen and Kathy Fortune (women’s two-player) joined Doyle in the winner’s circle for the event, presented by The Messenger.

The case of deja vu from a year ago didn’t end there. Doyle and his long-time girlfriend, Morgan Border, recently announced they are expecting their second child — a boy — this coming December. Last summer, Border was pregnant with their daughter, Penelope, when Doyle grabbed gold.

“I just knew I had to keep making birdies (in the championship nine) and hope it was enough to get across the finish line,” said the 2014 St. Edmond graduate, who also won titles here in 2017 and ’22. “I chipped really well all weekend and putted solid. Even though I was fighting my swing, (the short game) neutralized that.

Submitted photo: Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota regional golf tournament two-player women's best shot champions Kathy Fortune and Peg Christensen.

“We had fun and it feels good to win it. Kole (Petersen) and Austin (Morrow) are both great players, and so is Cody. He really had me scrambling late because he made a couple of long putts (on holes 6 and 7) and was right there, too. It’s never easy. You have to earn it.”

Doyle flanked his four-under par 68 at Lakeside on Saturday with a two-over 73 earlier on Sunday at the FDCC. A booming drive and a short chip to three feet for a quick birdie on the first hole got the ball rolling in the championship round, and Jaeschke, Petersen and Morrow were forced to play catch up the rest of the way.

Doyle finished at three-under par 175 — again, the exact score he posted a year ago. Jaeschke closed at two under for the 45-hole tourney, Petersen even, and Morrow two over.

Cory Cummins and Brad Baade tied for fifth.

Roberts built a commanding lead by early Sunday, then put the finishing touches on his second consecutive title as well on the senior side.

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Austin Morrow hits a tee shot on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

“Don’t let up,” said Roberts, who took his third senior crown overall since 2020. “Stay aggressive. That’s always the gameplan. I tried to back my way into a win here a few years ago, and it didn’t work out. I learned my lesson about keeping the pedal to the metal.

“When you get into the (final nine), you’re re-paired with a different group than you’ve played with all weekend and you really have to prove your worth.”

Roberts fired rounds of one-under 71 at Lakeside and one-over 72 at the FDCC to set the stage for an anti-climactic victory lap in the championship round. He carded an even-par 35 for good measure, winning by14 strokes over two-time tourney champ Ryan Reeder and multi-time runner-up Kevin Conrad.

“This is an outstanding event,” said Roberts, who is from Missouri and owns Dent Masters located at Al’s Auto Repair in Fort Dodge during the summer months. “I’m just very thankful for the work Fort Dodge Ford and The Messenger put into making it happen. There are a lot of great people in this community, and so many good golfers who compete in it year in and year out.”

Patterson played “the best I ever have” in running away with another super senior gold — like Roberts, by 14 shots. The long-time Fort Dodge realtor turned in rounds of 73, 72 and 34 to close at one-over par total. Jon Kern was a distant second.

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Ryan Reeder tees off at the 9th hole on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

“Everything was working for me,” said Patterson, who repeated in the super senior bracket. “I actually played a little more conservative and just managed the course. It kept me out of trouble and away from any big numbers.

“I focused on being smart with my strategy and not worrying too much about where I stood or what kind of lead I had to try and protect.”

The 73-year-old Jones had a 78 and an 85 to top Greg Halverson by three strokes. Jim Dalton was third.

“I didn’t have a great round (Sunday at the FDCC) and seemed to lip out a lot of putts,” Jones said. “My goal (with a slim lead after Saturday’s competition) was to just go play and not worry about where everyone else.

“It wasn’t perfect, but fortunately, it all worked out in the end.”

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Kevin Conrad rolls a putt on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

Kuhn fired a 79 at the Country Club on Saturday for the second women’s championship of her career and first in six years.

“I struggled a little with my putter and had five three-putts, but overall, I’m definitely happy with a 79,” Kuhn said. “My goal is to always be as close to par as possible and go from there. I hit my driver well and stayed out of trouble.”

Peg Christensen and Kathy Fortune teamed for an even-par 71 on Saturday to clinch the women’s two-player best shot title over defending champs Roxanne Kuhlman and Dianne Krebs (76).

FORT DODGE FORD LINCOLN TOYOTA REGIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

(Par 72-71-35–178)

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Kevin Roberts putts on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

Men’s Open Division

1. Eddie Doyle, 68-73-34–175; 2. Cody Jaeschke, 70-72-34–176; 3. Kole Petersen, 72-70-36–178; 4. Austin Morrow, 70-72-38–180; 5. Brad Baade, 71-75-36–182; (tie) Cory Cummins, 72-73-37–182; 7. Shane Lee, 72-76-37–185; 8. Cole Jaeschke, 78-70-41–189; 9. William Schultz, 76-76-42–194; 10. Joshua Gollob, 80-77-38–195.

Men’s Senior Division

1. Kevin Roberts, 71-72-35–178; 2. Ryan Reeder, 74-77-41–192; (tie) Kevin Conrad, 72-77-43–192; 4. Randy Stults, 78-82-38–198; 5. Don Sawyer, 79-80-43–202.

Men’s Super Senior Division

1. Craig Patterson, 73-72-34–179; 2. Jon Kern, 74-77-42–193; 3. Rick Pingel, 74-81-41–196; 5. Ted Camamo, 74-83-45–202.

Men’s Legends Division

1. Rick Jones, 78-85–163; 2. Greg Halverson, 79-87–166; 3. Jim Dalton, 80-88–168.

Women’s Two-Player

1. Peg Christensen and Kathy Fortune, 71; 2. Roxanne Kuhlman and Dianne Krebs, 76; 3. Janelle Groteluschen and Brenda Hebert, 81.

Flight Winners

Men’s First — 1. Jared Gross, 162; 2. Aaron Brown, 163; 3. Brady Dixon, 164.

Men’s Second — 1. Kyle Kopp, 183; (tie) Kirt Nekvinda, 183; 2. Cody Ely, 188; (tie) Ryan Agnitsch, 188.

Men’s Senior — 1. Tony Trotter, 162; 2. Ron Cummins, 166; (tie) Frank Howell, 166.

Men’s Super Senior — 1. Brian Pingel, 164; 2. Doug Barkema, 173; 3. Daryl Short, 175.

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Eddie Doyle rolls in a short birdie putt on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Kole Petersen hits a tee shot on Sunday at the 3rd hole of the Fort Dodge Country Club

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Cody Jaeschke hits a tee shot at the 2nd hole on Sunday at the Fort Dodge Country Club.