Herrera Sets Records, Wins Iowa Amateur By 10 Shots

WATERLOO, Iowa- Iowa State senior golfer Ben Herrera was on his game. After posting a torrid 64 in the opening round, Herrera cruised to a 10-shot victory at the 107th Iowa Amateur Championship Wednesday afternoon at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo, Iowa.

His first-round 64, which featured nine birdies, tied the competitive course record at Sunnyside and equaled the all-time low for a competitor in the Iowa Amateur. The Urbandale, Iowa, native ended the tournament with rounds of 68 and 70 for a 202 total (14-under), shattering the previous 54-hole Iowa Amateur Championship record by three strokes formerly held by Gene Elliott (2000, Ottumwa Country Club). The 10-shot victory also bested the old mark of eight strokes set by Jack Webb in 1960.

“It's such a great feeling to win this event,” Herrera said. “You work hard at your game for moments like this and I've spent a lot of time on my game this summer. This is by far the biggest accomplishment I've achieved in golf and I hope I can build on this for my final year at Iowa State.”

When you shoot 14-under at a challenging golf course, you must have all aspects of your game clicking. That was definitely the case for Herrera, however one area stood out in his record-setting performance.

“I did everything really well, but my driving was off the charts,” Herrera said. “I kept the ball in play and gave myself opportunities for birdies on every hole.”

The Cyclone star has had an outstanding summer on the links. He won the Ft. Dodge Amateur and placed second at the Iowa Masters. He currently ranks No. 1 in the 2009 Iowa Golf Association's Amateur Player of the Year standings.

ISU's Tom Lathrop, a sophomore from Nashville, Tenn., and Nathan Leary, a junior from Waterloo, Iowa, also played well this week. Both tied for 10th at 217.

Next up for Herrera is the United States Amateur qualifier, Aug. 10 at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. Herrera qualified for the prestigious event last year, which was held at the famed Pinehurst Country Club. He hopes to make it to the match play portion of the event in his second try.

“The U.S. Amateur is an important tournament for me,” Herrera said. “Making the U.S. Amateur again is a huge goal of mine.”

Cyclone Iowa Amateur Championship Winners
1936- Billy Hall
1949- Jack Webb
1960- Jack Webb
1984- Chris Donielson
1985- Dana Kain
1999- Matt Gatchel
2009- Ben Herrera

- Herrera is the first Cyclone while still in school to win the Iowa Amateur Championship since Matt Gatchel won at the Geneva Country Club in Muscatine in 1999.
- The Iowa Amateur Championship has been conducted at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo twice. Both titles were claimed by Cyclones: Dana Kain (1985), Ben Herrera (2009).

Herrera Sets Records, Wins Iowa Amateur By 10 Shots

Players Mentioned

Ben Herrera

Ben Herrera

Tom Lathrop

Tom Lathrop

Nathan Leary

Nathan Leary

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Herrera Sets Records, Wins Iowa Amateur By 10 Shots

Players Mentioned

Ben Herrera

Ben Herrera

Tom Lathrop

Tom Lathrop

Nathan Leary

Nathan Leary

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