Emotional Todd Smith Wins Indiana Open
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
In winning the 2000 Pepsi/Rapport Composites Indiana Open, Peru's Todd Smith may have had a different emotion for each club he had in his golf bag.
After the 37-year-old's four-round 12-under-par score of 272 won the event at Stonehenge Golf Club, he claims relief was the first thing he felt.
"The first feeling was a little bit of relief," Smith, the pro at Rock Hollow Golf Club, said. "I can't describe what it means to win this tournament. It all started Monday, and I'm extremely tired."
Kokomo's Cary Hungate finished second with a four-round 7-under-par score of 277, while Fishers' Alan Schulte and Cloverdale's Chad Collins tied for third with their four-round 5-under-par scores of 279.
Collins won the low amateur title.
Raccoon Run owner/pro Denny Hepler led the local contingent with his eighth-place 1-over-par score of 285.
Other locals to finish included North Manchester's Quinn Griffing (11th, 286) and Jeff Schumaker (27th, 295); Dave Schumaker (30th, 296); Jerry Nelson (44th, 301) and Steve Buroker (55th, 303), all of Warsaw.
From being relieved and tired came excitement for Smith, who won the 1980 high school state championship at Rochester.
"I am extremely excited right now," Smith said moments after shooting a final round score of 70. "This is a hard tournament to win with the caliber of players we have in Indiana. This means everything to me."
So excited Smith was, he said if he could he would have done back flips on the green. But as Smith said: "I probably would have broken my back and been on America's dumbest videos."
And then there was the trophy presentation.
And that's where Smith showed his emotions.
Dedicating the the title to his wife, tears in his eyes, he said, "This wouldn't have been possible if I didn't get a phone call from Rick Fernandez (Wednesday) night.
"Rick Fernandez has been a friend of mine for a long time," Smith said, now sitting at table in the lounge in front of reporters, his composure regained. "He had an accident and has had some health problems and hasn't been able to play. I hadn't heard from him in about nine months, and then out of the blue he calls me. He said he didn't want to bother me the night before the final round, but he wanted to wish me luck. There's a lot of people out there that can't compete, and for him to call means a lot to me."
Smith entered the day with a four-stroke lead over Hungate. Smith birdied the second hole Thursday, while Hungate shot a bogey on the par-3 hole, as Smith jumped out to a six stroke lead.
Smith landed his third front nine birdie on No. 8 after hitting his second shot within three feet of the cup. Hungate drew close on the ninth hole with a birdie, while Smith had to resort to a 15-foot par-saving putt.
On the back nine Smith knew it was his tournament to win or lose.
"I decided this morning that I was going to be aggressive at the start of today's round," Smith said. "But on the back nine I began to shoot for the fat part of the greens and just try to make par."
Smith held a five-stroke lead after 16 holes, despite a few bogies, but having Hungate nipping at his heels could have been dangerous Smith said.
"If Cary makes a couple of those birdie putts on the back nine, it would have been much closer at the end," he said. "Cary was still in it after those bogies. I didn't panic, but I wasn't pleased."
Smith finished Thursday's round by parring the final two holes.
Smith also won the 1993 Indiana Open at Briar Ridge in Schererville. Since then Smith has finished in the top five each year, finishing as runner-up in 1995 and 1997.
"I've won more money in some tournaments, but the two State Opens and my state high school title mean a lot more to me."
And they do. His emotions said so.
PEPSI/RAPPORT COMPOSITES INDIANA OPEN
Stonehenge Golf Club, July 17-21
Player 1 2 3 4 Total+/
1. Todd Smith 64 67 71 70 272-12
2. Cary Hungate 70 68 68 71 277-7
3. (tie) Alan Schulte 72 67 70 70 279-5
Chad Collins 71 66 71 71 279-5
5. Jamie Broce 71 70 70 69 280-4
6. Ryan Miller 70 72 71 68 281-3
7. Bradley Klapport 74 72 66 72 284E
8. (tie) Lee Williamson 72 70 74 69 285+1
Christopher Drake 75 70 70 70 285+1
Denny Hepler (Warsaw) 73 70 69 73 285+1
11. Quinn Griffing (N. Manch.) 70 71 74 71 287+2
12. (tie) Joshua Habig 73 70 60 75 287+3
Ben Finley 73 71 69 74 287+3
14. Gary Grant 72 71 74 72 289+5
15. (tie) Scotty Hupp 72 74 76 69 291+7
Jim Ousley 73 71 74 73 291+7
17. (tie) Lenny Hartlage 75 71 73 73 292+8
Todd Palmer 72 78 69 73 292+8
Bill Schumaker 72 75 72 73 292+8
Matt Stark 74 67 76 75 292+8
21. (tie) Brad Hardin 71 74 74 74 293+9
Rory Ransburg 77 71 68 77 293+9
23. (tie) Brett Melton 72 73 76 73 294+10
Tom Kelley 76 74 71 73 294+10
Justin Wenger 70 71 78 75 294+10
Scott Pieri 70 74 71 79 294+10#
27. (tie) Steven Jones 71 78 75 71 295+11
Jim Anthony 72 76 75 72 295+11
Jeff Schumaker (Warsaw) 74 73 73 75 295+11
30. (tie) Mike Schumaker 79 71 74 72 296+12
John Andrews 72 79 71 74 296+12
Dave Schumaker (Warsaw) 74 74 72 76 296+12
Kyle Marsh 72 74 74 76 296+12
Other Warsaw Golfers
44. Jerry Nelson 72 75 77 77 301+17
50. Thomas Beno 73 73 80 76 302+18
55. Steve Buroker 74 73 76 80 303+19 [[In-content Ad]]
In winning the 2000 Pepsi/Rapport Composites Indiana Open, Peru's Todd Smith may have had a different emotion for each club he had in his golf bag.
After the 37-year-old's four-round 12-under-par score of 272 won the event at Stonehenge Golf Club, he claims relief was the first thing he felt.
"The first feeling was a little bit of relief," Smith, the pro at Rock Hollow Golf Club, said. "I can't describe what it means to win this tournament. It all started Monday, and I'm extremely tired."
Kokomo's Cary Hungate finished second with a four-round 7-under-par score of 277, while Fishers' Alan Schulte and Cloverdale's Chad Collins tied for third with their four-round 5-under-par scores of 279.
Collins won the low amateur title.
Raccoon Run owner/pro Denny Hepler led the local contingent with his eighth-place 1-over-par score of 285.
Other locals to finish included North Manchester's Quinn Griffing (11th, 286) and Jeff Schumaker (27th, 295); Dave Schumaker (30th, 296); Jerry Nelson (44th, 301) and Steve Buroker (55th, 303), all of Warsaw.
From being relieved and tired came excitement for Smith, who won the 1980 high school state championship at Rochester.
"I am extremely excited right now," Smith said moments after shooting a final round score of 70. "This is a hard tournament to win with the caliber of players we have in Indiana. This means everything to me."
So excited Smith was, he said if he could he would have done back flips on the green. But as Smith said: "I probably would have broken my back and been on America's dumbest videos."
And then there was the trophy presentation.
And that's where Smith showed his emotions.
Dedicating the the title to his wife, tears in his eyes, he said, "This wouldn't have been possible if I didn't get a phone call from Rick Fernandez (Wednesday) night.
"Rick Fernandez has been a friend of mine for a long time," Smith said, now sitting at table in the lounge in front of reporters, his composure regained. "He had an accident and has had some health problems and hasn't been able to play. I hadn't heard from him in about nine months, and then out of the blue he calls me. He said he didn't want to bother me the night before the final round, but he wanted to wish me luck. There's a lot of people out there that can't compete, and for him to call means a lot to me."
Smith entered the day with a four-stroke lead over Hungate. Smith birdied the second hole Thursday, while Hungate shot a bogey on the par-3 hole, as Smith jumped out to a six stroke lead.
Smith landed his third front nine birdie on No. 8 after hitting his second shot within three feet of the cup. Hungate drew close on the ninth hole with a birdie, while Smith had to resort to a 15-foot par-saving putt.
On the back nine Smith knew it was his tournament to win or lose.
"I decided this morning that I was going to be aggressive at the start of today's round," Smith said. "But on the back nine I began to shoot for the fat part of the greens and just try to make par."
Smith held a five-stroke lead after 16 holes, despite a few bogies, but having Hungate nipping at his heels could have been dangerous Smith said.
"If Cary makes a couple of those birdie putts on the back nine, it would have been much closer at the end," he said. "Cary was still in it after those bogies. I didn't panic, but I wasn't pleased."
Smith finished Thursday's round by parring the final two holes.
Smith also won the 1993 Indiana Open at Briar Ridge in Schererville. Since then Smith has finished in the top five each year, finishing as runner-up in 1995 and 1997.
"I've won more money in some tournaments, but the two State Opens and my state high school title mean a lot more to me."
And they do. His emotions said so.
PEPSI/RAPPORT COMPOSITES INDIANA OPEN
Stonehenge Golf Club, July 17-21
Player 1 2 3 4 Total+/
1. Todd Smith 64 67 71 70 272-12
2. Cary Hungate 70 68 68 71 277-7
3. (tie) Alan Schulte 72 67 70 70 279-5
Chad Collins 71 66 71 71 279-5
5. Jamie Broce 71 70 70 69 280-4
6. Ryan Miller 70 72 71 68 281-3
7. Bradley Klapport 74 72 66 72 284E
8. (tie) Lee Williamson 72 70 74 69 285+1
Christopher Drake 75 70 70 70 285+1
Denny Hepler (Warsaw) 73 70 69 73 285+1
11. Quinn Griffing (N. Manch.) 70 71 74 71 287+2
12. (tie) Joshua Habig 73 70 60 75 287+3
Ben Finley 73 71 69 74 287+3
14. Gary Grant 72 71 74 72 289+5
15. (tie) Scotty Hupp 72 74 76 69 291+7
Jim Ousley 73 71 74 73 291+7
17. (tie) Lenny Hartlage 75 71 73 73 292+8
Todd Palmer 72 78 69 73 292+8
Bill Schumaker 72 75 72 73 292+8
Matt Stark 74 67 76 75 292+8
21. (tie) Brad Hardin 71 74 74 74 293+9
Rory Ransburg 77 71 68 77 293+9
23. (tie) Brett Melton 72 73 76 73 294+10
Tom Kelley 76 74 71 73 294+10
Justin Wenger 70 71 78 75 294+10
Scott Pieri 70 74 71 79 294+10#
27. (tie) Steven Jones 71 78 75 71 295+11
Jim Anthony 72 76 75 72 295+11
Jeff Schumaker (Warsaw) 74 73 73 75 295+11
30. (tie) Mike Schumaker 79 71 74 72 296+12
John Andrews 72 79 71 74 296+12
Dave Schumaker (Warsaw) 74 74 72 76 296+12
Kyle Marsh 72 74 74 76 296+12
Other Warsaw Golfers
44. Jerry Nelson 72 75 77 77 301+17
50. Thomas Beno 73 73 80 76 302+18
55. Steve Buroker 74 73 76 80 303+19 [[In-content Ad]]