Heinkel wins ‘title fight’

IOWA CITY - As the sun set on Finkbine Golf Course, a crowd gathered at the 18th green to welcome a first-time champion.

Eric Heinkel took a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Iowa City city amateur tournament Sunday and came out the winner. Shooting a 205 overall, Heinkel was able to hold off former champion Chad McCarty.

Playing Finkbine was hard enough, Heinkel said, but playing with the lead made things a little more challenging.

'It's pretty stressful,” Heinkel said. 'You're trying to play free and trying to focus on just doing what you're doing, but it's a different animal.”

On Hole 14, Heinkel gave a glimmer of hope to a closing McCarty after a shot went off into the trees. Members of the leading group thought he had lost his ball.

'(Hole) 14 was a momentum swing, when he hit that tee shot,” McCarty said. 'We thought it was all gone, but it hit the tree square and he came back and made par. With the golf gods, that's what you hope for.”

Rob Cordle, who has played with both Heinkel and McCarty in previous tournaments, said watching the two leaders was one of the most entertaining things on the course.

'It was like having a front row seat to a title fight,” Cordle said. 'Chad and Eric are so good and it was a lot of fun playing with them.”

Heinkel's lead had diminished to just two strokes going in to Hole 17. But a poor shot by McCarty eventually sealed the victory for the new crowned champion.

McCarty was a hot name among spectators throughout the day. Winning 11 of the past 14 city am tournaments, McCarty had nothing but praise for Heinkel.

'That's impressive shooting,” McCarty said. 'He did what he needed to to get here, to get that cushion, and it was big.”

Both Heinkel and McCarty are favorites for the 2014 Iowa City Ryder Cup team. The band of Iowa City's best golfers will take on the best from Cedar Rapids in late August in a Ryder Cup-style tournament.

Heinkel said he's excited to hopefully have the chance to represent Iowa City this year. In years past, Cedar Rapids has run away with the tournament.

'It's one of the most fun tournaments we play,” Heinkel said. 'I always look forward to it and I feel pretty good about my chances to be on the team this year. It's just different playing in a team atmosphere, where you're rooting for your guys.

'But I'm really looking forward to it.”

l Comments: stephen.koenigsfeld@thegazettecompany.com