Indiana Mid-Amateur win is Sweet Revenge for Brett Widner
8/17/2018 | by Indiana Golf Association
see also: View results for Indiana Mid-Amateur, Elcona Country Club
In 2016 Brett Widner carried a two-shot lead to the final hole, this time he was tied and rose to the occasion
LEESBURG, IN (August 17, 2018) - In 2016, Brett Widner of Avon had at a two shot lead during the final round of the IGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Tippecanoe Lake CC heading to the par-4, 18th. After pulling his tee shot into the left rough, Widner was forced to punch out – which resulted in his ball hitting a tree just right of the green and being knocked out of bounds. He went on to make 7 and lost the event by one shot to Sean Rowen of Greenwood. This year, Widner’s finish was just as memorable.
Today, Widner’s tee shot once again found the all-too-familiar left rough, heading to 18 tied for the lead with Brian Harris of Carmel and Tracy Miller of Bremen. This time, he had a clear shot to the green and hit his approach shot to 20 feet. After Harris two-putted for par, Widner knocked in his 20 foot slider for birdie and the title - with a crowd there to cheer him on.
“Before I hit my putt, Mike (Williams) whispered, ‘do you have some magic in you?’” said Widner. “I smiled, trusted my line, and tried to put the best roll on the ball that I could.”
Throughout the day, it looked like Harris or Miller would come out on top, as they battled back and forth for the majority of the day. But Widner never gave up – always keeping himself within one to two shots of the lead and hanging on until the very end.
“This win is emotional for me after what happened a couple years back,” said Widner. “There are so many good players in this field and at least 20 had a realistic chance to win after yesterday. It feels really good to have pulled it off.”
This is Widner’s third IGA Mid-Amateur Championship, with previous wins coming in ’13 and ’14. To cap off his year, Widner hopes to qualify for the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship in next week’s qualifier at Crooked Stick Golf Club.
Today, Widner’s tee shot once again found the all-too-familiar left rough, heading to 18 tied for the lead with Brian Harris of Carmel and Tracy Miller of Bremen. This time, he had a clear shot to the green and hit his approach shot to 20 feet. After Harris two-putted for par, Widner knocked in his 20 foot slider for birdie and the title - with a crowd there to cheer him on.
“Before I hit my putt, Mike (Williams) whispered, ‘do you have some magic in you?’” said Widner. “I smiled, trusted my line, and tried to put the best roll on the ball that I could.”
Throughout the day, it looked like Harris or Miller would come out on top, as they battled back and forth for the majority of the day. But Widner never gave up – always keeping himself within one to two shots of the lead and hanging on until the very end.
“This win is emotional for me after what happened a couple years back,” said Widner. “There are so many good players in this field and at least 20 had a realistic chance to win after yesterday. It feels really good to have pulled it off.”
About the Indiana Mid-Amateur
36-hole stroke play event for male Indiana amateurs ages 30 and over and who have a handicap index of 9.0 or less.
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original