Four-time Indiana PGA Player of the Year and two-time Indiana Open Champion, Brett Melton, CC of Old Vincennes, looks for his first-ever win at the Indiana PGA Professional Championship this week at Kokomo CC. Melton fired a 36-hole total of 12-under-par, 128 today and currently leads the field by five shots. Defending Champion Craig Bowden, KBS Shafts, and Adam Marshall, Eagle View GC, trail at 7-under-par.
“I was patient today and I recovered well when I hit the ball crooked off the tee,” Melton said. “Out here, you know you’re going to get into tree trouble occasionally, so it’s important to get out and try to make par.”
Melton has finished runner-up in this event six times and says this is the one event he has always wanted to win.
“If I were able to win tomorrow, I would have all of the Indiana PGA events under my belt,” Melton said. “I would feel complete in my Indiana career.”
All close friends, Bowden and Marshall will join Melton in the lead group tomorrow.
“Tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun,” Melton said. “It’s a great pairing with two other great players. Five shots isn’t really that much out here. I hope I can stick to my game plan and win a golf tournament tomorrow.”
Bowden’s 7-under-par, total consisted of a 66 this morning, paired with a 67 this afternoon. Not having played as much golf as he would like, he is excited about the possibility of defending his title.
“I don’t get to play a whole lot of golf anymore, so being able to be competitive is fun,” Bowden said. “I’m trying to make it to the national event, but I’m also trying to win the tournament. I look forward to tomorrow.”
Like Melton, Marshall also looks for his first Indiana PGA Professional title.
“I feel pretty good about how I played today,” Marshall said. “Brett and Craig are great players, so I’ll have to keep the pedal down tomorrow.”
Five players will qualify for the 50th PGA Professional National Championship presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA, in June 2017 at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Ore.
Tee times begin tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.