Weiler wins Northern Amateur championship

It's been a really good week at Indiana's Sand Creek Country Club for Joe Weiler.

Four days after he qualified for the U.S. Amateur at the Chesterton, Ind. course, the Purdue senior held a commanding five-stroke lead heading into Friday's final round of the Northern Amateur, and was able to cruise to his second victory of the week at Sand Creek. His three-round total of 65-67-73—205 (-11) was three strokes better than Indiana transfer Noah Gillard (Greenwood, Ind.), who finished with a 69-70-69—208 (-8.)

Weiler, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors for the Boilermakers lsat season, led the field in birdies with 15, and also strung together a 29-hole bogey-free streak between rounds two and three.

Photo credit: Purdue Athletics

Beginning the final round with a two-day score of 12-under-par, Weiler teed off in the final group, five-strokes ahead of playing partner Marco Steyn (Johannesburg, South Africa) and seven strokes clear of Gillard. He played a very consistent opening nine holes, with nine consecutive pars. Gillard was able to gain a stroke on the tournament leader with a 1-under 35 on the outward nine, while Steyn remained five strokes back at the turn.

All three golfers birdied the par 5 10th hole, and while Weiler carded bogeys on the par 4 12th and par 3 16th, the tournament was already in his grasp. Gillard added two more birdies and a bogey, to finish three-under par on the day, finishing at eight-under-par, while Steyn bogeyed four of his last six holes to finish at three-over for the day, four-under for the tournament, good to tie him for third place with Oklahoma Sooner Tucker Allen (Tolar, Tex.).

Rounding out the top five was Bradley junior Josh Kirkham (Hinsdale, Ill.), whose final round 69 gave him a final score of three under par.

Weiler is enjoying a solid summer. After finishing in 10th pace at the NCAA Noblesville Regional, he qualified for the U.S. Amateur, finished third at the Northeast Amateur Invitational, fourth at the Indiana Amateur and 12th at the Monroe Invitational.