Indiana Golf Association, Indianapolis, IN. (July 1, 2026)
The 126th Indiana State Amateur Championship brought one of the state’s strongest amateur fields to Broadmoor Country Club, where 157 players competed June 29-July 1 on the historic Donald Ross layout.
After two days of play, the field was cut to the low 60 and ties, setting the stage for a final round filled with low scores, leaderboard movement and a championship finish that came down to the very end.
Matt Vogt entered the final day with the lead after a standout second round helped separate him from the field. Following an opening-round 67, Vogt fired an 8-under-par 64 on Tuesday to move to 13-under for the championship and take control heading into Wednesday’s final round. Cole Bradley, who regained his amateur status in January, made one of the biggest moves of the week in the second round with a 9-under-par 63, bringing him to 11-under and putting himself firmly in contention. Maverick Conaway rounded out the final championship tee time at 10-under after rounds of 64 and 70.
With par set at 72, Broadmoor provided opportunities for scoring throughout the week, and several players took advantage. The final round saw Bradley make another impressive push, especially on the back nine, where he turned a late deficit into a tied championship. Vogt remained in control for much of the day, but a bogey on No. 14 opened the door. Bradley then birdied No. 16, bringing the championship pair even at 16-under as the final group headed to the closing holes.
The drama continued on No. 18. Vogt’s drive found the wooded area to the right, putting him in a difficult position with the championship still very much in the balance. But he answered with one of the most important shots of the week.
“It’s one of the best shots I’ve hit in my entire life,” Vogt said. “I had 224 between a couple trees and had to flight a five iron down, carry it over this bunker and land it perfectly. That one’s going in the memory bank. That was just a dream shot.”
Vogt’s approach found the green, and from there he two-putted for birdie. Bradley, meanwhile, found the center of the fairway off the tee and gave himself a look at eagle, but his long putt did not fall. Both players finished the hole with birdie, leaving the championship tied after 54 holes.
With Vogt and Bradley both at 17-under, the two returned to the 18th tee to begin the playoff. This time, Vogt put himself in position immediately, finding the middle of the fairway with his tee shot. Bradley’s drive found trouble on the left side, and his approach came up just short of the green. His chip rolled behind the pin, and when his birdie putt missed, the door was open for Vogt.
Vogt stayed steady from there. After reaching the green, he rolled his third shot close and left himself only a short tap-in for birdie. He converted it to win the playoff and claim the 126th Indiana State Amateur Championship, setting a new 54-hole scoring record for the championship at 17-under-par.
The emotion of the moment was clear as Vogt reflected on what the win meant.
“A ton,” Vogt said. “I came here for some gold this week. It’s the best win I’ve ever had. I’ve had some high finishes and qualified for the Open, but this is the best 54-hole tournament finish I’ve ever had. I’m on cloud nine.”
Vogt said patience was the key throughout the week, especially with soft conditions early and scoring expected to be low. Rather than chase, he focused on staying committed to his plan and taking advantage of the par fives.
“I knew scores were going to be really low with all the rain we got,” Vogt said. “I knew someone was going to go crazy on day one and someone was going to go crazy on day two, like Cole did. I stayed super patient, got the par fives out here and tried to just fat side everything else. I made some nice putts, but I just stayed really, really patient for 54 holes.”
Bradley finished runner-up at 17-under, capping an impressive return to amateur competition with rounds of 70, 63 and 66. Vogt credited Bradley for the pressure he applied down the stretch, especially as the two battled head-to-head over the final holes.
“Cole just kind of went crazy and made a couple 10- to 15-footers in a row,” Vogt said. “Hats off to him because he played really nice. We had a great battle today.”
Peyton Blackard finished third at 15-under after rounds of 70, 64 and 67, while Johnny Watts placed fourth at 14-under following a final-round 67. Conaway finished fifth at 11-under, and Jake Cesare rounded out the top six at 10-under.
The week featured a packed field, a competitive cut and some of the lowest scoring in championship history, with several players making runs at the top of the leaderboard. But after 54 holes, a playoff and a closing stretch filled with pressure, it was Vogt who stood alone as the champion. His 17-under-par total set a new 54-hole record for the Indiana Amateur, adding another memorable chapter to the long history of the championship.
Tournament Results: https://iga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/iga26/event/iga2610/contest/9/leaderboard.htm