Bob Jacobs of Valparaiso, Ind. admitted he was nervous before the final round of 2018 Indiana PGA Senior Open at the Ackerman-Allen course in West Lafayette.
After a first round 66, Jacobs held a three shot lead before Friday’s round, but saw it slip away after a slow start on the front nine. David Moore of Carmel, Ind. carded a front nine score of 7-under par 29 to tie Jacobs atop the leaderboard.
“I looked at the leaderboard at the turn and as bad as I had played, I was still tied for the lead at three under,” Jacobs said. “I thought to myself I haven’t shot myself out of it yet, so that kind of gave me a renewed hope.”
Jacobs birdied the par-4 10th, to give himself some momentum for the back nine. It was advice from his son Bobby, who was caddying for him, that steered Jacobs back in the right direction.
“My son Bobby, got me really relaxed at the turn and said to me, lets start taking it one shot at a time and let’s get a couple on the green as we have some easy holes coming up,” Jacobs said. “It gave me some confidence and I started making better swings.”
Jacobs would go on to birding the 13th and 14th holes to get him back to even on the day. After a bogey on the par-4 15th, he found himself tied with Bill Schumaker who was 2-under par on his round to that point.
Jacobs got to the green in two on the par-5 16th, while Shumaker had to layup. Jacobs would go on to make birdie while Schumaker made par, giving Jacobs sole possession of the lead once again. He would close with two pars to secure his first career Indiana PGA Senior Open Championship.
After his front nine 29, David Moore shot even-par 36 on the back nine to shoot 65 on the day and finish in a tie for second with Schumaker.
Click here for full field results.
