“I was up just enough after yesterday to hang on,” said Todd
Palmer, whose first round 66 gave him the edge he needed to hold off Kyle
Thomas for the Amateur Division win at the Pepsi Indiana Golf Championships
hosted by Delaware CC. Thomas’ 69-70=139 in his last IGA event before turning
professional, finished runner-up to Palmer’s 66-72=138. Palmer admitted, “The
wind and the course were playing tough. All the hard holes were into the wind.”
But he was able to hit a hybrid off the tee on the par-4, 3rd hole
to within 3 feet of the hole and tap in for eagle.
Even without an eagle, Brad Mays carded the final round low
67 for a two day total of 140 to win the PGA Professional Division. This is his
first win in the Section since the 1990 Southern Open. “I haven’t even played
in an event in 10 years, so this is a nice way to cap off a season,” said a
very happy Mays. His co-worker at The Bridgewater Club, David Carich, placed
second with 141.
Getting his first victory since the 2006 Indiana Golf
Championships was Gary Gant with a comeback 33 on the back nine to finish
66-73=139 and force a playoff with Bob Rothgeb for the Senior PGA Division. “I was nervous the whole way
around, but it all changed on the back nine when I started with three birdies
in a row,” explained Gant. In the playoff, Rothgeb found the sand on his
approach at the first hole, and was unable to convert the up and down. Gant also
missed the green left but did convert the up and down for par and the win.
In the Senior Amateur Division, 2010 IGA Senior Player of
the Year Randy Nichols claimed victory with 68-69=137. In the runner-up
position with 140 was Skip Runnels, Dave Williamson and Ron Carter.
See complete results here.