Elijah Block played in his first Bill Franey Open Golf Tournament on Sunday and found victory with a one-shot win over Justin Yetmar. Block took a one-shot lead into the final round. After a double bogey on the par four 7th hole Block found himself tied with Yetmar with two to play. Each player had a par on the eighth hole. Block pulled his tee shot on 9 and was forced to punch out. With Yetmar's drive in the middle of the fairway, it seemed that extra holes may be a possibility. Yetmar blocked his second shot to the right which left him short sided to the pin and he eventually made bogey. Block knocked his third shot on the green and two putted to victory.
Block is a 2018 graduate of Greene County High School and the son of Rod and Jessica Block of Jefferson. After high school, he took some time off from golf. After recovering from an injury Block has just started this year to play amateur tournaments around Iowa. He plans to come back next year to defend his championship.
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| Tournament Director Mike Franey, 2021 Champion Elijah Block, and Shirley Franey |
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| Craig Mertz, Mike Franey, Scott Quandt, Elijah Block, Shirley Franey, and Justin Yetmar |
Two-time champion Scott Quandt finished in third with 106, and three-time champion Craig Mertz finished fourth with 107.
The Championship Flight
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| Joe Ward, Tom Duff and Jake Kimmes |
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| Kyle Christensen, Paul Tigges and Tyler Tassell |
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| Drew Munson, Scott Quandt, Eric Butenbach and Matt Scharingson |
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| Justin Yetmar, Craig Mertz, Brett Underberg and Elijah Block |
Other golfers in the championship flight were Brett Underberg 107, Kyle Christensen 108, Joe Ward 109, Eric Butenbach 110, Drew Munson 110, Jake Kimmes 112, Tyler Tassell 112, Tom Duff 112, Paul Tigges 113, Matthew Scharingson 113.
Steve “Cuda” Quandt won the first flight with 75, Chris Van Dyke was second with 75, and Steve Sinnard was third with a 75.
Other first flight players were Troy Auen 76, Phil Engelson 77, Matt Brown 77, Lonny Lehrkamp 77, Dean Dozier 78, Jeromie Kramer 78, Kevin Forke 78, John Dukes 78, John Barratta 79, Kirk Christensen 80, Mike Franey 80, Josh Sporrer 81, Terry Ruchti 81 and Tim Gute 81.
Bill Badding won the second flight with 81, John Nepple was second with 81 and Matt Lujano was third with 81.
Other second flight players were Nate Ward 81, Joe Pawlosky 82, Dr. Ron Cheney 82, Dr. Charles Svensson 82, Mike Badding 82, Ben Badding 82, Kevin Nepple 83, Brett Kimmes 83.
John Munson won the third flight with an 84, Tyler Auen was second with an 85, and John Scharingson was third with an 85.
Other third flight players were Mike McGowan 88, Wade Adams 90, Jason Evers 92, Tim Heisterkamp 94, Steve Auen 94, Dan McFarlane 95, Curt Kirsch 95, Bill Beck 96, Marty Vanderheiden 98, David Owens 99, and Darrin Janning 101.
All golfers played 18 holes then the low 12 players and ties qualified for a final championship nine. The cut was 74 which was one of the lowest in tournament history had fourteen players this year. Two-time Champion Scott Quandt was awarded the final nine medalist honors with a two-under par 35. Defending and three-time champion Wade Pettitt was not in the field this year.
Flag Prize Winners
Longest Drive - First Round Elijah Block and Second Round Kyle Christensen
Closest to the pin on #2 - First Round Troy Auen and Second Round Wade Adams
Closest to the pin on #5 - First Round John Dukes and Second Round Kyle Christensen
“The course was in excellent condition and many players complimented the condition of the course,” said tournament director Mike Franey. A big thank you to Micah Destival, Dave Destival, Jeremy Cartwright and Cody Renwanz for all of their work on the course and in the clubhouse.
A big thank you to Sheri Mertz, Lynda Dukes Franey and Shirley Franey for their help running the tournament, Market on 30 for their help with the food, Eckerman Jewelry for the donation of the trophy and Curt Kirsch and Kim Hackett for the beans. Thanks to former Carroll Country Club Golf Professional Joe Ward for assisting with the flighting and scoring of the tournament.
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| Mike, Shirley, and Lynda Franey with Morgan Granstra from Northwest Iowa Community College |
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| Powerline Class of 2021 |
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| Scholarship winner Tanner Henniges |
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| Scholarship winner Josh Rosenburgh |
The tournament named after Bill Franey who passed away in May of 2006 attracted 56 players. The tournament was formerly known as the Al Hoy Memorial where Bill Franey served as tournament director for 25 years. In 2006 the board of directors of the golf course renamed the tournament the Bill Franey Open. Proceeds from the tournament support two power line scholarships given annually to students who are training to become electrical linemen at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. Franey was a lineman for 31 years and served as line superintendent for another 10 years for Midland Power/Greene County REC in Jefferson.
Shirley, Lynda, and Mike Franey are very grateful for all of the support of this tournament.
See you next year on Sunday, August 28, 2022.
Tournament Champions
2006 – Craig Mertz - 106
2007-Mike Eckerman – 108
2008 Wade Pettitt – 103
2009 Craig Mertz – 106
2010 Aaron Ahrendsen – 105
2011 Scott Quandt – 102
2012 Brett Abbotts – 101
2013 Josh Manske – 103
2014 Craig Mertz – 106
2015 Mike Eckerman – 106
2016 Kirby Pettitt – rain-shortened
2017 Micah Destival – 105
2018 Wade Pettitt – 99
2019 Scott Quandt – 104
2020 Wade Pettitt – 105
2021 Elijah Block - 105
