2019 Tournament of Champions Winners. Left to Right: Nathan Zimmerman, Darron Baker, and Jim Mullenix

Nathan Zimmerman didn’t hold the lead until the final hole at the 2019 Tournament of Champions. Zimmerman, representing the Treynor Recreation Area Golf Course, birdied the par five 18th hole to turn a one shot deficit into a one-shot victory in the Championship Division of the 61st Annual event at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. Jared Koch, representing Majestic Hills Golf Course in Denison, held at least a share of the tournament lead until that final hole. Koch bogeyed the 18th hole to give up his one shot lead.

Zimmerman hit a long second shot on the 18th after his tee shot went a little right. He then chipped up to within 2 feet to give himself the chance to roll in the birdie. Koch hit a great second shot the went just over the green. His chip hit on the collar of the green and ended up still about 15 feet from the hole. He rolled his putt to the right of the hole about three feet away. He then rimmed out his par attempt that would have triggered a playoff with Zimmerman.

Zimmerman finished the weekend at 6-under par 200 total. He shot rounds of 66, 69, and 65 to grab the victory. Koch finished at 5-under 201 with rounds of 65, 68, and 68. Atlantic’s Jake Olsen finished third with a 2-under 204 weekend total. Jake’s rounds were 68, 65, and 71. Past Champion Alex Bireline was 4th at +1, 207 with a strong final round of 64. Atlantic’s Zach Christianson and Past Champion Ron Peterson tied for 5th at +2, 208. Chirstianson also had a final round of 64 on Sunday.

The Senior division was won for the second year in a row by Darron Baker of the Eagle Grove Golf Club. He shot a weekend total of +11, 217 to secure the win by two shots over Past Champion Rick Thompson. Baker had rounds of 73, 73, and 71. Don Newbury was third at +14, Jim Wood 4th at +18, and Daryl Armstrong 5th at +19.

The Super-Senior Division Champion was decided by a playoff. Arnie Leistad and Jim Mullenix both finished 54-holes at +9, 215. Mullenix then defeated Leistad in a sudden death playoff to secure his first win at the T of C. Last year’s Champ John Willmore finished 3rd at +14, 220.