Sitzmann claims Iowa City men's City Am title

By Jason Brummond, Correspondent

CORALVILLE - It all came down to the 17th hole Sunday in the three-day Iowa City Men's Amateur golf tournament.

Jacob Sitzmann and Ned Carter were tied at 4-under going into No. 17 at Brown Deer Golf Course and the next two holes would decide the champion. Carter's tee shot sailed past the green and he finished the par-3 with a double bogey as Sitzmann watched from the tee box.

“I didn't know exactly what was going on,” Sitzmann said, “so I knew had to stay focused and finish.”

The Le Mars native calmly struck an excellent drive and made the subsequent putt for a birdie. On the short 178-yard 17th hole, it went from a tie to a three-stroke lead for Sitzmann. He birded the 18th to shoot 68 and finish 6-under 209.

“I finished strong and played well all day,” Sitzmann said. “Today was probably the best I played. I finished with two great birdies.”

Sitzmann, a cardiology rehab specialist at the University of Iowa, said he's now played in the tournament five years, finishing as high as third with the rest as top 10 showings.

He hit a 4-under 68 Friday at Saddleback Ridge and a 1-over 73 Saturday at Finkbine Golf Course.

Carter, from Iowa City, was two strokes off the lead going into Sunday. He shot a 1-under 70 in the final round and finished 3-under 212 for the tournament. Carter and Sitzmann were the only players to finish under par in the third round.

Nine-time champion Chad McCarty, who held a one-stroke lead over the field going into Sunday's third round, finished tied for third at 1-under 214. McCarty shot a tournament-best 5-under 67 on Friday.

Tim Hawkins finished tied for third at 1-under and Ian Tucker shot an even 215 to place fifth.

Jonathan Rogers, who eagled the par-4 No. 16 on Sunday, earned sixth with a 1-over 216.