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BY STEVE HANLON
shanlon@nwitimes.com
219.933.4198 | Saturday, July 08, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
69TH TIMES ILLIANA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
A dripping, wet towel went into the trunk of Dave Vlasic's car. Other "stuff" followed. It was 45 degrees, and raining horizontal at times. The Valparaiso resident had birdied his last two holes at the Indiana Golf Association's Tournament of Champions in May.
Vlasic went 73-70 at Fox Prairie Golf Course in Noblesville. But standing on the 17th tee, he trailed Indianapolis' Sean Rowen by five shots in the state championship of Club Champions.
"I was playing for second," said Vlasic, who won The Brassie's club title last September. "Second's good. There's nothing wrong with that. So I started putting all my stuff in my car. It was time to go home."
It was premature. Someone told him to open his trunk.
Rowen three-putted Nos. 17 and 18 to put him at a 3-over 143, too.
With the pressure mounting, Vlasic parred the first hole of the playoff and Bowen bogeyed, giving Vlasic yet another trophy.
"It's at least 50," said Vlasic when asked how many tournaments he's won in his life. "Maybe more?"
The one number he is sure of is five. That's how many times he's won The Times Illiana Amateur Championship, coming in 1978, '79, '87, '88 and '89. He trails only six-time champ John Dobro.
He'll tee it up again today at Briar Ridge, in the 69th Illiana. His Championship Flight will play the final round on Sunday. The A Flight will play its 18-hole championship Sunday.
But now 48, is the sand running through the glass too quickly now. Can Vlasic win one more?
"One?" he said. "Hell, I want to win two more. All I've got to do is hang around and give myself a chance. That's all you ask for. One chance."
Last year Vlasic led on the back nine and shot a 143, four off the pace by first-time champ Jason Buffone of Schererville.
Buffone is not playing this year. But there are three other past champs in the field -- Dyer's Terry Werner (1985), Elmhurst's John Wright (2002) and Chicago's Alan Given (2003).
For Vlasic, it doesn't matter who's playing. It's all about him playing the course.
"You just want to be in the hunt, because if you've done it before it's an easier gig," Vlasic said. "Having that experience is priceless. I just want to have a chance, like down in the Tournament of Champions. Then, anything can happen."
69th Times Illiana Amateur Championship
Today and Sunday at Briar Ridge Country Club. First tee off both days is 10:30 a.m. The Championship Flight plays both days, while the A Flight plays Sunday.
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