Former Hawkeye Alex Schaake wins Greater Cedar Rapids Open

MARION — The state of Iowa continues to be good to Alex Schaake.

After earning his first professional golf victory at last year’s Iowa Open in Riverside, the Omaha, Neb. resident and former University of Iowa golfer snagged his second win Saturday.

“I love playing here,” Schaake said after winning the 25th Greater Cedar Rapids Open at Hunters Ridge Golf Course. “I am just comfortable when I am in Iowa. It a comfortability thing for me.”

Schaake, 26, outlasted two other golfers — University of Michigan alumnus Nick Carlson and another former Hawkeye, Brian Bullington — through five holes of a sudden-death playoff to claim the title. Carlson was eliminated by parring the fourth playoff hole — which Bullington and Schaake both birdied — while Bullington was undone by a bogey on the next hole.

“I played really smart today,” said Schaake, who won a check for $24,000 as the tournament champion. “I made a few mistakes. I didn’t make as many putts as I wanted to, but to finish birdie-birdie and then winning the playoff feels really good.”

Schaake and Carlson were the last pairing of the final round and were unaware that Bullington led them both by one stroke through 16 holes. A three-way tie at 13-under par was forged after Schaake and Carlson both birdied No. 17. When all three golfers birdied No. 18 to reach 14 under, the playoff was on.

“Not knowing where we were coming down the stretch might have helped us a little bit,” Schaake said. “Made us a little less nervous. I thought I was just playing Nick. Turns out, I wasn’t. When that putt went in on 18, I knew it was to tie Nick. I guess I didn’t really think it was to lose.”

Schaake — the only two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2019, 2021) in Iowa men’s golf history — entered Saturday in second place overall at 9-under par, two strokes behind Carlson and one head of Bullington. It was eerily reminiscent to Schaake’s situation from last year’s GCRO.

“I was in this position last year,” Schaake said. “Just the same thing. I was one or two back going into the final round and (Dawson Jones) who won, just outplayed me and he played smart all day. I kind of just thought that was how this golf course is supposed to be played down the stretch.”

Finding a different outcome this year received a big boost when Schaake broke out early with four-consecutive birdies within the first six holes. Schaake did bogey No. 7, then strung together nine pars in a row before the climactic final two birdies.

“I thought that the key to success this week was to start off hot because you just never know what is going to happen in the middle of the round,” Schaake said. “There are some tough holes and the wind was picking up. Just to get off to that early start and put some pressure on the leaders. I was hitting it well, but more so playing really smart and hitting some putts.”

Schaake will now head back home to Omaha for a few days before returning to Iowa next week to defend his 2023 title in the 91st Iowa Open at Riverside. Schaake will also compete in a Korn Ferry Tour event in Omaha (Aug. 8-11), where he received a sponsor’s exemption. Then things really get serious. He gets married in November.

“The beginning of September is the bachelor party,” Schaake said. “We are going to play some more golf. Maybe lose or win a little money there.”