Julia Potter of Granger was successful in defending her Indiana Women’s Amateur Championship title after a final round 74 at Ackerman Hills Golf Course in West Lafayette on Thursday. With a total of 71-71-74=216, she held off Nina Whalen of Indianapolis who finished second with 219.

“I knew if I played consistent golf, I would have a chance, and that’s what happened,” said Potter. She was consistent in all aspects of her game, which allowed her to claim her second victory in a row. Even though she won in 2007, she explained how much her game has improved over the past year. “I’m much more accurate now,” she said. And accuracy was key at Ackerman with the tree-lined fairways and narrow holes.

The fifth hole, a par 5, did get the best of her and she carded a double bogey to give up the lead to Whalen. After an approach shot in the bunker and a chunked sand shot, she missed the putt. “I knew I had to put it behind me. I was only down by one, and anything could still happen,” Potter explained. She came back with two birdies on the back nine at the 10th hole with a chip in and 12th hole by placing her second shot to within 5 feet of the flag to reclaim the lead.

Between the two wins she also had success outside of IWGA tournaments. Potter had a triumphant college season at the University of Missouri. In October, she was named Big 12 Player of the Month. Golf Week labeled her Player of the Week and she also tied Mizzou’s record for low 54-hole total at 214. She will return to Missouri in the fall to continue playing.

Past champion Julie Carmichael held on to third place after shooting a third round score of 73 or 221 total.

Angela Gauck of Greensburg finished play with a three-over par 74 to end with a 13-over 226 to take seventh place. One of the two players Gauck has been tied with for past two days shot even par to finish fifth, three strokes better than Gauck. Kristi Piepenbrink of Greenwood, the winner of the Indiana Women’s Open, got separation from the local golfer on the final day of play.

The other golfer in that trio, Kristtini Cain of Marion, stumbled to an eight-over 79 to finish five strokes behind Gauck. The other two golfers who enter play tied with the local golfer also came up short. Kokomo’s Lauren Showers and Kristi Cardwell fired 75 and 76, respectively to finish immediately behind Gauck.

In First Flight play, Kelsea Ice fired a second consecutive 83 to finish with 246 and 40th place.

Flight champions include: Clare Cornelius of Indianapolis – First Flight, Lynnsey Showers of Kokomo – Second Flight, Alesia Melton of Economy – Third Flight, Autumn Duke of Fishers – Fourth Flight, Mandy Buchanan of Evansville – Fifth Flight, and Karen Rudd of Knox – Sixth Flight.