Name: James  Dickerson
College/University: University of Iowa
Year Turned Pro: 1991
Facility and Job Title: University of Iowa,Finkbine Golf Course, A-6 Teaching Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I love golf and I love to teach golf. Being a PGA Professional only legitimized my ability and desire.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Teaching

What was your greatest moment in golf?
To date, teaching a paraplegic to use an adaptive golf cart and to play golf, successfully playing and scoring bogey, double bogey golf.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My wife Lyra. She understands my passion for golf and lets me pursue that passion, teaching and playing.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Reading and gardening.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
St. Andrews, Scotland with Paige, Leigh and Jamie, our daughters.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
It would be to injured and disabled veterans. Play the game for what it is – a game to improve your personal best.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
The one I use the most is to keep your head behind the ball.

The Iowa PGA would like to thank Andrew Stoterau, Head PGA Professional at TPC Deere Run and John Panek, Head PGA Professional, at Davenport Country Club for hosting this event.  Special thanks to the Genesis Foundation for their support of the Iowa PGA Section tournament program.

Click HERE to view results for this event.

The 2010 Iowa PGA Senior Professional Championship is being held August 26th & 27th at Hyperion Field Club in Johnston, Iowa.  The low five (5) will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Professional National Championship which will be held October 7-10, 2010 at Toscana Country Club & Rancho La Quinta Country Club, in Indian Wells and La Quinta, Calif.  Twenty-two Iowa PGA senior professionals are competing in this event which is the premier senior event on the Iowa PGA senior schedule this year.

The Iowa PGA would like to thank Ross deBuhr, head PGA Professional and the entire staff and members at Hyperion Field Club for hosting this Major Senior Championship.  Also, special thanks to the PGA Tour, supporting sponsor, of this event.

Click HERE for event leaderboard.

Zack Vervaecke of Grimes is shown with Roger McCarty, CEO of Brokers International Ltd. Vervaecke received a trophy and a check for $7,000 for his score of 11-under-par in the Brokers International Ltd. Iowa Open held at Lake Panorama National

By Susan Thompson, Publicity Coordinator

The annual tournament that brings Iowa’s top professional and amateur golfers together was held Aug. 20-22 at Lake Panorama National (LPN) near Panora. The Brokers International Ltd. Iowa Open drew 108 players to the course that previously hosted the tournament from 1985 to 1998.

Zack Vervaecke of Grimes, head golf professional at Jester Park Golf Course near Granger, won the tournament with a three-day total of 205. Vervaecke shot 66 the first and third days, with a 73 the second day. He earned a $7,000 check for the win.

Vervaecke finished fifth in the 2008 Iowa Open. “I was about as nervous today as I’ve ever been playing golf,” he said, following an awards presentation on the LPN 18th green. “I’ve never been a part of anything like this. Everyone connected with the tournament – the spectators, the volunteers, the other players – has been wonderful.”

Second place went to Sean McCarty, head pro at Brown Deer Golf Club in Coralville. McCarty was two strokes behind Vervaecke, and won $4,800.

Jerry Smith, who has earned $2.3 million as a professional golfer since 1987, took home $3,000 for third place with a score of 208. He won another $1,500 with the low score of 63 in the pro-am tournament.

Luke Joy was the low amateur, finishing in a tie for sixth place with a three-day total of 210. Joy, of Dorset, England, was a member of the Drake University men’s golf team before graduating last spring.

Mark Rohde of Marshalltown won the senior division with a final score of 214, earning a $2,258 check. The addition in 2010 of a senior division was one of the new enhancements for this annual tournament.

Prize money increased significantly with Brokers International Ltd. as the title sponsor. The total purse for the open division was $37,575, with more than $7,000 awarded in the senior division.

A contract between the Iowa Section PGA and Brokers International Ltd. signed in July 2009 brings the tournament to Lake Panorama National for at least five years. The Panora insurance marketing company pledged $25,000 annually to the event.

Roger McCarty is the Brokers International Ltd. founder and CEO. He said his company is committed to making the 2011 Brokers International Ltd. Iowa Open even bigger and better. “Everyone is having so much fun with this,” McCarty said. “The Iowa Open is back where it belongs — Lake Panorama National.”

John Dinnebier, LPN general manager and director of golf, serves on the Iowa Section PGA board of directors. He said the increase in prize money enticed more players to participate in this year’s tournament.

“Last year there were about 80 players in the tournament. We are excited the Iowa Open has returned to Lake Panorama National, and grateful to Brokers International for helping us bring it here,” he said.

Dinnebier, who played in the three-day tournament in addition to handling his LPN general manager duties, finished in 15th place, just 10 strokes off the lead.

Many new things took place in 2010. One was players being introduced each morning as they teed off, and as they arrived on the 18th green during the final round. Coolers filled with fruit and water were scattered around the course for the players. Housing was available in private homes.

Two special events were held for players’ spouses – a pool party at Prairie View Bed and Breakfast and a pontoon boat ride on Lake Panorama.

Signs listing all the Iowa Open champions since the tournament began in 1927 were posted along the cart path leading to the first tee. More than 150 volunteers assisted players and spectators throughout the tournament.

LeRoy Oxley of Panora served as tournament director. “I heard lots of positive comments throughout the tournament,” Oxley said. “The pros were very complimentary of the course conditions and the help provided by the volunteers. With the increased prize money, the spectators, the whole atmosphere, they said it was like a mini-tour event.”

A pro-am tournament Aug. 19 generated plenty of interest with 31 teams competing. A “draw party” was held at Lake Panorama’s Boulder Beach, as names of 31 pros were drawn to match with the amateur teams. All pros received an appearance fee.

Besides Broker International Ltd., five additional corporate sponsors each committed $5,000 to help cover tournament expenses. Those were Allianz, American Equity, Aviva, Menadue Development, which owns The Port and Lakeside Inn on Lake Panorama, and People’s Trust and Savings Bank.

Sun Mountain Sports was the putting green sponsor and Golf TEC sponsored the driving range. Another 28 businesses paid a $200 fee or committed to in-kind contributions matching that amount to become hole sponsors.

Troy Christensen, executive director of the Iowa Section PGA, praised the LPN staff and local volunteers, calling the tournament a “phenomenal event. In my 12 years of working for the Iowa Section PGA, I’ve never seen a community come together like this to support a tournament,” he said. “Everyone here has done a wonderful job.”

The 144-player field is open to professionals and amateurs who were born in Iowa, as well as golfers with Iowa ties. Tournament director Oxley said he hopes so many players register for the 2011 tournament that qualifying rounds are needed.

From Left: Steve Haldeman, Chris Black, Barry Black, & Scott Harris

The 2010 Iowa PGA Harris Golf Cars Pro-Director was held at Davenport Country Club on Monday, August 23rd.  Special thanks to Scott Harris, Terry Harris, and Steve Haldeman for their continued support of the Iowa PGA Section.  The Iowa PGA would also like to thank John Panek, Head PGA Professional, and the members at Davenport Country Club for hosting the event.

The format for this competition was Team 1 Best Ball of 2 Net.  Each team consisted of an Iowa PGA Professional and verifiable director at the professional’s facility.  There was also an individual open and senior division for the professionals.

Click HERE for final results.

The Iowa PGA would like to thank Roger McCarty and the entire staff from Brokers International, Ltd. for their generous support of Iowa’s premier golf event.

Be sure to check back here often for new pictures.

Click Here for Tournament Information, Pairings, & Live Scoring

Click Here for Pre-Tournament Press Release

Click Here for Iowa Open Web Site

Pictures

Volunteer and Draw Party on Wednesday Evening

Pro-Am on Thursday

Tournament Pictures

The 2010 Iowa PGA Pro Lady was contested at Short Hills Country Club in East Moline on Monday, August 16th.  Eighteen teams competed with each team being comprised of one Iowa PGA professional and three female amateurs.  The format was Individual Low Pro and Team Three Person Scramble (ladies), pro played his own ball.  The team used either the professional’s score for the hole or the team score for the hole…whichever one was lower.

This event was an event on the season-long schedule of the 2010 Iowa PGA Team Challenge.  Special thanks to Scott Harris of Harris Golf Cars and Jim Hauth of SkyGolf and Greg Norman for their sponsorship.

Results

The 2010 Iowa PGA Drive, Chip & Putt Championship was held at Twin Pines Golf Course on Saturday, Aug. 14 with 87 competitors battling for the titles of Champion in their age division. All competitors receive a medal for participating in the Championship at Twin Pines. Junior golfers 17 years of age and younger were given the opportunity over the summer to participate in over 40 local qualifiers across the Iowa PGA Section. Local qualifier champions then advance to one of four regional qualifying sites. The top two regional qualifiers in each division then advanced to the finals. The overall winner in each division was crowned Champion and will be invited by the Iowa Section PGA to a University of Northern Iowa basketball game later this fall or in early 2011.  Division champions are recognized as a group on the court sometime during the game for their accomplishments.

This challenge is 3 tiered, testing the juniors driving, chipping and putting skills. A great FREE or low cost event for any junior golfer, thanks to the support of sponsors Musco Sports Lighting and Carver Hardware.  The Iowa PGA would like to thank Myers Cox Vendors for providing food and beverages for the Championship, the City of Cedar Rapids, not only for their support in providing food at the Championship, but also for their help in competition set up and administration. Special thanks to Lisa Miller, PGA Master Professional and Golf Operations Manager for the City of Cedar Rapids, Steve Charters, PGA Head Professional at Gardner Golf Course, Gary Louvar, Head PGA Professional at Twin Pines Golf Course, Dustin Miller, PGA Head Professional at Ellis Park Golf Course and Dave Roe, PGA Assistant Professional at Jones Park Golf Course.

Final Results

BOYS 9 & UNDER
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Brock	Barnhart	Cedar Rapids	57	35	22	114	Won Playoff
2	Nick	Pittman	Urbandale	57	32	25	114
3	Nathan	Petrak	Urbandale	75	15	20	110
	Noah	VanVeldhuizen	Oskaloosa	54	19	32	105
	Kyle	Feauto	Carroll	57	12	25	94
	Robbie	Porth	Waterloo	48	12	32	92
	Jack	Doyle	Asbury	57	9	19	85
	Gage	Mowry	Coal Valley	51	9	25	85
	Matt	Briggs	Burlington	48	6	27	81
	Will	Mask	Bettendorf	34	6	16	56
GIRLS 9 & UNDER
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Carlee	Frayne	Garner	48	19	40	107
2	Lauren	Rodvold	Cedar Rapids	33	6	24	63
3	Audrey	Adamson	Clive	36	6	19	61
	Anna	Gary	Cedar Rapids	36	6	16	58
	Taylor	Coester		23	9	19	51
	Emma	Mask	Bettendorf	30	6	14	50
	Isabelle	Congdon	Waterloo	20	6	19	45
BOYS 10-11
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Devon	Pyle		69	35	19	123
2	Ben	Greif	Cedar Rapids	57	25	35	117
3	Matt	Neumeyer	Cedar Rapids	40	45	27	112
	Ryan	Johnston	W Des Moines	57	12	40	109
	Nate	Burris	Cedar Falls	57	15	22	94
	Logan	Capesius	Livermore	43	22	22	87
	Joe	Krueger		29	35	14	78
	Jack	Reid	Bettendorf	29	19	27	75
	Jordan	Proehl	Urbandale	29	15	22	66
	Will	Christopherson	Bettendorf	15	22	25	62
GIRLS 10-11
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Amy	Olberding	Cedar Rapids	63	6	32	101
2	Bailee	Frayne	Garner	54	12	27	93
3	Johanna	Myers	Burlington	51	9	30	90
	Taylor	Nesselroad	Wataga	49	15	25	89
	Katy	Schmitt	New Windsor	54	6	27	87
	Cassidy	Beamer	W Des Moines	57	6	22	85
	Sydney	Eaton	Mason City	29	25	19	73
	Dakota	Frazer		42	9	16	67
	Isabelle	Ewing	Seaton	40	9	14	63
	Kara	Grossman	Clive	34	6	22	62
	Megan	VanDalen	Newton	20	6	30	56
BOYS 12-13
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Braxton	Coble	Ottumwa	63	45	19	127
2	Hunter	Nesselroad	Wataga	37	25	32	94
3	Luke	Winker	Cedar Rapids	31	19	35	85
	Zach	Corrigan	Bettendorf	33	22	20	75
	Grant	Hogan	Iowa City	34	12	27	73
	Jarod	Smith	Cedar Falls	25	6	32	63
GIRLS 12-13
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Ashley	Harris	Marshalltown	34	15	25	74
2	Bailey	Zoss	Clive	25	19	25	69
3	Emily	Schuff	Cedar Rapids	30	6	22	58
	Emma	Fox	Cedar Falls	25	6	22	53
	Jade	Hall	Marion	20	9	16	45
	Quinn	Herbst	Peosta	20	9	14	43
BOYS 14-15
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Jacob	Larkins	Burlington	48	6	35	89
2	Zack	Johnson		46	12	27	85
3	Tommy	Hosteng	Cedar Rapids	43	9	30	82
	Alex	Lybarger	Marshalltown	37	12	32	81
	Gavin	Williams	Waterloo	30	9	40	79
	Logan	Floyd	Indianola	26	22	22	70
GIRLS 14-15
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	M.J.	Kamin	Cedar Rapids	34	45	40	119
2	Lisa	Olberding	Cedar Rapids	25	45	24	94
3	McKenzie	Black		34	29	27	90
	Kelsy	Shay	Urbandale	39	15	30	84
	Shelby	Cochran	Newton	30	15	27	72
	Taylor	Thompson	East Galesburg	36	9	24	69
	Anna	Cullinan	Bettendorf	42	6	19	67
BOYS 16-17
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Daniel	Wasta	Cedar Rapids	63	32	40	135
2	Jonathan	Chadick	Cedar Rapids	69	15	24	108
3	Tyler	Christians	Urbandale	63	22	22	107
	Tyler	Sanders	Galesburg	43	19	22	84
	Collin	Bisenius	Johnston	15	25	40	80
GIRLS 16-17
	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Drive	Chip	Putt	Total
1	Madi	Goodfellow	Iowa City	45	19	22	86
2	Chantel	Eicher	Marshalltown	31	12	32	75
3	Sarah	Olberding	Cedar Rapids	34	9	30	73
	Taylor	Sprank	Bettendorf	15	9	14	38

Miscellaneous Pictures

The Iowa PGA Parent Junior Championship was held at Pheasant Ridge GC on Sunday, August 8 with 65 teams of 2 competing.  Any combination was welcome – mom/son, mom/daughter, father/daughter, father/son and grandparents could also play with their grandchildren.  There were two formats, the 18-hole divisions played Pheasant Ridge in a 2 person scramble and the 9-hole division played an alternate shot on the Par 3 Walters Ridge GC.  The Iowa PGA would like to thank Pheasant Ridge GC and their wonderful staff for hosting – John Bermel is the head PGA Professional, Adam Luehmann is the Assistant PGA Professional and Mary Conway is the Food and Beverage Director.

Thank you sponsor Kevin Dorrington of Wilson Golf.
Kevin provided the tee gift for each participant.

Iowa PGA Parent Junior Championship

From left to right:  Jeff and Michael Canfield, PGA Head Professional John Bermel and John and Matthew Sexton
From left to right:  Tom and Sonja Przybylski, PGA Head Professional John Bermel and Taylor and Randy Van Dyk
From left to right:  Doug and Trevor Schweinefus, PGA Head Professional John Bermel and Andrew and Bill Huseman
From left to right:  Bob and Rochelle Beardsley, PGA Head Professional John Bermel and Paige and Michelle Van Dyk
From left to right:  Larry and Braxton Coble, PGA Head Professional John Bermel and Dane and Todd Waldron
From left to right:  Ryan and Tim Johnston, Ben and Michael Greif and PGA Assistant Professional Adam Luehmann
From left to right:  Amy and Betsy Ridout, Tenley and Tom Moretti and PGA Assistant Professional Adam Luehmann

Pictured left to right at the Brokers International, Ltd. office in Panora are LeRoy Oxley, tournament director, John Dinnebier, LPN general manager and director of golf, Troy Christensen, Iowa Section PGA executive director, and Roger McCarty, CEO of Brokers International, Ltd.

By Susan Thompson
August 3, 2010

The entry deadline for the Brokers International Ltd. Iowa Open is Aug. 10, and entries continue to come in each day. The 144-player field is open to professionals and amateurs who live in Iowa, as well as golfers with Iowa ties. The tournament will be at Lake Panorama National, where it was held from 1985 to 1998.

One of the biggest names to commit to playing in the annual tournament is Jerry Smith, who has earned $2.3 million as a professional golfer since turning pro in 1987. Smith will participate in both the pro-am tournament Aug. 19, and in the open division of the regular tournament Aug. 20-22.   (Click Here to register to play!)

A number of other well-known professional and amateur golfers also will be playing. Spectators are encouraged. Posters promoting the tournament, along with a supply of free tickets for spectators, have been placed at golf courses and businesses throughout central Iowa.

A contract between the Iowa Section PGA and Brokers International Ltd. brings the tournament to the LPN for five years. The Panora insurance marketing company committed $25,000 annually to the event, making it the major sponsor.

Five additional corporate sponsors each have committed $5,000 to help cover tournament expenses. Those are Allianz, American Equity, Aviva, Menadue Development, which owns The Port and Lakeside Inn, and People’s Trust and Savings Bank.

Sun Mountain Sports, which markets golf outerwear, bags, carts and accessories, is the putting green sponsor. Golf TEC, which uses video technology to analyze golf swings, will sponsor the driving range. Twenty-six businesses have paid a $200 fee or committed to in-kind contributions matching that amount to become hole sponsors.

Troy Christensen, executive director of the Iowa Section PGA, attended a meeting Aug. 2 at the Brokers International office in Panora to review final plans for the event. “In my 12 years of working for the Iowa Section PGA, I’ve never seen a community come together like this to support this tournament,” he said. “Everyone here has done a wonderful job.”

New this year is the addition of a senior division for players 50 years of age and older on or before Aug. 20, 2010. Seniors will be competing for $5,000 added sponsorship along with senior division entry fees.

Not only is the senior division new, but many other new things have been added to make the tournament enjoyable for both players and spectators.

For instance, signs listing all the Iowa Open champions since the tournament began will be posted along the cart path leading to the first tee. Art Bartlett won the first two Iowa Open tournaments in 1927 and 1928 and will be among 57 players honored.

Players will be introduced each morning as they tee off. On the final day, players’ names also will be announced as they arrive on the 18th green. Tents scattered around the course will house coolers filled with fruit and water for the players.

Members of the Panora fire department will assist with parking. The parking lot west of the LPN pro shop will be reserved for players. Spectators and volunteers can park in the east lot, at the LPN maintenance building, or at Boulder Beach. Volunteers will shuttle people from these parking areas.

Dr. Tim Pearson of Panora Chiropractic & Acupuncture will have a tent between the 1st and 10th tees throughout the tournament to provide assistance to players for a small fee. The Guthrie County Hospital also will have a tent in the same area, staffed by two nurses to assist with medical issues for players and spectators.

Representatives of the Panora Chamber of Commerce will be at the registration area to assist players and their families. Housing is being offered in private homes.

Two special events have been planned for players’ spouses – a pool party at Prairie View Bed and Breakfast Aug. 20 and a Lake Panorama pontoon ride that includes lunch on Aug. 21. Participants will travel in limos provided by Brokers International.

As of Aug. 2, 28 teams had entered the pro-am tournament, leaving openings for four teams. A “draw party” that includes a catered barbecue will take place at Boulder Beach Wednesday evening, as names of pros are drawn to match with the amateur teams. The tournament begins at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

The entry fee for a four-person team is $1,000. Each team gets four $125 gift certificates to redeem at a FootJoy sales tent, eight tickets to the draw party, and breakfast and lunch the day of the pro-am.

The top 10 pros and teams will receive prizes. The first place pro will receive $1,500, and the first place team will receive $1,000 in LPN pro shop certificates. All pros will receive an appearance fee. Team pictures will be taken at the beginning of the tournament and presented to participants at the end of the tournament.

Larry and Mary Hills are coordinating the pro-am tournament and hole sponsorships. To become a sponsor, or sign up a team for the pro-am, contact them at 641-755-4016 or larmar@netins.net.

More than 150 volunteers, who will wear red shirts and white caps sporting the Brokers International Ltd. Iowa Open logo, will work throughout the tournament. A kick-off event for volunteers will be held at Spikes Aug. 18 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Work schedules will be posted in the LPN pro shop a week in advance of the tournament. For information, contact Roxie Ruth at 515-987-3635, or Kathy DeLucca at 641-755-3116.

The three-day, 54-hole tournament will begin Aug. 20 at 8 a.m. Everyone will play both Friday and Saturday, with tee times assigned and the players in groups of three. Sunday’s final round will be limited to a set number of players with the lowest combined score for the first two days.  Enter Now!

All players who make the cut for the final round will be guaranteed a check. Although the final prize amounts won’t be determined until that day, it’s anticipated the winner will receive at least $4,000. That compares to the $1,200 the top player won in 2009.

An awards ceremony will be held on the 18th green as soon as the final group has played in and the winner determined. More details are available at www.IowaOpen.com.

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