The best shot of Kristi Piepenbrink’s career received cheers from the crowd around the 18^th green and gave her a PGA Indiana Women’s Open Championship title. “I hit the best shot I have ever hit. It was the best part of the whole tournament,” she said. At the 400-yard, par 4 finishing hole, she choked down on a 7-wood to hit directly into the wind and landed it two feet from the hole.

That shot put the pressure on runner-up K.C. Cain of Marion to hole her chip to force a playoff. Cain was unable to make birdie and finished in second with 73-73=146. Piepenbrink had a mere tap-in for a final round one-under-par 71 and the victory at 145.

The 2008 Women’s Open was hosted by The Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin, a familiar track for Greenwood native Piepenbrink. Between three IHSAA State Finals, the Franklin College Invitational and seven Indiana Opens, she knew what to expect from the course. “I played pretty steady, hitting fairways and greens,” she said.

The familiarity with the place had the potential to overwhelm her mental game, but she overcame that obstacle. “Because I have played here multiple times, I have in my head what shots went where last time, and it makes it hard mentally,” Piepenbrink continued. She achieved success during both rounds which helped get past the mental blocks of previous tournaments and allowed her to perform at a high enough level to triumph over a strong field of 87 amateurs and professionals.

A Women’s Open win will be added to her list of 2008 accomplishments including being named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Female Player of the Year, making the GLVC All-Scholar team, and being honored with an All-American Honorable Mention distinction.

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Lyndsay McBride of Bristol and Allison Tyler of Indianapolis won the Indiana Women’s Golf Association Team Championship hosted by Meshingomesia Country Club in Marion. They shot an even-par 72 in the Gross Division of the Four Ball formatted event on June 20th to get their first IWGA Team win.

“We fed off of each other’s good shots and kept each other positive,” said McBride. “It was good to know someone was there rooting for you.” Their teamwork and encouragement paid off, especially on the 447-yard, par-5 12th hole. McBride had confidence in her teammate’s ability and told her to go for the green in two shots instead of playing it safe for par. After the approach landed just short of the green, Tyler made the up and down for the team’s final birdie of the day.

The first two birdies came at the par-4 third and 10th holes, which made up for the three bogeys of the round. “We never made anything over bogey though,” said Tyler. “She covered for me and I covered for her,” added McBride, emphasizing how well the two played as a team. During the school year, they play as teammates at the University of Indianapolis.

Lina Pasquali of Kendallville and teammate Andrea Vogt of Auburn and Kim Gottwald and partner Tara Wiley shot a 1-over-par 73 to place tied for second.