Erik Edwards Completes Final Round with a Dramatic Victory at 107th Kentucky Open
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Erik Edwards completed a remarkable round Thursday, capturing the 107th Kentucky Open presented by South Central Bank with a dramatic final birdie on the 18th hole at Indian Hills Country Club.
Edwards entered the final round sitting at 8-under par after two rounds. The tournament had already produced plenty of excitement, with Nathan Hincks, PGA opening the championship with a course-record 63 before Joey Mayo matched that mark with a 62 in the second round to move into a share of the lead with Christian Tooley. Edwards, Trey Wall and C.M. Mixon entered Thursday just one shot off the lead.
As the final round unfolded, the leaderboard continued to tighten, with several players making runs at the championship. Among them was Indian Hills Country Club Member Christian Tooley, who put together an impressive final-round charge in front of the home crowd. Tooley stayed in contention, even leading the pack for a while, throughout the day and made a strong push toward the top of the leaderboard, ultimately finishing tied for second alongside Trey Wall.
By the time the second-to-last group reached the 18th hole, Edwards and Wall were tied at the top, setting up a dramatic finish. With the championship well within reach, Wall made par on the closing hole, leaving the door open for Edwards who was up to putt second.
With the title on the line, Edwards delivered when it mattered most, rolling in a birdie on 18 to bring him to a final 54-hole total of 13-under-par. Christian Tooley approached 18 green in the group behind Edwards, hitting his second shot to roughly 40 feet. Tooley needed this this putt to drop to tie Edwards but left it just short to make par and claim runner-up honors. Edwards was watching from the sidelines, with his family instantly embracing him with hugs realizing he was able to secure the victory and claim the Jack Ryan Trophy.
Wall’s runner-up finish capped a strong and consistent week, while Tooley’s T-2 made for an especially memorable performance at his home course. As an Indian Hills member, Tooley had the support of the local crowd throughout the championship and gave the hometown fans plenty to cheer for as he battled for the title down the stretch.
The win carries even more meaning for Edwards, who returned to competition within the past year after battling an injury. Less than a year after facing that setback, Edwards has now completed his comeback by winning one of Kentucky’s premier championships, a dream he has had for a long time.
Edwards’ bogey-free final round and victory caps an unforgettable week at Indian Hills, where the leaderboard remained packed from the opening round through the final hole.
The crowd of spectators following Tooley, along with host PGA Professional, John Mullendore, led to the largest spectator crowd in recent Kentucky Open history. Indian Hills certainly knew how to make this the ultimate championship!
Also claiming honors today was Kyle Alexander, KPGA Associate at Henry County Country Club, who secured the Low KPGA Professional honors after shooting 4-under throughout the 54 holes. In today’s round, Evan Davis holds the low round of the day with a 65 (-6). Davis got this done by ending his round with five birdies in his last six holes of the day, showcasing impressive stability coming down the stretch.
History was made this week, and it was only fitting to end with a dramatic finish and a stand-up champion. Erik Edwards, your 107th Kentucky Open Champion!
The KPGA extends an immense amount of gratitude to the Indian Hills agronomy team, led by Bob McLean. McLean and his crew presented an outstanding track for this field of 156 who all had raving reviews of the facility. The Indian Hills General Manager, Ken Crowder, PGA, was an ever present support throughout the championship, leading the entire team to a week of success. Lastly, the golf operations team lead by PGA Head Professional, John Mullendore, could not have rolled out the red carpet more. One of the best host site teams in the Commonwealth!
Final leaderboard – CLICK HERE
Round 3 photos – CLICK HERE
Media Kit – CLICK HERE
Championship Details
The 107th Kentucky Open, presented by South Central Bank, runs July 28-30 at Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green. Tee times and the full field are available by clicking here. Follow live coverage throughout the week on Kentucky PGA’s website and social media channels.
About the KPGA
The Kentucky PGA (KPGA) is one of the 41 sections that comprise The PGA of America. Formed in 1925, the Kentucky PGA has a professional membership of more than 350 men and women professionals across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, each of whom is dedicated to promoting the game in Kentucky. The Kentucky PGA is dedicated to the promotion of the game of golf and providing ongoing education and professional development of Kentucky PGA Professionals. Kentucky PGA Professionals are responsible for conducting a variety of golf-related functions, which include general management, golf instruction, tournament operations, golf shop merchandising, junior golf programs, golf club repair, and much more. The KPGA is a founding member of Golf House Kentucky, the umbrella organization that manages Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations.
About the Jack Ryan Trophy
This year’s champion will once again hoist the Jack Ryan Trophy, dedicated in 2005 by the Kentucky Section PGA in honor of one of the state’s most decorated players. Ryan won a record 10 Kentucky Opens between 1936 and 1959, added six Kentucky PGA titles, and was named Kentucky PGA Professional of the Year in 1958. He served as head professional at Louisville Country Club and later Big Spring Country Club, competed in three Masters Championships, and was inducted into both the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.