Defending champion Chris Clemens of Indianapolis shot a 4-under-par 67 in the final round of the Indiana Golf Association Tournament of Champions to defend his title and claim his third Tournament of Champions win. The competition was held May 9-10th at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville. Any male amateur who won an IGA-PGA member club’s championship in the past five years or claimed a Tournament of Champions title was eligible to compete in this 36-hole, stroke-play tournament.

Clemens has won three of the five Tournament of Champions in which he has competed. Besides his success this year, Clemens’ previous victories came last year in 2007 and in 2004. He was first eligible for the tournament in 2003 after winning The Links Golf Course Club Championship in 2002.

After a solid first round score of 1-under-par 70, he found himself three shots behind the leader, Dan Hood of Elkhart, and with an uphill battle to defend his title. A bogey on the 356-yard, par-4 hole 2 put him at even for the tournament and five shots behind Hood who opened the final round with a birdie. The third player in the lead group, Andrew Varner of Marion, also began the round with a birdie to go to four under par for the tournament.

On the par-4 sixth hole, Clemens drove the ball in the fairway and landed his approach shot to within five feet of the flag. He made the short putt for birdie and to get back under par. His next birdie came on hole 11 when he holed a 35-foot putt. This took him to two under par while Hood and Varner made pars to remain at four under. “I never thought I was out of the tournament, but after the turn and the closer I got to the lead, the more I settled down and focused. When I see that I have a chance to win, I play better,” said Clemens.

Another birdie on the par-5 12th hole put him only one shot behind his fellow-competitors. Hood chipped in from the greenside-bunker on No. 13 to regain the lead by himself, but this was matched by Clemens’ birdie on 14. A three-putt bogey by Hood on 15 resulted in all three players at four under par with only three holes left.

Hood held off his opponents until the 16th hole when his lead slipped away for good. Both he and Varner bogeyed the 183-yard, par-3 16 after hitting tee shots into a bunker, and Clemens’, with a par, took the lead. At the 18th, Clemens landed his drive in the middle of the fairway and placed his approach shot to within five feet of the hole. He made the putt to shoot a final round 67, secure the win and defend his title. “Today meant more to me than the previous wins because I had to play well down the stretch and come from behind. I felt better on 18 than in years past,” said Clemens. “I had to come back from six down and I don’t remember having to ever come from that far behind to win.”

Clemens’ third Tournament of Champions victory puts him in good company with Doug Fischesser who has also won three times. He is chasing Randy Nichols of Brookville and Jerry Nelson’s record, who have each held the title four times.

Hood finished with a 67-72=139 and Varner carded a 68-71=139 to tie at the runner-up position.

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