Playing in a field of almost all high school and college players, 54 year-old Janis Kleiman won her first Indiana PGA Women’s Open, defeating Brittany Kelly in a two-hole playoff. Kleiman headed to the final round of the Open at Delaware CC three shots back, but her short game closed the gap as the day progressed.
“I thought I was hitting the ball decently well today, but looking back it was definitely my short game that put me in this position,” said Kleiman, a teaching professional at Ironwood GC. “I haven’t played in a tournament since last September, so the nerves were definitely there today, but I just tried to play my own game and I was able to get up-and-down a lot for par.”
Kleiman posted an even par 70 today for a two-day total of 141. Kelly and Kleiman were tied headed to the 18th hole and both players made pars to finish the tournament at 1-over-par.
The pair then headed to the par-4, 1st for their opening playoff hole, where both players made bogey after missing the green in regulation. On the par-4, 2nd Kleiman stuck her approach shot to six feet, putting the pressure on Kelly. Kelly missed the green left and failed to get up-and-down, while Kleiman converted her birdie putt for the win.
“I had no expectations coming into this event,” Kleiman said. “I have been playing well lately but I didn’t come into this expecting to win. I loved getting paired with young players both yesterday and today. They make me want to continue to play in tournaments and keep me game sharp.”
Kleiman is no stranger to Indiana women’s golf titles, as she claimed her first in 1982 at the Indiana Women’s Amateur Championship in at Evansville CC. A graduate of Indiana University, Kleiman was a member of the Women’s Golf Team and went on to play professionally. In ’91, she got her LPGA Tour card and competed on the Tour until ’94.
“For the female professional there aren’t a ton of events to play in at my age,” Kleiman said. “I will say a tournament is a tournament. Whether it’s an LPGA event or an Indiana Golf event, if you are near the lead the nerves are the same; but that is what makes it so much fun. You will definitely see me at next year’s Women’s Open and hopefully for many years to come.”
Kelly, a professional at The Hawthorns G & CC, is also a Women’s Am Champion (’09) as well as a Women’s Open Champion (’06). Although she came up just short today, her play was tremendous this week.
"A goal of mine has been to repeat at the Open after winning in ’06 as an amateur,” Kelly said. “My short game let me down a little bit today and I missed a putt just over a foot on 11, so that stings a bit. But overall, I am happy with how I played and I hope to be able to win the Open at some point as a professional.”
Angela Gauck-Belter of Greensburg posted an even par 70 today to finish in third at 2-over-par.