Lakers Fall in Championship Match vs DMACC
The Iowa Lakes men's golf team started out their day in hopes of defending their Quad Cup Title that they won last year against Iowa Central in the second annual Quad Cup at Spring Valley Golf Club in Livermore, Iowa.
The format is simple. 2-man groups in a head to head match play for 18 holes. The first six holes are best ball. Each player plays their own ball and the team takes the lowest score between the two against the other teams pair. The next six holes are alternate shot with teammates alternating who hits. The final six holes is a best-shot format where both teammates hit each shot and you take the best result.
The Lakers would win their first team match against NIACC by a score of 3-1 and advance to play against DMACC who took down Iowa Central 4-0.
"I think all of the guys were hoping that we would get a chance to compete against DMACC in the championship match. DMACC has a very strong team and our guys wanted to give them a run for their money and take our Quad Cup back home." said Coach Weber when asked about the tournament. "To say that we didn't give them all that we could would be an understatement."
DMACC would go on to win the first match handily, but the Lakers would bounce back with a convincing win in the second match knotting the score at 1-1. The third match would then belong to DMACC with a closely competed match that would go to the last couple of holes, giving them the 2-1. All DMACC needed was a halved match to take home the Quad Cup outright. The final match would come down to the last hole and a lipped out eagle attempt from DMACC would give the Lakers the point and tie the match 2-2, forcing extra holes.
Each coach would pick two players to represent them in the playoff. The hole chosen was hole 9, a short par three to build a little bit more excitement as the sun was getting low and light was diminishing rapidly. The first match would go to be a push with both teams carded a par. The second match brought a little bit more excitement.
"One of the best shots I have seen in a long time given the situation and the circumstances"
DMACC went first and put their shot on the edge of the green. The Lakers were second with sophomore Morgan Edwards. Morgan hit a pitching wedge from 152 yards in the dark and knew he hit it well. A few seconds later all you could hear was the sound of the golf ball hitting the flagstick.
"Absolutely crazy moment that sums the game of golf up in about five seconds. Morgan hit one of the best shots of the season only to have it hit the flagstick, hit the lip of the cup, and bounce all the way off the green."
The Lakers would chip up and tap in for par and DMACC would sink a clutch 8 footer for par to force another playoff hole. DMACC would make another clutch 6 footer to end up taking home the Quad Cup.
"This was a great tournament for our guys and had all of the excitement one could ask for, it is just a shame that we came out on wrong side of Lady Luck. The guys competed and got right where they needed to be with a chance to win and we came up just a bit short. I hope we can take this energy and this entire fall season and use to fuel a great off-season and be ready for a big run in the spring."
Photo ID: Nick Revering