Yesterday’s final match of the 2016 IWGA Match Play Championship was anything but ordinary. The runner-up and the champion both made hole-in-ones to stay in the mix, but it was Julia Potter, Indianapolis, who came out on top.
During the qualifying portion of competition, Potter co-medaled with Cherise Otter, Bloomington, posting a 3-over-par, 73. She grabbed the one seed and knocked out players one-by-one, on her way to the title.
“Match play is always really fun and the course set up perfectly for this type of event,” Potter said. “I really enjoyed it!”
Potter faced Katie Sharp, Kendallville, during the semi-finals yesterday morning and defeated her 3 & 2.
“Katie is a really great player and she didn’t give many shots away,” Potter said. “I had to be mindful that she wasn’t going to make many mistakes and just stay focused on making good swings, shots, and decisions.”
During the final match, Potter faced defending champion Tobi Herron, Columbus.
“This was one of the most exciting matches I have ever been a part of and it was amplified because we are really good friends,” Potter said. “I went into it trying to just have fun and know that whoever wins is well-deserving. And maybe that’s the key, because we had two aces!”
Herron made her ace on the par-3, 10th to win the hole and trail Potter by one. Potter then answered with a hole-in-one on the par-3, 12th. She defeated Herron 2 & 1.
Potter is a three-time IHSAA State Champion, a USGA Champion (Women’s Mid-Am, ’13), a four-time Women’s Amateur Champion, a four-time IWGA Alice O’Neal Dye Player of the Year and now a two-time IWGA Match Player Champion, with a previous win coming in ’09.
“My goal for this year is to qualify for match play at the US Women’s Mid-Am,” Potter said. “If I am lucky enough to make it, then this win should prepare me for another test of match play golf.”