Kinney Wins IGA State Match Play Championship

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State freshman golfer Tripp Kinney is the 2017 Iowa Golf Association Match Play Champion, competed over four days (June 26-29) at the Harvester Golf Club in Rhodes, Iowa.

Kinney claimed the title with a 6 & 5 win over Cyclone teammate Conner Koberg in the finals. Kinney got off to a commanding lead when he was 3 up after five holes. His first bogey of the finals match came at No. 10, but by that time he was already 5 up after Koberg suffered a double bogey.

A native of Waukee, Iowa, Kinney won his first two matches by scores of 4 & 3 and 6 & 4. His closest match of the tournament came in the quarterfinals when he defeated Joe Palmer, 2 & 1.

Kinney recently finished a successful rookie season for the Cyclones, compiling a 74.02 stroke average while competing in every tournament. His scoring mark is the fifth-lowest average by a Cyclone freshman in school history.

Kinney helped Iowa State earn its eighth NCAA Championship appearance in school history, as the Cyclones tied for 18^th at the national meet. Kinney tied for 76^th individually with rounds of 73-75-73 (221) at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.