Seymour, Ind. – Brodie Williams’s sizzling play matched the temperature outside as he bettered the elements and the Shadowood Golf Course layout to take home the 2012 Indiana Golf Association Public Links Championship. Williams finished the 36- hole event at eight under par.
Throughout the day, Williams looked unbeatable, not giving his nearest competitors, Skip Runnels and Jake Groninger any chance to close the gap.
By hole 11, Williams was 10 under par for the tournament, five shots ahead of Runnels and six shots ahead of Groninger. On number 12, Williams had his first hiccup of the day, slicing a ball out of bounds.
“OB comes in close to the fairway on the right,” said Williams. “I was trying to hit a draw into the crosswind, but the wind pushed it into the rough, and it took a hard kick right.”
Williams left the 12th hole with a triple bogey, seven to fall back to seven-under par, giving Runnels and Groninger a glimmer of hope. Williams righted the ship and played the last 6 holes at one under par to secure the victory.
Runnels and Groninger both finished one shot off the pace at seven-under par.
“I just feel like this win is for everybody back home and all the people at the small course where I grew up playing, as well as everyone at Ball State,” said Williams.
In addition to Williams’s victory in the IGA Public Links Championship he also qualified earlier this summer for the USGA Public Links Championship. He will compete in the USGA Public Links Championship in two weeks in Utah. He said this win gives him a lot of confidence heading into that. “It keeps my competitive edge sharp.”
Williams becomes the second straight Ball State golfer to win an IGA event. Teammate Tyler Merkel won the Indiana Amateur Championship last week at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.