Koepke claims Cedar Rapids men’s city amateur golf title

It was an appropriate way for the Cedar Rapids Men's City Amateur Golf Tournament to end Sunday evening at Ellis Golf Course.

Lightning danced around the skies as Steve Koepke was being handed the trophy for his four-stroke victory over Jeff Wenthe and Matt Sargent.

Rain shortened this year's event to two days, and twice delayed Sunday's round, but at the end of the marathon day, it was Koepke's final round 2 over par 74 that was good enough to win.

Koepke shot a 66 in Saturday's first round at Gardner.

Koepke, 36, teaches 7th grade science at Taft Middle School and coaches the boys' golf team at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

“I have worked very hard for this,” he said, “and with the final round at Ellis (this) means so much to me.

“When I was a kid, my mother, Kay, would drop me off here at 6 in the morning, and pick me up at 6 at night. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but it will. Being City Am champion sounds real good.”

Even though Koepke won by four shots, Sunday's round wasn't easy.

“On my second hole today, I missed a 12-inch putt, and then we had a rain delay. So I had nothing do for 45 minutes, but think about that putt.”

Koepke also discussed the rain delays.

“It is very hard to get into a grove, when you keep stopping and starting. The two delays really threw off my timing.” he said.

Once play resumed, Koepke said it became a matter of doing what he could.

“After the first delay, it became a matter of what I call ham and eggs golf. Just doing what I had to do. But nothing came easy at all in this round. I had to fight for everything today. I was hanging on for dear life.”

What made this victory especially satisfying, was how close Koepke has come to winning it in the past.

“I finished second a couple of years ago, and last year I was playing in the final group when Chris James won it. Until today, I have never been able to close the deal.”

Koepke got emotional when saying what the win meant to his family

“I can't say enough about my family,” he said. “My wife has been incredibly supportive over the years. She has been here watching the tournament with our 4-month old daughter, along with my mother and brother. This is a truly a family victory.”

Wenthe and Sargent tied for second, at 144. Mike Sawyer was fourth at 145, Dane Worley was fifth at 145.

By Jeff Hare, News correspondent