Kari Bellville, Granger, won the 2019 IWGA Indiana Golf Championship at Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus, during today’s 18-hole event. The Indiana University graduate student birdied two of her last four holes to hold off Cailyn Henderson, Westfield, and win the event by three strokes.
Standing on the 13th tee, Bellville and Henderson were tied at even par with Julia Potter-Bobb, Indianapolis, sitting just one stroke back in the final group. Bellville played the final six holes at 1-under-par to secure her first IWGA victory.
“I hit great iron shots into the greens today,” Bellville said. “It was really windy so I was trying to make the least mistakes possible and just put myself in some decent putting ranges.”
Bellville is coming off a National Championship appearance with the Indiana University Women’s Golf team as a fifth year graduate transfer after playing collegiate golf at Notre Dame. After a wrist injury that shook her confidence and kept her out of the starting lineup in South Bend, Bellville enrolled in graduate school at IU and was immediately invited to join the women’s golf team.
Just a year later, Bellville wins the 2019 IWGA Championship.
“It’s a great confidence booster,” Bellville said. “A year ago I was coming in and confidence was low and I was really scared about going in as a fifth year and not knowing where my game was. I dedicated this past year to improving myself, but also improving my confidence, and this win puts the icing on the cake.”
Bellville’s playing partner Cailyn Henderson finished in solo second with a 2-over-par, 74. Julia Potter-Bobb and 2018 champion Kristina Kniesly carded 75’s to finish in a tie for third.
Click here for the full leaderboard from the 2019 IWGA Indiana Championship.
