Two of the top amateur players in Indiana teamed to win the inaugural IGA event of the season at the Mid-Am Team Championship hosted by Highland G&CC in Indianapolis. Kenny Cook and Sean Rowen fired a two-day total of 16-under par to win by a 6-shot margin.
Marking the first time the pair had teamed together in an IGA event, Cook and Rowen formed the partnership after timing and circumstance brought them together as partners at the USGA Amateur Four Ball Qualifier in September of 2016. The pair advanced from that qualifier and will play in the National Championship at Pinehurst Resort this May. “Since we were fortunate enough to qualifier last fall it made since to play in an event together,” said Cook.
Following an opening round 65, in the Four Ball format, Cook and Rowen shared the lead with the team of Mark Humphrey and Ben Hunter heading to the final round Scramble format. The duo played the first six holes of the final round, with just one under-par hole, an eagle at the par-5 3rd, before playing the next seven holes at 7-under par to put the lead out of reach. “I think the slow start was mostly conditions other than missing short birdie putt on 1,” said Rowen. “We just stayed patient and knew we were good putters and they would start falling. I was able to hit one close on 7. Kenny made a great putt on 8, hit one close on 9 and made a great putt on 10. That quick spurt got us going.” “I believe that Sean started it off when he wanted to putt first on three, then a great par putt on 4 with plenty of break,” added Cook “We had good looks from #6-#14 and hit good putts of which made the event much more fun.”
Cook and Rowen capped the round with back-to-back birdies for a final-round 59 and the 16-under total. Humphrey and Hunter finished second, along with the teams of Brian Spacey and Matt Fox and Aaron Walters and Joe Miller who fired final rounds of 61 and 63 respectively.
