By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

INDIANAPOLIS – In the end, the Blue Devil was better than the Tiger.

Duke sophomore Erica Shepherd won the IWGA State Amateur Open. Photo provided by the IWGA

Erica Shepherd made it count in the biggest moments, performing as the only golfer to stay under par Friday to punctuate the Indiana Women’s Golf Association State Amateur Championship. Shepherd, a Duke Blue Devil sophomore from Greenwood, was three-under for the day and seven-under for the tournament.

Shepherd was the only golfer in the field to land under par all three rounds of the tournament, which started Wednesday at Old Oakland Golf Club in Indianapolis. She duked it out with Penn High School and University of Missouri graduate Julie Potter-Bobb, who shot consecutive 70s in the first two rounds before dipping to a 73 on Friday to fall off the pace.

Westfield native Cailyn Henderson was third with a three-day score of 214, five shots back of Shepherd and one behind Potter-Bobb.

The top area finish was Kendallville’s Katie Sharp, who landed 13th after her third-round score of 76. Combined with her 77 and 78, Sharp finished with a 231 score over the three days.

Peru’s Brandi Jones was tied for 22nd with a 237. Her three rounds produced scores of 78, 79 and 80.

NorthWood junior Cybil Stillson worked her way into the top 25 after Thursday’s 76, then shot a 78 Friday to maintain her spot as tied for 25th for the tournament. Stillson had three bogeys and a birdie on the seventh for a frontside 38, then carded four bogeys on the back for a 40 to close out her Amateur.

Cybil’s older sister, Summer, carded a third-straight 83 to finish at 249 and tied for 51st. The St. Mary’s product and proud NorthWood alumnus, went 39-44 in her final round.

Grace College sophomore Lucy Young posted a 253 to finish 58th, just a spot ahead of Northridge graduate Braedyn O’Dell, who shot an 88 to end with a 255 and 59th.

NorthWood junior Breanna Goss had her best round of the three days, shooting an 88 Friday to score a 278 for the tournament and place 77th. Goss went 44 on both sides of the course, only logging two double bogeys in her final round.