After a lot close calls Ivan Foster finally broke through to claim his first individual Indiana PGA title at the Monticello Open sponsored by Club Car. Foster, the Head Golf Professional at Bridgewater GC in Auburn, fired a 3-under par round of 69 at Tippecanoe CC, along with PGA Professionals Bill Pollert of Highland G&CC, David Carich of Harbour Trees G&BC and Dave Pugh of Mystic Hills GC.
The four headed for a playoff on the short 280-yard par-4 10th hole, which Foster had double bogeyed earlier in the day. “After making six during the round, I wasn’t too happy about going back to that hole for the playoff,” said Foster. This time, however, the result was much different. “I was last to hit and after Pollert hit Driver just short of the green, I switched to Driver from 3-wood,” said Foster about the playoff. “I hit a solid tee ball to the back fringe and made the 15-footer for two.”
Foster’s eagle resulted in his fist individual Section title after a lot of close calls. “It has been my goal for the last few seasons to get a win and I haven’t been able to get it done,” noted Foster. “I’ve lost in a playoff two different times the last couple of years.” Despite missing an individual win, Foster has built a reputation as one of the Section’s top players over the past five seasons. In that time he’s recorded seven top-5 individual finishes, low-PGA Professional honors at the Indiana Open and winning the Indiana PGA Pro-Am, Pro-Assistant and Team titles.
Pollert, Carich and Pugh shared runner-up honors, while PGA Professionals Tim Holt and Matthew Smith finished tied for fifth, as did Zach Schroeder who finished as the low-amateur.
