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.
