Coleman Glick’s third Columbus City Men’s Golf Championship was by far his easiest, but it also was his most rewarding.
Tied with former Columbus North teammate Tanner Bennett going into the final round, Glick fired a 5-under-par 67 Sunday at Otter Creek to win by 10 shots. He had won city titles in a playoff in 2012 and by three shots in 2014.
“It gets better every time,” Glick said.
Glick’s path to his latest title became a little clearer with the withdrawl of Ian Coffey. Coffey was one shot behind Glick and Bennett after the first 36 holes, which were played last weekend at Greenbelt and Harrison Lake Country Club, but his work took him to Turkey last week.
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Coffey was the defending city champion.
“Ian is a great golfer,” Glick said. “He’s capable of low rounds, as well, so it made a difference. You’re mentally preparing for a duel — I know Ross (Pushor) was five back, and that’s doable, but it’s challenging — so you’re preparing for a duel with one guy and potentially somebody lingering behind, as well.”
The duel lasted through the front nine. Glick took the lead when Bennett bogeyed No. 3. Glick then surged to a four-shot advantage with birdies on Nos. 4, 5 and 7.
Bennett had a chance to get back in it when Glick bogeyed No. 9. Bennett had a birdie opportunity on that hole, but it slid by, and he finished with a 37 on the front to Glick’s 34.
“That swing would have been big for (going into) the back nine,” Bennett said. “But I didn’t make a single birdie all day. So you can’t come in here and not make any birdies and expect to do any good.”
Especially when Glick was on top of his game. Glick added three more birdies on the back nine for a 33, while Bennett shot 40 on the back.
The runner-up finish was the second for Bennett, who also finished second to Tyler Duncan by 17 shots in 2011, just after Bennett’s freshman year at North. Bennett now plays hockey at Trine University.
“I struggled out there a little bit, but Coleman had a great round,” Bennett said. “He didn’t make any mistakes, so it’s tough to make an early bogey and come back. He didn’t leave any breathing room. He was pretty lights-out all day. He had a great round.”
Glick tried professional golf for about a year-and-a-half after college before returning to Columbus to work for his father in the funeral home business. Earlier this year, he won an Indiana Golf Association stroke play event at Otter Creek.
His 67 Sunday was his best tournament score at Otter Creek. He just missed a 66 after an eagle putt on No. 18 burned the edge of the hole.
“There were a couple of putts I wish I could have made, but all in all, I can’t be upset,” Glick said. “Sixty-seven is 5-under, so I can’t complain.”
Meanwhile, Columbus East graduate Austin Proffitt, who will be a junior at St. Francis, carded a final-round 72 to move into third place at 223, one shot out of second. Pushor shot 76 on Sunday and finished fourth at 226. He was followed by Thomas Ruch (231), Eric Grider (232) and Derek Alexander (233).
The field was divided into flights prior to the final round. Scott Ousley won the First Flight with a 240, Alex Bays took the Second Flight with a 250 and Ron Dinn captured the Third Flight with a 281.
