Hepler Leads Locals In Indiana Open
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Friday, Warsaw's Denny Hepler will travel to Scotland to participate in the Senior British Open.
Before he goes, the former Ball State University and Florida State University golfer and current owner/professional at Raccoon Run said he wanted to gain some momentum by playing well in the 90th annual Indiana Open.
After two of four rounds at Stonehenge Golf Club, Hepler leads all local competitors and is in 10th place, six strokes behind leaders Alan Schulte of Fishers and Jeff Cook of Indianapolis.
"I hoped to go last week and qualify for the Senior U.S. Open in West Virginia, but I finished 10th in the qualifier," said Hepler. "I want to do a little better before I head off to Scotland. That's the reason I didn't go to St. Andrews this week, I wanted to use this as a stepping stone."
Hepler shot a 2-over 73 in Monday's first round, and then came back and shot 70 Tuesday.
"I'm really happy (with Tuesday's score) because I did have some magic in my wedge and putter," said Hepler. "My long game disappeared, but my short game saved me. I've got a good feel for these greens. I'd like to break par the next two days and finish in the top five before I head off to Scotland."
A total of 154 players started Monday's first round. After Tuesday's round, the field was cut to 71 players. The final score taken was a two-day total of 152.
Of the 12 local players competing Tuesday, six of them made the cut.
Local players joining Hepler in today's and Thursday's final rounds are North Manchester's Quinn Griffing (73-71 144), Warsaw's Jake Brodhead (76-71 147), North Manchester's Patrick Brandenburg (74-74 148), Syracuse's Stephen Conrad (74-77 151) and Warsaw's Jeff Schumaker (75-77 152).
Locals players who didn't make the cut included Warsaw natives Grant Slater (80-73 153), David Slater (74-81 155), Ben Brodhead (76-81 157) and Dave Schumaker (81-76 157) and Bourbon natives Jack Carpenter (80-80 160) and T.J. Carpenter (78-83 161).
Cook, who was two strokes out of the lead after the first round, shot a 4-under 67 Tuesday for a two-day total of 5-under at 137. He shares the lead with Schulte, who was among three to shoot 68 in the first round.
Schulte fired a 2-under 69 for his 5-under score after two rounds.
Chris Eckerle of Indianapolis (68-71 139) is in third, followed by Columbia City's Bill Schumaker (68-72 140) and Clayton's Rob Knuckles (70-70 140), who are tied for fourth.
Schulte started his day Tuesday with pars on the first five holes and a birdie on No. 6. He then finished the front nine with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to make the turn at 3-under.
After sitting tied for fifth at the conclusion of the first round, Cook began play on the 10th tee Tuesday with back-to-back birdies. Cook also had consecutive birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 en route to making the turn at 4-under for the day.
Cook made par on all nine holes on the front to earn a share of the lead.
"The two leaders are a couple of the best players in the state," Hepler said of Schulte and Cook. "Schulte has been player of the year the last three or four years. They know what they're doing." [[In-content Ad]]
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Friday, Warsaw's Denny Hepler will travel to Scotland to participate in the Senior British Open.
Before he goes, the former Ball State University and Florida State University golfer and current owner/professional at Raccoon Run said he wanted to gain some momentum by playing well in the 90th annual Indiana Open.
After two of four rounds at Stonehenge Golf Club, Hepler leads all local competitors and is in 10th place, six strokes behind leaders Alan Schulte of Fishers and Jeff Cook of Indianapolis.
"I hoped to go last week and qualify for the Senior U.S. Open in West Virginia, but I finished 10th in the qualifier," said Hepler. "I want to do a little better before I head off to Scotland. That's the reason I didn't go to St. Andrews this week, I wanted to use this as a stepping stone."
Hepler shot a 2-over 73 in Monday's first round, and then came back and shot 70 Tuesday.
"I'm really happy (with Tuesday's score) because I did have some magic in my wedge and putter," said Hepler. "My long game disappeared, but my short game saved me. I've got a good feel for these greens. I'd like to break par the next two days and finish in the top five before I head off to Scotland."
A total of 154 players started Monday's first round. After Tuesday's round, the field was cut to 71 players. The final score taken was a two-day total of 152.
Of the 12 local players competing Tuesday, six of them made the cut.
Local players joining Hepler in today's and Thursday's final rounds are North Manchester's Quinn Griffing (73-71 144), Warsaw's Jake Brodhead (76-71 147), North Manchester's Patrick Brandenburg (74-74 148), Syracuse's Stephen Conrad (74-77 151) and Warsaw's Jeff Schumaker (75-77 152).
Locals players who didn't make the cut included Warsaw natives Grant Slater (80-73 153), David Slater (74-81 155), Ben Brodhead (76-81 157) and Dave Schumaker (81-76 157) and Bourbon natives Jack Carpenter (80-80 160) and T.J. Carpenter (78-83 161).
Cook, who was two strokes out of the lead after the first round, shot a 4-under 67 Tuesday for a two-day total of 5-under at 137. He shares the lead with Schulte, who was among three to shoot 68 in the first round.
Schulte fired a 2-under 69 for his 5-under score after two rounds.
Chris Eckerle of Indianapolis (68-71 139) is in third, followed by Columbia City's Bill Schumaker (68-72 140) and Clayton's Rob Knuckles (70-70 140), who are tied for fourth.
Schulte started his day Tuesday with pars on the first five holes and a birdie on No. 6. He then finished the front nine with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to make the turn at 3-under.
After sitting tied for fifth at the conclusion of the first round, Cook began play on the 10th tee Tuesday with back-to-back birdies. Cook also had consecutive birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 en route to making the turn at 4-under for the day.
Cook made par on all nine holes on the front to earn a share of the lead.
"The two leaders are a couple of the best players in the state," Hepler said of Schulte and Cook. "Schulte has been player of the year the last three or four years. They know what they're doing." [[In-content Ad]]