After back-to-back Indiana Open wins in ’94 and ’95,
Bloomington’s Craig Bowden decided to give it another shot 19 years later, and
he made the right decision. With a four
day total of 18-under-par, 270 at Otter Creek GC, Bowden becomes the 99th
Indiana Open Champion.
“I wanted to play this week just to see if I still had it in
me,” said Bowden, past PGA Tour player. “I
played in four events last year on the Web.com Tour, but my heart just wasn’t
in it. I had two little kids at home and
was recently remarried and just in a different life place than I had been in
the past. This is the first time I
decided to play competitively this year and I am definitely glad I made that
decision.”
Bowden headed to the final day of the four day event one
shot behind Andy Winings of Fishers, Ind.
Heading to the 10th tee, Bowden was 3-under-par for the day
and for the first time this week had the lead to himself.
Bowden continued to play steady on the back nine and made
his fourth birdie of the day on the par-4, 11th hole. He held onto this two shot heading to the
par-4, 16th hole where he knocked it in from 160 yards for eagle and
victory became almost a guarantee.
“Andy felt like he had an opportunity up until that point
because he had a reachable par-5 coming up,” Bowden said. “I was 160 yards and I smoked an 8-iron. The flag happened to get in the way and it
went in. At that point I knew I had won
the event.”
With this victory, Bowden becomes the ninth player to ever
win the Indiana Open Championship three times.
He plans to return next year to defend and says his goal is to win five.
“This win really means a lot to me,” Bowden said. “Hats off to Andy and Tyler (Duncan). They played great golf this week. I have always thought I was one of the best
players in the state and to come out and shoot 18-under-par at Otter Creek,
which I consider to be a difficult course, just feels great. I am elated.
I think I still have a few Opens left in me. Let’s see if we can get to five.”
Winings finished the event with a four day total of
15-under-par, 273. Bluffton’s McCormick
Clouser finished third this week and claimed low-amateur honors with an
11-under-par finish.