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  • Stephen Conrad, a Wawasee graduate, putts on the 16th green during the Indiana Open at Elcona Country Club in Bristol last July. Conrad recently won this year”s Indiana Open, which was held at the French Lick Resort. DAVID VANTRESS

    120719 Stephen Conrad WEB.jpg
July 19, 2012

GOLF: Ex-Warrior Conrad a champion

Former Wawasee standout wins Indiana Open for first time ever

By DAVID VANTRESS THE GOSHEN NEWS

GOSHEN — Former Wawasee golfer Stephen Conrad hadn’t played many tournaments this season before this year’s Indiana Open: The Arizona resident got just one January tournament under his belt.

But Conrad’s game must have been pretty good anyway: The former Warrior and 2003 graduate won the tournament last week at French Lick Springs Resort with a 72-69-70-72-283.

Conrad was the only golfer to shoot par or lower; he finished one-under par and won by two strokes over Chase Wright of Bloomington, who carded a 72-70-70-73-285.

Conrad’s previous highest finish was last year when the tournament was held locally at Elcona Country Club, a third-place showing.

After being so close a year ago, Conrad wanted to make a strong push this year.

Conrad said his full-time job as an assistant golf professional in Arizona kept him busy most of the season, and he didn’t play on a tour as he has in past seasons.

“I gave a lot of lessons, and helped people with their game, but I didn’t get to play much golf myself,” Conrad said.

The Indiana Open this season was split over two courses at French Lick Springs Resort: The first and third rounds on the Donald Ross Course, and the second and final rounds on the Pete Dye Course.

Both courses were difficult, Conrad said, with trouble everywhere and narrow fairways an average of 23 yards wide.

The key to Conrad’s win — on a tough course set up even tougher for a marquee state event like the Indiana Open — was consistency, he said.

Conrad was tied atop the leaderboard with Jeff Cook heading into the pivotal final round.

He shot 3-under through the first five holes to begin to separate himself from the field.

“When I got the lead, I just had to play conservatively and not try to do anything special,” Conrad said.

Indeed, a look at Conrad’s four-day scorecard revels that he shot birdies on 18.1 percent of the holes; par on 65.3 percent; and bogey on 16.7 percent.

No double bogeys in four days.

With his victory, Conrad achieved a very rare trifecta: He was the 2005 Indiana Amateur champion, and also won the Indiana Junior Match Play Championship several years ago.

Just one other golfer has won all three tournaments: Sam Carmichael in 1962 — 50 years ago.

Carmichael was on hand last week in French Lick to congratulate Conrad on his feat.

“We signed a flag together,” Conrad said.

Conrad got to spend some time with his family while he was in the area: They still live in Syracuse, and Conrad lists Maxwelton Golf Club there as his home course.

For now, Conrad is back home in Arizona and headed back to work at the golf course there.

But he already has next year’s Indiana Open on his mind: With his victory this year, he has a five-year exemption into the tournament.

“I’ll be back next year to defend my title,” Conrad said.

 

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