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Canfield looks to win 3rd championship in 4 years
The North Liberty amateur golfer won the Iowa City Golf Association City Men’s Amateur golf tournament in both 2022 and 2023
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CORALVILLE – Michael Canfield is one strong golf round away from joining select company.
The North Liberty amateur golfer, 31, won the Iowa City Golf Association City Men’s Amateur golf tournament in both 2022 and 2023. In the 34-year history of the event, only one golfer has won three times in four years.
“It would mean a lot,” Canfield said after firing a 5-under par score of 66 in the second round of the Iowa City Golf Association City Men’s Amateur golf tournament Saturday at Brown Deer Golf Club. “Just to where my game is at and just be really happy with myself. Just be a great time for me to be able to enjoy that victory if I am able to pull it off tomorrow.”
Only Solon’s Sean McCarty – the PGA Head Golf Professional at Brown Deer – has won the Iowa City Men’s City Am at least three times in a four-year span. McCarty won 16 times overall, including two separate streaks of four in a row (2000-03 and 2007-10).
Canfield is on the cusp of a third title in four years thanks to two birdies on the front nine holes, and two eagles on the back. The exceptional second round vaulted Canfield into sole possession of first place at 8 under with one round to go.
“Probably the biggest challenge is when you make the turn after the front nine and go to that back nine, it is a completely different course,” Canfield said of Brown Deer. “It’s very tight and narrow, so you have to keep the ball on the fairway and don’t get too wayward, otherwise the trees are going to come into play for you.”
Former Iowa City High golfer Grant Simpson is one stroke back.
“We’ve played against each other through high school, so I know him pretty well,” Canfield said of Simpson.
Canfield helped Muscatine qualify for the boys’ golf state meet as a team in 2011 before an outstanding collegiate golf career at Wartburg, where he was named to the all-conference team three times and finished fourth at the conference meet as a senior in 2016.
These days, Canfield plays about once a week at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon. In previous years, has also participated in the Iowa Four-Ball Championship, the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier and the Iowa Amateur golf tournament.
Former college baseball player (Kirkwood, Indiana State, Mount Mercy) Spencer Wiskus and Spencer Wiskus and ex-UNI golfer Austin Nedelcoff are tied for third at 3 under. Defending champion Coby Thompson rallied from a 2-over par performance in the opening round with a 67 on Saturday to give himself a chance at a repeat title in sixth place.
The tournament concludes Sunday at Simpson’s home course, Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City.
“I have been playing it growing up as a kid through junior tournaments and played in tournaments the past couple of years there,” Canfield said. “It’s just another one of those courses where you have got to keep it in front of you. Pretty tree-lined and keep it in the fairway, if you happen to get it offline, get yourself back into play and move on.”
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