The final day of the 2023 IGA Mid Amateur Championship began with Kenny Cook of Noblesville and Michael Williams of Indianapolis leading the field at 5-under par. Today produced a handful of weather related obstacles, including a long day of rain and high winds throughout the duration of the last round. Cook, who had previously won this championship back in 2019, did not let the weather fault his performance and produced another solid round of 2-under par. Cook finished the tournament 7-under (65,68) with a four stroke lead over the remaining competition.
“It always feels good to win. No matter if it’s your fifth or first time. The field today was great and it was a little hard to play golf today. I played really well yesterday and whenever you can win, it feels great. I actually played well at the Indiana State Amateur this year and I have been playing, putting, and driving well so it felt like something good was going to come and here it is” said Cook.
Cook never stepped out of the lead today and got a solid cushion off of his front nine performance, birdieing holes 1,5,8, and 9. His first nine tremendously helped him stay on the top after a few run ins with bogeys on 10, 11, and 15.
“I tried to give myself some opportunities and obviously with the wind today, turning at 4-under was helpful. A couple of the holes on the back don’t really fit my eye but it was just a lot of wind. I know that everyone had to play with it but I tried to continue to give myself looks and fortunately made some putts and came out on top” said Cook.
The competition for the second spot was a bit tighter with Sean Rowen of Greenwood (69,67), Joe Mahurin of Noblesville (70,66), and Michael Williams (65,71) of Indianapolis all closing out 4-under par and sharing the 2023 runner-up title.
Next up for Cook is a USGA Four Ball Qualifier outside of Cincinnati, that he will be playing in with long-time playing partner and 3X IGA Mid Am Champion, Sean Rowen.