Noblesville’s Emily Podzielinski and Haley Kluth used their
home course knowledge of the Harbour Trees Golf Club layout to finish first and
second in the 2013 IWGA Women’s Amateur Championship.
“I’ve spent a lot of hours on that (practice) putting
green”, stated Podzielinski to the crowd of participants and Harbour Trees
members who gathered for the awards presentation. “Winning on this course is
really special.”
Podzielinski entered the final round with a one shot lead
over Kluth after posting a second round, tournament low, 69. While her nearest
competitors were finding the going difficult, Podzielinski fired a front nine
even par 35 to extend her lead to 5 shots entering the back nine.
She then bogeyed the 10th and 11th
holes and the lead was just three. After another bogey on 14, she seemed to
have things firmly in control after a birdie 4 on the 439 yard par 5, 17th.
That gave her a three shot lead with just the 138 yard par 3, 18th
to play.
Her tee shot found a piece of Morse Reservoir that guards
the green and after a drop and two putt she posted a double bogey, 5, which was
still good for the one shot victory over Kluth who fired a two under par 34 on
the back nine to solidify her runner up finish.
“I didn’t know where
I stood on 18,” said Podzielinski. “I’ve hit that shot a hundred times. I guess
the wind just kicked up.”
Kluth admitted that she, also did not know where the two
stood down the stretch. “I don’t keep
track of my score normally”, said Kluth.
” I actually thought Emily was five shots ahead of me. I had no idea I was that close to her, which
was probably a good thing.”
Podzielinski, who will be a red-shirt senior for the
Arkansas Razorbacks Women’s Golf Team this coming Fall said winning on her home
course was “huge”. “I really prepared
for this tournament”, she said. “I didn’t take it lightly. It’s easier said
than done to get a victory. We live on the sixth hole and my Dad caddied for me
for the first time in this event.”
Podzielinski said her Dad, Eric, “pretty much let me do my
thing.”
The final round pairing with Kluth might have also made the
final day a little more comfortable for Podzielinski. “I’ve played a lot of
golf with Haley”, said Podzielinski. “She will make an awesome college player.”
Kluth agreed that it was like a round with friends, as
opposed to the final pairing in the Indiana Amateur Championship. “Emily is
like a mentor to me,” said Kluth. “She
has taught me a lot about the game. It was very
humbling to be able to play with her in that setting. It was fun to see her play so well. I’m really proud of her.”
Kluth, who will be a senior at Noblesville High School this
year opened the Championship with a 1-under par 70 before firing 73-75 over the
final two days.