The Indiana Amateur came down to the wire Friday, when Erik
Barnes of Marion and Erich Johnston of Fort Wayne remained tied heading into
18. Barnes’ drive flew the water but landed in the fairway bunker, while
Johnston found the middle of the fairway. Both players missed the green, but
Barnes got his up-and-down for the title. “He played tough and It was hard to
catch him at the end,” Barnes said of his competitor.
It was a battle between the two collegiate players all day.
Barnes, a member of Austin Peay State University, took a five shot lead after
the third hole, but Johnston, a Purdue player, fought back and closed the gap
to one stroke by the turn. Barnes’ approach landed just shy of the woods on 10
where he carded a par, but Johnston was able to walk away with a birdie to tie
it up. “You don’t want it to be like match play out there, you want to play
your own game. But it was near impossible since nobody was really making a
move,” Barnes explained.
At the par 3, hole 11 Johnston made a par and took the lead
for the first time in the championship, but quickly lost it on the 12th after
hitting into a bunker. The tough par-5, 15th hole gave Barnes some
trouble and he doubled, while Johnston birdied to take a two shot lead with
only two to play. Barnes quickly answered on 17 with a birdie, and Johnston’s
short-sided chip cost him a bogey. With both at six under, it all came down to
putting on the last green.
Barnes prevailed and won the tournament he led after each
round by sinking his three-footer. “This is awesome, I can’t stop shaking,” he
said.