Linn-Mar golf coach Chris James wins Cedar Rapids Men’s City Am for 6th time

CEDAR RAPIDS — No matter how proficient the golfer, there are always improvements to be made.

In the 71-year history of the Cedar Rapids Men’s City Amateur golf tournament, no one has won more titles than Cedar Rapids’ Chris James. With that distinguished amount of success, one might assume the 38-year-old Linn-Mar High School golf coach is content with his game.

Far from it.

“I’ve made a few changes as I have gotten older,” James said after winning his sixth Cedar Rapids Men’s City Am Sunday at Ellis Park Golf Course. “Trying to be more consistent with certain parts of my game. I feel like I am really close to taking another step or two.”

James finished the three-day tournament at 5-under par, one stroke better than former Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Kirkwood golfer Gannon Hall, who is headed to Mount Mercy in the fall.

While James’ latest improvements are centered around his swing, plus a regimen of strength and speed enhancement, it was his patience that proved vital on Sunday. James entered the final round tied for the lead with Kevin Ault at 4-under par, but a double bogey on hole No. 7 and a bogey on No. 8 had him three strokes behind Hall with 10 holes to play.

“I had to stay patient today,” James said. “I had a couple bad swings on the front nine that cost me. … I knew I had to make a few birdies and start putting some pressure on Gannon coming in. He was playing so solid.”

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James got some momentum back in his favor with three birdies over the next seven holes. With two holes to go, James’ deficit was down to a single stroke until Hall’s approach shot on the par-5 No. 17 went into the water. James capitalized with a par for a one-stroke lead heading to No. 18.

“I’ve lived that,” James said of Hall’s double bogey. “I was tied with some guys, I don’t remember what year it was, maybe five, six, seven years ago and I put one on the water on 18. So I know what he is going through. Knowing him, it is just going to fuel his fire for this upcoming season at Mount Mercy and beyond.”

On the par-4 No 18, James’ tee shot went into the sand, but he expertly chipped out and two-putted to par the hole and win his third Cedar Rapids Men’s City Am title in four years and sixth overall (2008, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2024).

“I didn’t think that I was going to get it to the bunker,” James said of No. 18. “The big thing for bunker shots in the fairway is just keeping your lower half still. I like to club up one and just try to make sure you hit the ball first, which I did. It took a nice, big hop, that first hop and sat right there on the front (of the green). It was a good spot to leave it. I felt confident that I would be able to get down pretty easily in two (putts) from there. That is all I was trying to do.”

Also at Ellis, Steve Koepke (-4) — a two-time Cedar Rapids Men’s City Am champion — won his first Senior Am title in a one-hole playoff against Donnie Rogers. At Brown Deer Golf Club in Coralville, North Liberty’s Coby Thompson (-13) won the Iowa City Men’s City Am for the first time since 2016.