27 September 2009 - Louisville, KY - Just a week after losing his title defense of the PPA National Championship, Kevin Lacey added another prestigious title to his putting resume. Lacey came from behind to win the Indiana Putting Tour Medal Play Championship, the final event of the IPT season. On a cool, mostly cloudy day with damp carpets from overnight rain, Lacey shot a 69-under par 147 on Course 3 in Louisville to beat Alabaman Randy Reeves by three shots.

Kevin Lacey

The site of the 2008 PPA Northern Open, which produced several outstanding scores including five rounds of 21 or better, Course 3 provided consistently better than average scores for much of the field, though no one could match a 21. After three rounds of the six-round finals, Reeves, who won on this course in May, led with a 72 including a third-round 22, the best in the field for the day. Lacey was second with 75 and John Ventura third with 76. Charlie Greenwalt (78) and Nate Nichols (79) were also below 80.

When play resumed after a lunch break, there was little movement in the standings in Rounds 4 or 5. In Round 4, seven of the 10 competitors shot either 24 or 25. In Round 5, eight of the players shot one score or the other.

Going into the final round, Reeves had a four-stroke lead over Lacey, who was paired with him in the final group. Ventura was five out. In the final round, Reeves had to contend with some bee stings he suffered between rounds as well as the bite of a hot start by Lacey. Despite a bogey on Hole 9, Lacey was 8-under through 12 holes to catch Reeves, who was 4-under. Lacey took the lead on 13 and Reeves tied it back on the next hole. After both players aced the nearly automatic 15th hole, Lacey made 16 to take the lead and then followed with an ace on 17. When Reeves missed 17, Lacey had a two-shot lead, and he aced 18 to clinch it with a final-round 23. Ventura finished third with 151, and Greenwalt fourth at 153. James Weber grabbed the last cash spot with a fifth-place 157.

In the amateur division, Louisville's Tom Russell shot a 159 to claim his first career state championship. He edged Kyle Poole by two shots. Brandon Davis and Karen Raizor tied for third place. Russell led by three shots at the halfway point over Davis, who had won eight solo titles on the IPT this season. Davis struggled with a 32 out of the lunch break and Russell pulled away with a 26. But Poole stayed right on Russells heels with an outstanding 78 in the second half.

The Indiana Tour thanks Louisville course owner and competitor Tim Greenert and his staff for hosting the tour championships. The tour thanks Management & Training Corporation of Edinburgh, Ind. and Tim Schrader of Putters Lane Fun Center in Minster, Ohio for adding sponsorship money to tournaments throughout the year. And the tour thanks the players for a successful 2009 season.

Kevin Lacey won professional Player of the Year for the Indiana Tour this season. The award format gave points to players for high finishes in tournaments. By winning the medal play finals, Lacey secured his lead in the standings heading into the weekend. Lacey won the Stroke Average award given out by the tour this year, which was based on weighted stroke average. Lacey had a narrow lead over Nate Nichols entering the finals but by winning the medal play tournament he claimed that plaque as well. Lacey won three tournaments this season and was the tours leading money winner for the year.

In the amateur division, Cincinnati teenager Brandon Davis easily won the Player of the Year and the Stroke Average plaques. Davis won nine tournaments on the IPT this season including the doubles title with Ted Cain. He easily led the tour in expense winnings, points and stroke average. Davis also had a dominating year elsewhere, claiming national majors at the PPA Southern Open in Martinez, Ga. and the Northern Open in Columbus, Ind. He also won two titles in three starts on the Great Lakes Tour.