Holmberg, Nelson claim thrilling victory at 2025 IGA Match Play Championships
The 2025 IGA Match Play Tournament at Talons of Tuscany concluded late Friday evening, capping off a week marked by unpredictable weather, extended delays, and unforgettable performances. What began with ideal conditions quickly turned into a test of endurance, as players battled the elements and each other in a grueling display of resilience and skill.
On the women’s side, Erika Holmberg (right) of Bettendorf emerged victorious after an epic 22-hole duel with Shannyn Vogler of Moline to capture the title. The No. 11 seed, Holmberg played an astonishing 52 holes on Friday to earn her second IGA title in just a few weeks.
Her road to the championship was anything but easy. Holmberg cruised past Michelle Klein in the Round of 32 with an 8&6 win, then edged Fiona Watson 1 up in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, she continued her strong play with a 2&1 victory over Chloe Bolte.
In a highly anticipated semifinal matchup, Holmberg faced off against her IGA Women’s Four-Ball partner—and good friend—Anna Jensen. The two recently claimed the Four-Ball title together, but on Friday, Holmberg came out on top with a 3&2 win.
“Playing Anna in the semifinals was very bittersweet,” Holmberg said. “She’s a great friend and we just won the IGA Women’s Four-Ball together. She played great golf, but I was able to edge ahead with birdies on 13 and 14 and stayed consistent with my putting.”
Reflecting on her week, Holmberg added, “I feel beyond fortunate to have claimed the IGA Women’s Match Play title. I didn’t play my best during stroke-play qualifying on Tuesday, so I knew I’d have to dig deep against tough competition. It was a true test of mental and physical toughness.”
Holmberg also credited her support team, saying, “This tournament was really special with so many friends and family on the bag throughout the week. A big shoutout to Karli Kerrigan for keeping me focused and present during the final holes of the championship match.”
On the men’s side, play began with 18 holes of stroke-play qualifying, cutting the field from 130 players to the top 64. University of Iowa Hawkeye and Cedar Falls native Maxwell Tjoa earned the top seed after carding a remarkable 64 (-8) in challenging wet and windy conditions.
Despite holding a comfortable lead after qualifying, match play brings unpredictability—and Tjoa’s opening match proved just that. In the round of 64, Tjoa fell to Leo Fiscus of Davenport in a tightly contested match, with Fiscus prevailing one-up. However, Fiscus’ run was short-lived, as Iowa State Cyclone Owen Sawyer defeated him 6&5 in the round of 32.
Sawyer’s dominant win was only the beginning of a bracket-breaking streak. He continued his impressive form by defeating AJ Sposato of Norwalk 6&5 in the round of 16, followed by a 2&1 victory over C.T. Norris of West Des Moines in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Sawyer overcame a strong challenge from Spencer Clatt of Gilbert, ultimately securing a spot in the championship match with another 6&5 win.
On the opposite side of the bracket, second-seeded Blake Cronin of Clive advanced through the early rounds before being upset by No. 15 seed Jon Brown of Adel, who cruised to a 6&5 win.
With top seeds falling early, one underdog made a name for himself—No. 58 seed Braeden Nelson (right) of West Des Moines. The future University of Wisconsin Badger made a stunning run, defeating Parker Rodgers of Nevada and Isaiah Zoske of Solon before meeting third-seeded Nate McCoy of Ankeny in the semifinals. Notably, Nelson had incurred a two-stroke penalty in stroke play from teeing off from the wrong tee and had to survive a 16-for-7 playoff just to secure a spot in match play.
He made the most of the opportunity.
“Luckily I made it through the playoff,” Nelson said. “It was a lesson learned for sure.”
Nelson’s semifinal match against McCoy was a battle. After a weather delay, McCoy came out hot, making five birdies in his first six holes to go three-up. But Nelson responded with four birdies of his own, ultimately clawing back to one-up and clinching the match.
With over 60 players eliminated, the championship match came down to Owen Sawyer and Braeden Nelson. The front nine featured a tight exchange of birdies, with the players all square at the turn. Neither player led by more than one hole, showing remarkable resilience and focus in the humid conditions.
Nelson broke the deadlock with a clutch birdie on the 12th hole, edging ahead of Sawyer. Despite Sawyer’s efforts to rally, Nelson’s steady play down the stretch preserved his lead, and he ultimately secured the title with a one-up victory.
“I played 50 holes today,” Nelson said of his two final matches. “Talons (Golf) is such a great course and I love to be out here. My caddie helped me a ton. Putting was the key for me this week. Owen is a great player and he gave me all I could handle. I made some good putts that was the difference. It was a lot of fun.”
Complete Results
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