2003 TS 1

Mike O'Toole Wins PGA Event At Pine Valley

Mike O’Toole, the head golf professional at Hanging Tree Golf Club in Westfield, fired a 2-under-par 69 to win the PING / PEPSI Indiana PGA Tournament Series event at Pine Valley Country Club on Monday.

O’Toole edge Mat Blair of Michigan City Golf Course to win the title by a single shot. Blair played in the second to last group of the day and posted his 1-under-par 70 and it appeared as if he would be the winner. However, moments later, O’Toole’s 69 was posted and he took the title from Blair.

O’Toole and Blair fired the only sub-par rounds on the cold, blustery day in northeast Indiana. The golf course, which measures 6,807 yards, played much longer in the difficult conditions.

O’Toole began on the front nine and after two pars, he made a birdie at the par-3 third hole to quickly get to minus-1.

He would give back two shots however at the par-4 fifth, but he rebounded quickly by making birdie on three of the final four holes on the front and he turned at minus-2.

The back nine was a case of more consistency as he started with six straight pars before a birdie at the par-3 sixteenth. He would give that shot back with a bogey at 17, but after a par at the home hole, the title was his.

Scott Schroeder of Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis and Jon Stutz of Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville finished in a tie for third place after rounds of even par 71. Both players were forced to wait until Blair and O’Toole finished to see if they would have to play-off for the title.