Anderson makes it a three-peat at Interstate
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Monday, June 04, 2007
In sports, the rarest of accomplishments is a three-peat. Simply put, winning anything three times in a row is a feat worth recognizing.
J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines pulled off his own version of the three-peat Sunday, completing a wire-to-wire victory in the 71st Interstate Amateur Championship at Two Rivers Golf Club.
Anderson birdied the final two holes, overtaking Jeff Donaldson for a three-shot triumph in Sioux City's second "major" tournament of the season. The Pocahontas native becomes the first player in the modern era to win three straight Interstate titles.
"It feels real good, but it's getting tougher every year," said the 33-year-old Wayne State College graduate. "It feels good not to have a big lead this time and hold on.
"All three wins have been from the lead, but that's always tough and I'm really proud of that."
Anderson, who opened with a 2-under 68 on Saturday, matched par with 70 on Sunday then toured the final nine in 1-under 35 for a three shot win over Jeff Donaldson. Anderson totaled 173 and Donaldson, runner-up in this event for the second straight year, shot 72-68-36--176.
Bill Mathers, a longtime educator and coach in the River Valley school system, played in the final group with Anderson and wound up tied for third with Adam Fields, Nate Barbee and Alex Kazos. Fields, a former Bishop Heelan athlete, shot the lowest final nine with a 3-under 33.
Anderson began the final nine with a one-shot advantage over Donaldson and was tested early when his tee shot on No. 1 nestled next to a tree in the right rough. He came through with an impressive punch shot to just short of the green, then got up and down for par.
Donaldson, who was also runner-up in the Tri-State Masters last month,came within one with a birdie on the short par-5 (457 yards) second. His second shot bounced just over the green, but he made a nice chip to within a couple of feet and made birdie.
Anderson had another magnificent save on the tricky par-4 No. 4. His tee shot caromed off a tree and he was faced with a low shot through some branches, but a solid 7-iron found the front edge of the green and he two-putted for par.
"I was disappointed when I got up there but excited when I saw that gap in the tree," said Anderson. "I needed something to motivate my round and get it going, so I said why not? At that point, it was just kind of ho-hum, so I needed something good to happen."
Anderson, though, gave a stroke back on the 500-yard par-5 No. 5 with a bogey when his second shot wound up on the cart path. He took a drop and his ensuing chip ran through the green and he three-putted for a six. Donaldson, meanwhile, made par and drew even.
The tournament actually swung on No. 7, a 417-yard dogleg par-4. Anderson reached the green in regulation and two-putted for par while Donaldson made bogey from the back fringe.
Then, Anderson erased any doubt by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 154-yard eighth. He followed that with a birdie four on the 510-yard ninth while Donaldson was parring both holes.
"My putts were not close all day," said Anderson. "I just choked up a little bit on my putter because it makes it feel a little better and I rolled in a good one."
It was a bittersweet finish for Donaldson, who still hasn't tasted victory on his home course.
"This is getting old isn't it," queried the former North High and Briar Cliff basketball standout. "I can't complain, though. Four years and four top three finishes. I just got beat by a better player.
"I got a little tentative at the end and you can tell he's played in enough of these to be aggressive. He came through the last three holes. I didn't play bad, but not good enough.
"I had been putting great all day. When I missed I'd hit it two or three feet by, which was telling me I was aggressive. Then, on seven, eight and nine I left them all short. As many times as you're in this position, it's still tough."
Mathers shot 72 in the first round and 1-under 69 on Sunday before matching par on the last nine with 36 for a 177 total. Fields had 72-72-33, former Dakota Valley High School star Barbee 71-71-35 and Kazos, a former Briar Cliff linkster, 71-72-34.
Former Interstate champs Bob Brummel (72-70-36) and Todd Sapp (73-71-34) tied for seventh with reigning River-Cade king Brian Schultz was ninth at 73-72-34--179 and former champion Jim Anderson 10th with 72-73-35--180.
Play was halted for nearly an hour because of rain for the second straight day.
Scores
J.D. Anderson 68-70-35--173
Jeff Donaldson 72-68-36--176
Bill Mathers 72-69-36--177
Nate Barbee 71-71-35--177
Alex Kazos 71-72-34--177
Adam Fields 72-72-33--177
Bob Brummel 72-70-36--178
Todd Sapp 73-71-34--178
Brian Schultz 73-72-34--179
Jim Anderson 72-73-34--180
Brad Newton 69-74-38--181
Vern Van Peursem 72-74-35--181
Ayron Corporon 73-72-37--182
Chris Rager 69-78-35--182
Brad Van Roekel 72-75-35--182
Al Pottebaum 76-71-35--182
Dale Erwin 70-77-37--184
Chad Anderson 75-72-37--184
Pat Schiltz 74-74-36--184
Kevin Moberg 75-73-36--184
Patrick O’Brien 71-77-38--186
Dan Freed 70-79-37--186
Bret Van Riessen 72-77-37--186
Dan Young 74-71-42--187
Larry Franzen 72-78-37--187
Kelly Schmidt 74-74-40--188
Mike Arndorfer 71-78-39--188
Derrick Sleezer 71-73-46--190
J.R. Trembly 74-76-40--190
Jim Tritz 72-77-42--191
Tom Ward 76-74-42--192
36-HOLE SCORES
Ken Slater 74-77--151
Mark Albert 75-76--151
Jamie Marksbury 74-78--152
Loren DeKruyf 75-77--152
Todd DeWeerd 75-77--152
John Mitchell 76-76--152
Jim LeMoine 76-76--152
Josh Solma 77-75--152
Steve Kruger 77-75--152
Mark Brown 77-76--153
Zach Mathers 80-73--153
Don Droke 76-78--154
Doug Smith 77-77--154
Mark Vandenberg 77-77--154
Dave Howard Jr. 77-77--154
Tim Mars 78-76--154
Al Kokenge 73-82--155
Bob Boote 75-80--155
Jerry Parkinson 79-76--155
Steve Meyer 78-78--156
Owen Gross 78-78--156
Bob DeWitt 78-78--156
Tyler Kirkholm 74-83--157
Jeff Warden 79-78--157
Bill Hornbeck 80-77--157
Paul Hyndman 82-76--158
Pat Burks 82-76--158
David Avery 76-83--159
Chad Viereck 77-82--159
Phillip Pick 80-79--159
Chad Edwards 81-78--159
Eli Ellis 79-81--160
Dan Brooks 80-80--160
M.L. Petersen 80-80--160
Roger Bobolz 82-78--160
Cody Bobolz 76-85--161
Billy Keane 81-80--161
Ray Van Buskirk 78-84--162
Mike Moody 79-83--162
Kirk Walker 80-82--162
Ran Newberg 81-81--162
Ken Fike 79-84--163
Doug Lacey 80-83--163
Dusty Hovorka 83-80--163
Trent Allen 84-80--164
Greg Cargin 81-84--165
Ryan Lux 81-85--166
Tom Berglund 85-81--166
Blake Sanderson 86-80--166
Kevin Lacey 80-87--167
Lloyd Jenness 81-86--167
Bob Viereck 83-84--167
Bret Lacey 81-88--169
Angelo James 88-86--174
Jesse Lewter 82-96--178
Ross Van Rooyan 95-84--179
Joe DeWitt 88-93--181
Scott Embrock 97-92--189
David Jacobs 84-WD
Mai Hoang 93-WD
J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines pulled off his own version of the three-peat Sunday, completing a wire-to-wire victory in the 71st Interstate Amateur Championship at Two Rivers Golf Club.
Anderson birdied the final two holes, overtaking Jeff Donaldson for a three-shot triumph in Sioux City's second "major" tournament of the season. The Pocahontas native becomes the first player in the modern era to win three straight Interstate titles.
"It feels real good, but it's getting tougher every year," said the 33-year-old Wayne State College graduate. "It feels good not to have a big lead this time and hold on.
"All three wins have been from the lead, but that's always tough and I'm really proud of that."
Anderson, who opened with a 2-under 68 on Saturday, matched par with 70 on Sunday then toured the final nine in 1-under 35 for a three shot win over Jeff Donaldson. Anderson totaled 173 and Donaldson, runner-up in this event for the second straight year, shot 72-68-36--176.
Bill Mathers, a longtime educator and coach in the River Valley school system, played in the final group with Anderson and wound up tied for third with Adam Fields, Nate Barbee and Alex Kazos. Fields, a former Bishop Heelan athlete, shot the lowest final nine with a 3-under 33.
Anderson began the final nine with a one-shot advantage over Donaldson and was tested early when his tee shot on No. 1 nestled next to a tree in the right rough. He came through with an impressive punch shot to just short of the green, then got up and down for par.
Donaldson, who was also runner-up in the Tri-State Masters last month,came within one with a birdie on the short par-5 (457 yards) second. His second shot bounced just over the green, but he made a nice chip to within a couple of feet and made birdie.
Anderson had another magnificent save on the tricky par-4 No. 4. His tee shot caromed off a tree and he was faced with a low shot through some branches, but a solid 7-iron found the front edge of the green and he two-putted for par.
"I was disappointed when I got up there but excited when I saw that gap in the tree," said Anderson. "I needed something to motivate my round and get it going, so I said why not? At that point, it was just kind of ho-hum, so I needed something good to happen."
Anderson, though, gave a stroke back on the 500-yard par-5 No. 5 with a bogey when his second shot wound up on the cart path. He took a drop and his ensuing chip ran through the green and he three-putted for a six. Donaldson, meanwhile, made par and drew even.
The tournament actually swung on No. 7, a 417-yard dogleg par-4. Anderson reached the green in regulation and two-putted for par while Donaldson made bogey from the back fringe.
Then, Anderson erased any doubt by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 154-yard eighth. He followed that with a birdie four on the 510-yard ninth while Donaldson was parring both holes.
"My putts were not close all day," said Anderson. "I just choked up a little bit on my putter because it makes it feel a little better and I rolled in a good one."
It was a bittersweet finish for Donaldson, who still hasn't tasted victory on his home course.
"This is getting old isn't it," queried the former North High and Briar Cliff basketball standout. "I can't complain, though. Four years and four top three finishes. I just got beat by a better player.
"I got a little tentative at the end and you can tell he's played in enough of these to be aggressive. He came through the last three holes. I didn't play bad, but not good enough.
"I had been putting great all day. When I missed I'd hit it two or three feet by, which was telling me I was aggressive. Then, on seven, eight and nine I left them all short. As many times as you're in this position, it's still tough."
Mathers shot 72 in the first round and 1-under 69 on Sunday before matching par on the last nine with 36 for a 177 total. Fields had 72-72-33, former Dakota Valley High School star Barbee 71-71-35 and Kazos, a former Briar Cliff linkster, 71-72-34.
Former Interstate champs Bob Brummel (72-70-36) and Todd Sapp (73-71-34) tied for seventh with reigning River-Cade king Brian Schultz was ninth at 73-72-34--179 and former champion Jim Anderson 10th with 72-73-35--180.
Play was halted for nearly an hour because of rain for the second straight day.
Scores
J.D. Anderson 68-70-35--173
Jeff Donaldson 72-68-36--176
Bill Mathers 72-69-36--177
Nate Barbee 71-71-35--177
Alex Kazos 71-72-34--177
Adam Fields 72-72-33--177
Bob Brummel 72-70-36--178
Todd Sapp 73-71-34--178
Brian Schultz 73-72-34--179
Jim Anderson 72-73-34--180
Brad Newton 69-74-38--181
Vern Van Peursem 72-74-35--181
Ayron Corporon 73-72-37--182
Chris Rager 69-78-35--182
Brad Van Roekel 72-75-35--182
Al Pottebaum 76-71-35--182
Dale Erwin 70-77-37--184
Chad Anderson 75-72-37--184
Pat Schiltz 74-74-36--184
Kevin Moberg 75-73-36--184
Patrick O’Brien 71-77-38--186
Dan Freed 70-79-37--186
Bret Van Riessen 72-77-37--186
Dan Young 74-71-42--187
Larry Franzen 72-78-37--187
Kelly Schmidt 74-74-40--188
Mike Arndorfer 71-78-39--188
Derrick Sleezer 71-73-46--190
J.R. Trembly 74-76-40--190
Jim Tritz 72-77-42--191
Tom Ward 76-74-42--192
36-HOLE SCORES
Ken Slater 74-77--151
Mark Albert 75-76--151
Jamie Marksbury 74-78--152
Loren DeKruyf 75-77--152
Todd DeWeerd 75-77--152
John Mitchell 76-76--152
Jim LeMoine 76-76--152
Josh Solma 77-75--152
Steve Kruger 77-75--152
Mark Brown 77-76--153
Zach Mathers 80-73--153
Don Droke 76-78--154
Doug Smith 77-77--154
Mark Vandenberg 77-77--154
Dave Howard Jr. 77-77--154
Tim Mars 78-76--154
Al Kokenge 73-82--155
Bob Boote 75-80--155
Jerry Parkinson 79-76--155
Steve Meyer 78-78--156
Owen Gross 78-78--156
Bob DeWitt 78-78--156
Tyler Kirkholm 74-83--157
Jeff Warden 79-78--157
Bill Hornbeck 80-77--157
Paul Hyndman 82-76--158
Pat Burks 82-76--158
David Avery 76-83--159
Chad Viereck 77-82--159
Phillip Pick 80-79--159
Chad Edwards 81-78--159
Eli Ellis 79-81--160
Dan Brooks 80-80--160
M.L. Petersen 80-80--160
Roger Bobolz 82-78--160
Cody Bobolz 76-85--161
Billy Keane 81-80--161
Ray Van Buskirk 78-84--162
Mike Moody 79-83--162
Kirk Walker 80-82--162
Ran Newberg 81-81--162
Ken Fike 79-84--163
Doug Lacey 80-83--163
Dusty Hovorka 83-80--163
Trent Allen 84-80--164
Greg Cargin 81-84--165
Ryan Lux 81-85--166
Tom Berglund 85-81--166
Blake Sanderson 86-80--166
Kevin Lacey 80-87--167
Lloyd Jenness 81-86--167
Bob Viereck 83-84--167
Bret Lacey 81-88--169
Angelo James 88-86--174
Jesse Lewter 82-96--178
Ross Van Rooyan 95-84--179
Joe DeWitt 88-93--181
Scott Embrock 97-92--189
David Jacobs 84-WD
Mai Hoang 93-WD
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
