After a rocky start to the final round, Joe Hayden of Fort Wayne fought his way back to shoot 73 and win the IGA Tournament of Champions May 9 at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville. “I didn’t hit a solid shot until the fifth hole,” he said. A tee shot into a pine tree on the second hole left him no angle at the green, and after blowing a putt by the cup walked away with a double bogey. He found the trees again on the third hole and carded a bogey. “On the back I played really solid golf and kept it together despite the brutal conditions,” continued Hayden. Strong winds and cool temperatures kept anyone from finishing below par the second round, while six players had subpar rounds opening day.
It was at the 15th hole when Hayden, 2008 Mid Am Team champion, felt confident about his chance at a victory. “On 15 the wind was with us and my drive felt good. Then I had a great shot on the par-3, 16,” he explained. The 15th hole, a short downhill par 4, invited Hayden’s attempt to drive the green. Coming up only a few yards short allowed him an easy up and down for birdie and a share of the lead with Andy Skillman of Yorktown. After Skillman bogeyed the next par 3, the lead was solely Hayden’s and he held on for the final two holes. Skillman fired a 66 the first day for a three shot lead over Hayden
heading into the final day, but a tough back nine caused his lead to
slip away. He finished as runner-up at 66-77=143.
“It’s an honor to win with this field,” said Hayden. The strong field was comprised of 87 of Indiana’s club champions from the past five years.