Putt Wins Playoff for Women’s Open Title – Danah Ford Over Michelle Morgan

After 36 holes of golf over two days, it came down to Danah Ford, Indianapolis, and it came down to Michelle Morgan, Muncie, and it came down to one 18-foot putt. However, getting there was a different story.

Ford, who plays on the Futures Tour, began the second round of the Indiana PGA Women’s Open at even par, but she found the Legends of Indiana Golf Course in Franklin rough going. After she sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the first hole, Ford took one step forward and one step back for the 18 holes, ending the day exactly where she was at the beginning, again at even par. That was good enough to force a playoff against Morgan who had taken the momentarily taken lead for the tournament for the first time with her fifth birdie of the day on #16.

Ford putted well all day, making crucial putts on #5 and #10, and narrowly missing putts on #12, #13 and #14. The turn-around for Ford was the putt on #10 to save par after going into the water hazard on the par five. “That was a hard putt. I had so many good putts today that were that short.”

The playoff putt was no easy putt either. Playing off the tee side-by-side in the fairway, Morgan safely laid up on the par five to about 120 yards. Ford hit her second to the left side of the fairway about 60 yards out (remembering the water hazard from earlier in the day). Both approach shots went past the hole to about 18 feet, no more than 6 inches apart, with Ford back.

Hoping to capitalize on the read, Morgan watched intently while Ford made another of her exceptional putts that dropped into the hole. Morgan made her stroke, and then watched as the title slid away with the ball as it ran by the hole.

Morgan, a sophomore at Missouri, came off a win at the IWGA Team Championship with teammate Julia Potter last week hoping to win the Open. Following the leaderboard during the round, Morgan knew she had to make the putt on #16 to have a chance to win.

Kari Bennett, Fishers (The Bridgewater Club), made a strong run for the title. She began the day at one-over and quickly went to even par with the birdie on #1. She went out with only one bogey, for a 37, and then struggled with two bogeys on the last three holes to finish with a 75. Her 148 score was good enough to place second for PGA Professionals, fourth place overall.