Milena Savich of Carmel, a member of Georgia’s golf team, came back with a 32 on the back nine in the final round of the Women’s Indiana Amateur Championship to claim her first IWGA title. Her 72-73-70=215 was just enough for the victory. It took every birdie and eagle she could make on the back side to fend off Lyndsay McBride of Bristol who fired a final round 67 and Michele Nash of Indianapolis who carded a 69 the second day. Both McBride and Nash finished in second at 216.
Savich turned at 38, and watched as Nash and McBride seemed to make it a two-player race. At the par-5, 16th hole Savich knew it was time to make a move. After finding a terrible lie in the rough off the tee, she hit a low 3-wood that rolled up to 15 feet from the hole and made the putt for eagle. By the time she and Nash reached the par-5, 18th tee, McBride was in the clubhouse with a 216 and a one stroke lead. Nash was on the last green in regulation, but with a long putt in front of her. Savich hit her approach closer than Nash, but was still a good 15 feet from the hole. With her family, friends, and McBride watching from the gallery, Savich made another great putt to avoid a playoff.