Michael Davan fights to the end at PGA Indiana Open

Plum Creek teaching pro finishes as runner-up

By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com

SPEEDWAY – The action got hectic on Wednesday as the final round of the PGA Indiana Open took place at Brickyard Crossing Golf Club in Speedway.

The competition at times resembled a mad dash to the checkered flag. At one point, six players were tied for first place. By the end of the round, three players were on top of the leaderboard, including Michael Davan.

The Zionsville resident has a Hamilton County connection: he is a teaching professional at Plum Creek Golf Club in Carmel. Davan finished his third round with an even par 72 but was seven under for the tournament (209). He shared that score with two amateurs: Goshen’s Brayden Miller and Brownstown’s Micah Sheffer.

The three men competed in a two-hole playoff to determine the champion. The playoff started at the 18^th hole, then moved to the 17^th hole where Miller made a birdie to win the PGA Indiana Open title. Davan and Sheffer shared runner-up honors.

Davan admitted that his third round started a “little rusty at the beginning,” with four bogeys in the first seven holes, although he did birdie the sixth hole. Davan said he calmed down as he approached the back nine, and made three birdies during that time.

“I fought until the end and gave myself an opportunity and it just didn’t work out today,” said Davan.

Davan, 37, grew up in Illinois then played golf at IUPUI. He played professionally for 10 years, including the PGA LatinoAmerica Tour, where he earned multiple top-10 finishes, and competed in the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

“I traveled and played, then started having kids and didn’t really want to travel anymore,” said Davan. So, he began teaching and “I absolutely love doing that,” he said.

But Davan still enjoys competing in tournaments, saying that it’s “still fun to compete.

“That’s why you play the game,” he said. “To get those opportunities down the stretch and feel the nerves the way that you do. I just am thankful for the opportunity.”

Three Noblesville golfers in top 10

Noblesville golfers represented themselves, with three of them finishing in the top 10.

Eric Steger finished tied for fifth with a three-day score of 211. Steger blasted a five-under par 67 in the final round, making five birdies along the way (see related story).

Connor McNeely, a Guerin Catholic graduate and University of Cincinnati player, carded a 212, putting him four under par for the tournament. He scored 69 (three under) for the third round, making five birdies.

Tyler Marucci, a recent Noblesville graduate, finished with a two under 214 and tied for 10^th place. He made three birdies during his third round.

A complete list of Hamilton County scores now follows.

T5. Eric Steger, Noblesville 74-70-67=211, 7. Connor McNeely, Noblesville 73-70-69=212, T10. Tyler Marucci, Noblesville 69-72-73=214, T15. Dane Starnes, Fishers 73-71-72=216; Garrett James, Arcadia 77-68-71=216, T20. Andy Winings, Fishers 71-72-74=217, T24. Jake Cesare, Westfield 71-71-76=218, T31. Joseph Armfield, Carmel 75-70-76=221, T51. Vince Drahman, Fortville 70-79-75=224, T57. Lane Zedrick, Fishers 72-77-76=225; Lucas Beck, Carmel 77-71-78=226, T62. Chase Berry, McCordsville 71-75-81=227, T64. Ronnie Russell, Noblesville 75-75-78=228.