It was a struggle for all the local golfers in Tuesday’s second round of the Indiana Open Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Two of the Columbus golfers shot good enough rounds on Monday that they were able to make the cut to today’s final round, despite higher scores on Tuesday.
Michael VanDeventer, a 2014 Columbus North and 2018 Ball State graduate, shot even-par 72 on Monday. Tuesday, he posted three birdies and four bogeys to finish with a 1-over 73 for a 1-over 145 two day total. He is tied for 28th.
“It was a real struggle off the tee, especially today. I wasn’t finding the fairways, my iron game wasn’t very sharp and my putting wasn’t good at all, either,” VanDeventer said. “I’ll do a little practicing and try to get some things figured out and find a swing for (today), and hopefully make a ton of birdies and try to move up the leaderboard as far as I can.”
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VanDeventer saw first hand the guy that everyone has to chase, and that is his playing partner during the first two rounds in Zionsville’s Michael Davan. Davan fired a 9-under 63 to put himself at 10-under overall for the tournament. He has a two shot lead over fellow PGA Tour Latinoamerica competitor Seth Fair of Whitestown.
Jake Coffey, a 2013 North and 2017 Indiana Wesleyan grad, carded a 1-under-par 71 on Monday, but couldn’t get anything going Tuesday and shot 8-over 80. His two day total of 151 and slid in at the cut line in a tie for 70th. The top 70 and ties made today’s final cut.
Coffey’s round Tuesday consisted of one birdie, seven bogeys and a double bogey.
“It was the complete opposite of (Monday). I struggled,” Coffey said. “I know the conditions were a bit tougher. I thought I could hang in there. It was slowly falling apart for me.”
VanDeventer will tee off at 8:48 a.m. today on No. 1, and Coffey will start at 10:09 a.m. on No. 10. The leaders — Davan, Fair and Tyler Gray (-7) will tee off at 10:18 a.m. on No. 1.
Jon Hoover, a Hope native and the director of operations at Otter Creek, recorded one birdie but also had five bogeys and a double bogey to finish with a 6-over 78 and tie for 92nd with a a 36-hole total of 154. Konnor Kimmel, a 2012 Columbus East and 2016 Eastern Kentucky graduate and an assistant pro at Woodland Country Club in Carmel had three birdies, four bogeys and two double-bogeys for a 5-over 77 and finished with a two day total of 154, which also tied for 92nd.
Bryce Turner, a 2017 North grad and incoming junior at St. Francis, shot 76 Tuesday to tie for 109th with a two-day score of 156.
Coffey’s brother Ian, a 2014 North and 2018 St. Francis grad who lives in Fort Wayne, played in the morning, and recorded five double-bogeys, five bogeys and a birdie to finish with an 86 and a two day total of 161 to tie for 125th.
“It was pretty windy today, so there wasn’t much of an advantage starting off early in the morning where conditions are calmer. I don’t have an excuse, I’ve played here before and whenever I am back home,” Ian Coffey said. “The course looked good. I just didn’t have it today. I couldn’t get anything going.”
Drew Smith, a 2019 North grad and incoming freshman at Hillsdale (Michigan), shot an 81 for the second consecutive day to finish 132nd with a 162. Smith got into the field Monday morning as an alternate and had a great experience playing in the tournament.
“(My round) was pretty frustrating, but I always like getting to play Otter Creek. It’s in nice shape, and it’s a beautiful golf course. I regret not getting to play it as much this year as I used to,” Smith said. “It’s a good tournament. I’m glad that I got to play in it, and I hope to play a lot better next time.”
Heath Harrison, a Columbus resident and former Hauser coach, shot an 83 to finish with a 164 and tie for 136th. Ben Wisman, a Columbus resident and pro at Fitness 1440 in Seymour, shot 84 to finish finish 142nd with a 170.
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The Indiana Open Championship leaderboard going into today’s final round at Otter Creek:
Michael Davan;Zionsville;71-63—134;-10
Seth Fair;Brownsburg;70-66—136;-8
Tyler Gray;Huntingburg;68-69—137;-7
Keegan Bronnenberg;Muncie;70-67—137;-7
Jeff Doty;Carmel;69-69—138;-6
Other local golfers to make cut:
Michael VanDeventer;Columbus;72-73—145;+1
Jake Coffey;Columbus;71-80—151;+7
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