Indiana PGA
FRENCH LICK, IN (July 8-10). The 2024 PGA Indiana Open Championship finished play on Wednesday, July 10th on the Donald Ross Course at French Lick. After three days of play and experiencing a wide variety of weather conditions, Michael Davan was crowned champion.
Round Two of play began at the Pete Dye Course, with two waves of players experiencing Dye’s rugged terrain, steep elevation changes, and breathtaking views. The course presented a challenge with its visually intimidating holes and dramatic layout. Coming into round two, with a low score of 66 from the Donald Ross Course, was Michael Davan.
With his tee time in the afternoon wave of players, Davan knew he had to work hard with afternoon conditions to ensure a leader’s spot in the final round. The rain cut Davan’s round short after a storm rolled through the course and halted play. Tournament Director Todd DeHaven made the decision to resume play the following morning with a 7:30 AM horn to resume play and an 11:00 AM final round start time.
At the course in the morning, Davan finished his second round with a 66 (-10), leaving him to tee off in the lead group with a 7-stroke lead.
Teeing off in the lead group were Michael Davan (-10), Peyton Snoeberger (-3), and Eric Steger (-3). Davan doubled hole one and birdied the second hole. Getting off to a troubled start, Davan calmed himself and continued steady with a strong lead. He found his groove with seven straight pars to finish the front nine. Throughout the round, Eric Steger made passes to close the gap with birdies on holes two, three, and seven. Steger lost momentum with bogeys on holes 10 and 11. Davan took a few hits with bogeys on 10 and 14 but was able to birdie hole 16 to keep his mental game alive.
Heading into the final hole, Davan had a four-shot lead and took a double bogey to win the 109th PGA Indiana Open Championship for the third time in six years.
Davan’s family was watching and patiently waiting for him to complete his round. Once he began to walk off the green, the scene of the family running to dad to congratulate him followed. His son joined him at scoring and to accept the championship award.
Reflecting on his play before the final round, Davan said,
“I played really well the first two days, pick targets and execute the shots I wanted to.”
However, that did not include the last few holes he had to play in the morning.
“The morning was a little different, I didn’t hit it that well to finish off the round over there (The Pete Dye Course), I just scrambled really well.”
Davan is a scoreboard watcher; he knew where he was throughout the day, especially near the end.
“I like to know where I am at, whether good or bad,” he stated. “I have never had this big of a lead going into the final round, so that’s weird territory.”
Davan played for 10 years competitively, and this is his third Indiana Open Championship win in the last six years. He has, however, taken a step back from playing competitively and has transitioned into teaching more. Davan is a teaching professional out of Plum Creek Golf Club in Carmel.
“To get this win when I have not been playing a ton this year is awesome, and I really liked the way I played yesterday (Round 2 at the Pete Dye Course).”
Coming up, Davan has the Illinois Open to play in, as he was born in Illinois, and a few other events, including one in Cincinnati, he is looking forward to.
Left: Amateur Winner Alec Cesare Middle: Champion Michael Davan Right: Runner-Up Seth Fair
About The Indiana Professional Golfers Association
The PGA is one of 41 PGA Sections and is a branch office of the PGA of America. The Indiana PGA provides education opportunities to PGA Members and Associates, serves as our members local connection for membership and employment matters and runs championships for the nearly 450 Indiana PGA Members and Associates
Tournament Results
Round 2 – Pete Dye Course – Event Album