McCoy, Brown, Gaer take home 2024 IGA Men’s Player of the Year honors
Ankeny’s very own Nate McCoy has not only left his name on several trophies, but also in the record books as being named IGA Men’s Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.
McCoy racked up three wins, three top five finishes, a top 10 finish in 2024.
McCoy started the season finishing runner-up at the 39th IGA Mid-Amateur Championship, at Bos Landen GC, Pella, carding a three day score of 212 (-4).
Along the way McCoy also finished in the Round of 16 at the 36th IGA Match Play Championship, at Talons Golf, Ankeny.
Two of his wins came from Additional Point Events on the IGA schedule.
McCoy took home the victory at the Fort Dodge Amateur shooting an impressive 63 (-8). Along with the Briarwood Amateur carding 138 (-6).
McCoy placed 2nd at the Lake Creek Amateur shooting 142 (-2), and T3 at The Classic, at Elmwood Coutnry Club, with 78 Stableford points. In the 87th Iowa Masters McCoy finished 7th carding 213 (-3).
His peak summer highlight was taking home the victory at the 122nd Iowa Amateur, contested at Finkbine GC, Iowa City. A win that would qualify him for the 2024 U.S. Amateur. McCoy carded two eagles on the back nine of the final round to shoot 204 (-12) for the three days.
This was the first year the winner from the Iowa Amateur would receive an exemption into the U.S. Amateur contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn. Nate posted squalifying rounds of 142 (E) total.
He would then be forced to a 14 man playoff for 11 spots to make it to match play. McCoy capitalized with a par on the opening hole to advance. He would eventually lose in the Round of 64 to Paul Chang 5&4.
McCoy has reached yet another milestone for his Iowa golf career. He continues to demonstrate what it takes to be one of the best competitors in the Iowa golf circuit.
Jon Brown, of Adel, a two time IGA Men’s Player of the Year, is now an IGA Senior Men’s Player of the year. He had yet another outstanding season, capping off the year with three wins, four top fives, Round of 16 at the IGA Senior Match Play and qualified for a pair of USGA events.
Brown further solidified the standings late August when he made a run in the 69th U.S. Senior Amateur, contested at The Honors Course, in Ooltewah, Tenn. Seeded 9th after qualifying, Brown made it through two rounds of match play. In the Round of 16 Brown lost his first four holes, but fought till the end before falling in the match 3&2.
Brown also qualified for the 9th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball held at Philadelphia Cricket Club, Flourtown, Pa. Brown and partner Jon Olson shot a 135 (-7). This put Brown and Olson in an eleven team playoff for six spots, the two ended up falling just short on the second playoff hole.
Brown’s summer in 2024 started off hot at the 28th IGA Four-Ball Championship, contested at Elmwood CC, Marshalltown with partner Gene Elliott. The pair shot a two day score of 133 (-6) and finished T4.
From there he went on a tear taking back-to-back wins at the 39th Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship at Bos Landen, Pella, carding a three round total of 215 (-1), followed by the 46th Iowa Senior Amateur Championship, held at Bent Tree Golf Club shooting 217 (+1).
Brown, a four time Iowa Masters Open Division champion, took home the 87th Iowa Masters this time in the Senior Division. Brown recorded a three day total of 209 (-7).
The impressive golf did not stop there, in the 75th Herman Sani Tournament, at Echo Valley Country Club, Norwalk he earned a runner-up finish carding a 217 (+1). Brown also played in the Northwest Amateur, at Spencer G&CC, Spencer where he placed third with a 141 (-3) in the Senior Division, along with 17th place carding a 284 (-4) in the Championship Flight.
His season came to a close at the IGA Senior Four-Ball Match, held at Elmwood CC. Partnered with Gene Elliot the pair managed to finish T3 carding a two day total of 137 (-3).
Jon Brown has always been a solid player throughout Iowa tournaments, after the 2024 season this just proved he still has what it takes to be at the top of the leaderboard.
Des Moines’ Dave Gaer who finished runner-up in 2023, is the 2024 IGA Super Senior Men’s Player of the year. Gaer did not stop at go and collect, he instead kept his foot on the gas all season long.
Gaer had four wins, a trio of runner-up finishes and was a semifinalist at the IGA Senior Match Play in 2024.
Gaer started out the summer firing on all cylinders finishing runner-up at the 39th Iowa Mid-Amateur Championship at Bos Landen GC, Pella 228 (+12). Later he would travel to Council Bluffs for the 46th Iowa Senior Amateur Championship at Bent Tree GC, to pick up his first win shooting 222 (+6).
Soon after that Gaer would collect his next two wins at the Fort Dodge Amateur, which a score of 71 (E).
A month later he would travel to Ames for the 87th Masters, at Veenker Memorial GC. Gaer won by an stagoring 13 shots 222 (+6) over last year’s Super Senior Player of the Year Bob Brooks.
Gaer fell short of capping off back-to-back victories at the Northwest Iowa Amateur, finishing 5th carding 148 (+4).
He would keep all this momentum headed into the final three events.
Gaer would take home the victory at the 75th Herman Sani contested at Echo Valley CC, shooting 215 (-1). He then placed runner-up at the Classic at Elmwood CC, with 60 stableford points. Gaer closed out the season to a thrilling 20 hole match coming up just short and losing to Tom Norton in the semi-finals of the 22nd Senior Match Play.
Gaer absolutely put the hammer down during the 2024 season and it is well-deserving for his first IGA Super Senior Player of the Year honor.
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