WATERLOO - As he walked off the final hole at Gates Park Friday, 1984 Waterloo Open amateur champ Scott Morgensen had a serious lather going - the result of a round played in oppressive heat.

But, withered or not, the 43-year-old was happy. His round of 69 was a grinder's delight: Three birdies in the last five holes helped salvage a day when he struck the ball poorly, by his standards.

After that strenuous, workmanlike, effort, it must've been just a bit discouraging for the longtime Waterloo Open veteran to look at the scoreboard.

Because, as Morgensen scanned the amateur leaderboard, he had to crane his neck upward to find a pair of teen-agers above him who brushed the horrid heat off with ease.

At Gates, Cedar Falls senior-to-be Troy Hoffman led the way with a 67. And, at the always-tricky South Hills, Cedar Rapids native Marc Gladson, who'll play golf at Wake Forest next year, shot perhaps the most eye-opening round of the day when he threw 18 holes of darts to the tune of 69.

And neither of those youngsters were even alive when Morgensen took home the Waterloo Open's amateur title in '84.

You know what they say about youth: It's wasted on the young.

Both being oblivious to the sweltering 94-degree temps - "I've always liked playing in the heat," said Hoffman - the Cedar Falls denizen and the Cedar Rapidian both used stellar short games to jump to the front of the pack at their courses Friday.

"I putted really well," said Hoffman, who was a prep all-stater last fall. "On the front side, I made every single putt."

Said Gladson, who's the son of Elmcrest Country Club pro Larry Gladson, "I would say (the key was) my wedges around the greens."

For the day Friday, Hoffman buried putts left and right - like a 25-footer for birdie on No. 16 at Gates - and finished by hitting eight greens in regulation on the back nine. Meanwhile, at South Hills, Gladson, playing in his first Waterloo Open, carded six birdies and was four-under through 15 holes before a pair of bogeys on 16 and 17.

That helped the duo stay in front of a pack of comparatively seasoned vets. At Gates, Hoffman's 67 edged out Dan Naughton (68), Morgensen (69) and last year's Waterloo Open low amateur, Matt Steddom (70). At South Hills - a tighter, tree-lined course - Gladson's 69 held off Matthew Lowe (70) and University of Iowa golfer Luke Miller (70).

Gladson's round, in particular, could prove pivotal as the sun bakes South Hills' quick, undulating greens today.

"I felt good about the way I played," said Gladson, who'll play collegiately at a program which sports alums like Arnold Palmer and Curtis Strange. "Never really felt any pressure. I heard (South Hills) was probably the toughest course (in the Open) … But I just went out and played the golf course, and that's what I plan on doing the next couple days."

And all the while, Gladson and Hoffman shrugged off the heat, having their games show no ill-effects. Their ability to brave the blast-furnace conditions could come in handy in the next 48 hours - a heat advisory has been issued for the Cedar Valley for today, with a high of 96 expected. Plus, with the heat index factored in, it will feel like 100 to 110 degrees outside.

But even the vets seem ready to tackle the heat over the next 36 holes.

Count Morgensen, who started playing in the local tournament in the late-1970s, among that group. His smile as he toweled off on 18 Friday, said as much.

Said Morgensen "It's always hot in the Waterloo Open."

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com.

FIRST ROUND

Troy Hoffman (Gates Park) 67

Dan Naughton (Gates Park) 68

Scott Morgensen (Gates Park) 69

Marc Gladson (South Hills) 69

Matthew Lowe (South Hills) 70

Jared Rima (Gates Park) 70

Matt Steddom (Gates Park) 70

Luke Miller (South Hills) 70

Todd Larson (South Hills) 71

Chris Streff (Gates Park) 71

Derek Bohlen (Gates Park) 71

Jamie Frazier (South Hills) 71

Brian Verduyn (Gates Park) 71

Scot Glasford (South Hills) 71

72 n Isaac Rodenberg (SH); Brandon Rogers (G); Mike Sawyer (G); Eric Sipple (SH); Sam Aossey (G); Cory Braunschweig (G); Sam Christensen (G); Nate Dunn (G); Ryan Flugum (G); Jeff Gudenkauf (SH); Alex Hopson (SH); Tim Ward (G); Nick Eilertson (SH); Chris James (G); J.B. Patterson (G).

73 n Jordan Molstead (G); Josh Nelson (SH); Dan O'Mara (SH); Andrew Roberts (SH); Jim Scheppele (G); Greg Thompson (G); Peter Dugan (G); Curtis Foster (G); Ben Hanson (SH); Todd Hingtgen (G); Kevin Wilson (G); Eric Sanders (SH); Derrick Thomas (G); Derek Ott (G).

74 n Dan Swomley (G); Eric Anfinson (G); Cedric Bertin (SH); Joe Engelkes (G); George Gartelos (G); Bennet Hammerberg (SH); Blake Hibben (G); Andy Hoffman (G); Joel Bruner (SH); Jonathan Feldick (SH); Robbie Rutt (G); Jordan Weber (G); Steve Kahler (SH).

75 n Keith Jungen (SH); Jack Ritzman, III (SH); J.D. Schlotterback (SH); Jim Schrempf (G); Todd Thompson (G); Jim Campbell (G); Matt Heinz (SH); David Akers (SH); Andy Tiedt (SH); Tim VanWyngarden (G); Brent Votroubek (SH); Andy Wass (SH); Jeff Woods (G); Brock Worley (SH); Paul Wurtz (SH); Dan Zellhoefer (G); Jake Thomas (SH); Brent Estlund (SH); Travis Marting (G); Jake Weeber (G).

76 n Brent Johnson (SH); Adam Luehmann (SH); Mike McKeon (G); Kyle Phillips (SH); Tom Przybylski (SH); Frank Schmidt (G); John Berg (SH); Donnie Eicher (G); Kristian Einsweiler (SH); Tim Felland (G); Dale Halverson (G); Scott Hornstein (G); Joel Winters (SH); Gary Wurtz (SH); Jordan Isham (SH); Mason Kerns (SH); Grant Stevens (SH); Craig Lindsay (G).

77 n Scott Johnson (G); Eddie Mercado (SH); Mark Mershon (SH); Ryan Ratchford (G); Gary Ritter (G); Chip Schaefer (G); Justin Sell (SH); Tim Stebral (G); Nathan Steege (SH); Andy Thomas (SH); Todd Alldredge (SH); Scott Burns (SH); Tom Busch (G); Eric Cannon (SH); Chuck Carda (SH); Rob Dickerman (G); Jason Donlea (G); James Elliott (SH); Mike Green (SH); Duane Gritton (G); Adam Tiedt (G); Terry Turner (G); Todd Van Wyngarden (G); Lou Waters (G); Ryan Winchester (SH); Ryan Ott (G).

78 n Mike Joblinske Sr. (G); Travis Kress (SH); Ryan Ruffcorn (G); Corey Schatz (G); Tom Christensen (SH); J.R. Donlea (G); Mike Fett (SH); Keith Fleck (SH); Ed Witowski (G); Tim Yost (SH).

79 n Ben Hunter (SH); Charlie Jenkins (SH); Curtis Jones (SH); Stephan Kostelecky (SH); Stephen Larson (G); Scott Olson (SH); Jess Paekarek (G); Cleo Provin (G); Barry Black (SH); Marty Chute (G); Greg Dingel (SH); Mike Doyle (G); Kevin Eslick (G); Tom Friedman (G); Peer Hegg (G); Chad Wauters (G); Jesse Westrun (SH); Scott Woods (G); Niel Doak (SH); Alex Hubbell (SH); Justin Smith (G).

80 n B.J. Meaney (SH); Scott Metcalf (SH); Mike Molstead (G); Dan Mulligan (SH); Jason Sandersfeld (G); Matt Thomas (G) Craig Arthur (G); Adam Colbeck (G) Steve Foster (G); Bill Fratzke (SH); Bryson Hammer (SH); Eric Trees (G); Joe Wartick (SH); Matthew Arenholz (SH); Kyle Teeling (G).

81 n Jeff Kiewiet (G); Donnie Nelans (SH); Dave Ramirez (G); Chris Stansberry (SH); Chris Buhr (SH); Andrew Carper (G); Tim Fereday (SH); Chad Green (G); Reid Turner (SH); Dexter Wilson (SH); Josh Barta (SH); Josh Krueger (G); Paul Mendel (G).

82 n Tony Meyer (SH); Brad Schmitt (G) Chad Schuchmann (SH); Tim Gillen (G); Barry Hoover (G); Dennis Hunt (G); DuWayne Wessels (G).

83 n Jason Raisty (G); Ryan Rasmussen (G); Stacey Rockwell (G); Darren Allen (SH); Greg Bolles (G); Mike Campbell (G); Terry Coady (G); Steve Ferguson (G); Josh Ford (SH); Kim Foss (SH); Tim Hackenmiller (SH); Derek Hileman (G); Kevin Hinz (G).

84 n Luke Jensen (SH); Lee Larson (SH); Mike Mingus (G); Scott Hunt (G); Sam Voigt (G); Jeremy Yoder (SH); Tim Duggan (SH).

85 n Mike Joblinske, Jr. (G); Kurt Krull (SH); TJ Lowe (SH); Alex Mutschler (SH); Jay Becker (SH); Jason Cashman (G); Dana Deines (G); Kendall Drape (SH); Jack Griffin (SH); Tony Tripp (SH); Chad Worley (SH).

86 n Eric Schaefer (G); Andrew Schoof (SH); Warren Scott (SH); Jake Holmes (G); Bryce Vandendriessche (SH); Brian Ritter (G).

87 n Joe Paxson (SH); Andy Rettinger (SH); Trent Russler (SH); Todd Slater (SH); Doyle Cowles (G); Michael Doran (SH); Matthew Willer (G); Jason Bienemann (SH).

88 n David Ragsdale (G); Jason Arnold (G); Lee Frank Jr. (G).

89 n John Thompson (SH); Blake Baker (SH); Jason Massman (SH).

90 n Matthew Phillips (SH); David Santman (SH); Mike Davies (G); Tyler Foster (G); Rex Edmunds (SH).

91 n Chad Purdy (SH); Matthew Haskin (G); Matt Chute (G); Dan Davis (SH).

92 n Mike Athey (G); Dan Holmes (G).

93 n Jon Nehl (SH).

94 n Jeremy James (G); Duine Proffitt (G).

97 n Randy Reitz (G).

98 n Brian Beckman (SH); David Funke (SH); Lyle Hammond (SH); Jim Wynn (G).

99 n Terry Duffy (SH).

100 n Luke Wiest (SH).

102 n Keith Schoonover (SH).

104 n Jim Coady (G).

105 n Larry Rupert (G).

124 n James Rush (SH).