CHEROKEE, Iowa | Home course knowledge is no doubt a huge advantage when it comes to tackling the hilly terrain and treacherous greens at Cherokee Golf Course.
And, not many spend more time at the place than James DeVos, the head golf coach at Cherokee Washington High School.
DeVos, a contender many times in this long and storied event, finally broke through with a victory here Sunday, downing Nick Dreckman of Le Mars, Iowa, 5 and 4 in the championship match of the 80th Sioux Valley Amateur Match Play Championship. DeVos became the second local golfer to win here in the last two years, joining Matt Pitts, one of his former players, who claimed the 2012 crown.
“It’s a huge help because there are a lot of little subtle things around the greens, some putts are faster than what you think and some are slower” DeVos said. “That’s the advantage of being a school teacher, you get to spend more time out here than most people do.”
The 33-year-old DeVos, who played collegiately at Northwestern and just completed his eighth year as Cherokee golf coach, was playing in his first Sioux Valley title match.
“There were a few butterflies when I hit my first drive, but I love the competition, being out there swinging, it’s a blast,” DeVos said. “It brings out the inner drive in you. I played pretty well today. I didn’t hit a lot of greens but I scrambled my butt off. I got up and down and up and down and up and down.
“Nick’s a phenomenal player with a great swing and hits the ball a mile. He’s a great competitor and brings out the best in all of us.”
DeVos reached the title match with a 2-up victory over Austin Winchell, another of his former pupils, in a semifinal. Dreckman, meanwhile, sidelined Jim Calkins of West Union, Iowa, 1-up.
Dreckman made the final for the first time in his 19th try but will have to wait for at least his 20th appearance to try and snare that elusive crown.
“We traded holes at the beginning and then played pretty even the rest of the first nine,” DeVos said. “I got one on nine and then picked up another here and there until finally we ran out of holes.
“I fell in love with this tournament the first time I played it and have been back ever since. I made it to Sunday morning one time before but lost on the last hole and ended up getting third. There are a lot of phenomenal names that have won this thing, some guys that I’ve lost close matches to before, so it feels good to beat them.”
DeVos’ name will be the first engraved on the newest Frank Greenwood Memorial Trophy. J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines retired the last one with his third victory last year.
Competition was stiff in qualifying. In fact, the first flight championship match paired past winners Bill Mathers of Cushing, Iowa, and Brian Schultz of Le Mars. Mathers won by a 2 and 1 margin.
Matt Young Jr. of Kingsley, Iowa, defeated his former college coach, Todd Sapp 1-up in the second flight final. Sapp is a two-time Sioux Valley champion.
Mike Martin of Denver, Colo., won the third flight while Cherokee residents Will Cook, Scott Weber and Kent Wenck claimed the fourth through sixth flight crowns.
FINAL RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Semifinals
James DeVos def. Austin Winchell 2-up
Nick Dreckman def. Jim Calkins 1-up
Championship
DeVos def. Dreckman 5 and 4
Third Place
Calkins def. Winchell 1-up
FIRST FLIGHT
Semifinals
Bill Mathers def. Dave Greenwood 2 and 1
Brian Schultz def. Chris Jenness 3 and 2
Championship
Mathers def. Schultz 2 and 1
Third Place
Jenness def. Greenwood 3 and 2
SECOND FLIGHT
Matt Young def. Greg Holmes 4 and 3
Todd Sapp def. Zach Mathers 3 and 2
Championship
Young def. Sapp 1-up
Third Place
Mathers def. Holmes 3 and 2
THIRD FLIGHT
Semifinals
Jamie Drew def. Craig Johnson 4 and 3
Mike Martin def. Kurt Clabaugh 2-up
Championship
Martin def. Drew 3 and 2
Third Place
Johnson def. Clabaugh 2 and 1
FOURTH FLIGHT
Semifinals
Kent Simonsen def. J.P. Johnson 1-up (10 holes)
Will Cook def. Luke Aduddell 3 and 2
Championship
Cook def. Simonsen 1-up (11 holes)
Third Place
Johnson def. Aduddell 2 and 1
FIFTH FLIGHT
Semifinals
Dan Hansen def. Logan Patterson 1-up (15 holes)
Scott Weber def. John Greenwood 2-up
Championship
Weber def. Hansen 3 and 2
Third Place
Greenwood def. Patterson 2-up
SIXTH FLIGHT
Second Round
Alex Royer def. Scott Christensen 1-up
Mike Green def. Steve Hirschman 2 and 1
Kent Wenck def. Ken Fassler 2 and 1
Tyler Halverson def. Brent Renken 2-up
Semifinals
Green def. Royer 1-up
Wenck def. Halverson 3 and 2
Championship
Wenck def. Green 1-up
Third Place
Royer def. Halverson 1-up (11 holes)
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