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Clouser Challenges, but Hometown Favorite Duncan Amateur Champ

Jun 23, 2011

With one of the largest spectator crowds ever at an IGA
event intently following, Columbus’ Tyler Duncan pleased his hometown fans by
winning his first Indiana State Amateur Championship at his home course, Otter
Creek GC. “It was great winning in front of everyone,” said Duncan. “Their
cheering and support was great.” The numerous fans who followed him around all
day expected the victory, as he had a five-shot lead at the turn. But McCormick
Clouser made a run at it on the front nine, making three birdies to get down to 1-over while Duncan was hanging on to 4-under.

Duncan started the day with the lead at 70-67-75=212 (-4).
He managed even par for the front, but the very beginning of the round didn’t
look promising. A pulled drive off the first tee into the trees was followed by
a missed short birdie putt on 2. “I played solid on the front nine, except for
my putt on 2. But I was committed to not doing that again.” And he didn’t. At
the 5th hole, he sunk a 15-footer for his first birdie of the day.
And on the back nine at the 12th he dropped a 20-foot putt for his
only birdie on the back.

Clouser made one more birdie on the back to finish even for
the championship with rounds of 69-76-74-69=288. As he signed his scorecard,
Duncan stepped up to the 18th tee with a 2-shot lead. His approach
shot got caught in the rough and stayed short of the green. In reference to his
chip, Duncan said, “I was trying to make it, you are always trying to make it,
but I didn’t want it to go too far by and leave myself a tester on the way
back.” He easily 2-putted for the victory. “This was one of the tournaments I
wanted to win the most,” he said graciously.

Following checking this event off his list of ‘to-win’s’, his
next move is to prepare for some national tournaments. “I have three other good
tournaments to get ready for after this,” he said. He will then return to
Purdue for one more year of collegiate golf. After that? “I do plan to play
professional golf one day.”

If he follows through with his plan to play professional
golf, he will forego the opportunity to join the legendary ranks of Randy
Nichols and Kent Frandsen, whose accomplishments were celebrated this week. For
Nichols, this year marked his 40th consecutive cut made at a State
Amateur. “That is awesome! I have played with Randy a couple times. That is
just a lot of times in this event!” said Duncan. And for Frandsen, this year’s
championship at Otter Creek marked the 37th anniversary of when he
set the tournament record at this very same course in 1974 that still stands
today. He also won two more in 1979 and 1984. Longtime fellow competitor Skip
Runnels said, “He was the standard by which we all compared ourselves and for
the most part none of us were very successful. I remember following his final
day groupings during his wins at the State Am and I was always awed by his
ability. He never missed fairways, never missed greens and during his record
breaking win never missed putts. He always seemed in control of his emotions
and always conducted himself with high character.”

Finishing third was Corey Ziedonis (71-72-73-74) and in
fourth was Adam Schenk (74-72-71-74). Tyler Merkel (71-73-75-73), Aaron Monson (69-75-73-75)
and Tony Lazzara (68-72-74-78) finished tied in fifth. See complete results here.