After day one of the Hoosier Junior Championship at Otter
Creek GC, Tyler Pearson of Richmond and Defending Champion Michael VanDeventer
of Columbus were in the lead, tied at 2-under-par. Joining Pearson and VanDeventer in the lead
group was Anderson’s Colin Proctor. Although all attention was on the lead
group, Huntingburg’s Tyler Gray, who was playing just one group ahead posted a 1-under-par 71 on day two and finished the tournament at even par.
VanDeventer began the day with a few bogeys early on and saw himself fall out of the lead. Pearson separated
himself from the group and was 3-under-par for the tournament after a birdie on
the par 5, 14th hole. With a
birdie bogey swing on the par 3, 15th, Proctor saw himself just two
shots out of the lead.
Pearson then bogeyed the par 4, 16th and double
bogeyed the par 4, 17th to fall back to 1-over-par, which he
maintained through his 18th and final hole. Proctor bogeyed 17 and 18 and posted a
tournament total of 146, 2-over-par. Tyler
Gray’s even par held strong in the clubhouse and he walked away with his first
Indiana Junior Golf victory in the first event he has participated in.
“My putting really saved me today,” Gray said. “This is the first Indiana Junior Golf event
I have ever played in and it’s a relief to win.
I haven’t won many big tournaments in the past and it’s nice to get this
first win under my belt.”
Gray is a senior at South Ridge High School and will play
golf next fall at the University of Evansville.
Anderson’s Morgan Nadaline was a force to be reckoned with
in the Girl’s Division of the Hoosier Junior Championship. Nadaline was just one shot out of the lead behind
Columbus’ Sydney Anderson after day one of competition.
Anderson struggled during her opening nine holes and Nadaline
played very steady. With thirteen pars,
three birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey, Nadaline posted an impressive
even par 72 on day two, which was enough for a five shot victory over Jasper’s
Annie Getzin.
“I played very well today,” Nadaline said. “Yesterday I couldn’t hit a bunker shot at
all and it held me back. I practiced
last night and I got up-and-down from all three bunkers I was in today.”
Nadaline is currently a senior at Anderson High School and
will play golf next fall at Ball State University. This is Morgan’s second major win on the
Indiana Junior Golf Tour. Her previous
win came last summer at the Girl’s State Junior Championship.
“This is a great way to end my senior season,” Nadaline
said. “I’m looking forward to playing at
Ball State next year and this is a fun way to end my Indiana Junior golf career.”