Former Ball State University teammates Todd Palmer of
Fishers and Curt Puckett of Farmland paired up to win the IGA Mid Am Team at
Hillview Country Club. The championship consisted of a “Pinehurst” Alternate
Shot format on Sunday, April 26, and a stroke play best ball on Monday. Palmer
and Puckett fired 66-64=130 to beat the runner-up teams of Rick Hardesty and
Rob Carmichael of Plymouth and Chuck Himes and Brooks Snyder of Williamsport
who finished at 134. Carmichael and Hardesty tied the lowest round of the
tournament the final day at 63.
“I like team events because you don’t have to rely completely on your game. I like having a partner to depend on,” said Palmer,
who also won this event in 2007 with Todd Leary. The unique format keeps him
coming back, especially the best ball round. “With Best Ball there’s so much less
pressure,” he said. “We both kept our balls in play and had birdie putts quite
a few times.” The team never counted a score over par during the final round,
and despite the strong winds, both teammates consistently hit fairways and
greens to give themselves a chance at birdie. “I tried to play normal shots
instead of thinking about the wind so much. I stopped over-thinking and hit the
ball solidly,” said Puckett. His strategy earned him his first IGA victory.