Ball State University Athletics
Eric Steger Wins Men's Golf Indiana Amateur Championship
June 25, 2010 | Men's Golf
Story Provided by the Indiana Golf Office (Mike David, executive director)
Eric Steger, who will be a senior on the 2010-11 Ball State men's golf team, won the Indiana Amateur Championship held June 21-25 at the Country Club of Indianapolis. Steger defeated Erik Barnes of Marion with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Steger managed a four-round total of 277 with a 67-70-72-68 at the most prestigious amateur event in Indiana. Steger's father, Ball State alum Scott Steger, won his first and only Indiana Amateur Championship in 1975, and the Steger's have become the first father-son combination to ever win the event.
Steger started the day at 1-under-par 209 and three shots off the lead held by Brad Gehl, who tied Country Club of Indianapolis' course record in the third round at 63.
"I held it together out there. I let a couple holes slip away, but then I made two good birdies and going into 18 I knew I still had control of the tournament," Steger says.
He did have control over it at 3-under-par, but defending champion Erik Barnes was in the group behind him only one shot back heading to the 18th tee. After driving the ball just short and left of the green at the final hole, he left himself a tough chip from the deep rough. But he executed and converted the up-and-down for birdie to force a playoff.
Steger and Barnes went back to the first tee to vie for the title. Barnes hit first and drove into the right rough.
"I was lucky to hit second in the playoff," Steger says. "I saw him hit into the trees, so I aggressively hit my driver down the left side."
He found himself 124 yards out, took a solid, aggressive swing at a gap wedge, and landed his approach four feet from the pin. Barnes' approach went to the opposite side of the green, but only missed the putt by mere inches to put the pressure on Steger. Steger's impressive putting ability came through and ended the playoff at the first hole.
One hundred and fifty six of the state's best amateurs qualified for the 72-hole event, and 63 made the cut at 149 or better. The event was scheduled to conclude Thursday afternoon, but due to heavy rains and thunderstorms throughout the week, the final round was postponed until Friday, causing some of the players who made the cut to make a tough decision. The USGA Public Links qualifier was held at Purgatory on Friday as well, and many of the players in contention for the State Am title were forced to choose where to play.
"I called my coach [Mike Fleck] last night for his opinion, and he said to give myself a shot at the State Am," Steger says. "My gut was telling me to go to Purgatory. It was a tough decision, but it paid off.
It showed he was happy with his decision when he summed up his feelings about winning his first State Am in one word - "Awesome."
Other current Ball State golfers in the event included Tyler Merkel (8th tie), TJ Carpenter (15th tie), Tony Lazzara (20th tie), Connor O'Neal (20th tie) and Alex Stinson (39th tie).
