Tyler Jordan grew up in Fritz Terrace, right across the street from Cascades Golf Course, and was a frequent visitor when the City Golf Tournament came around in the early 2000s.
A seed was planted.
“I’d walk over and watch Ike (Martin), Anthony Robertson, Troy Gillespie, all the big names,” Jordan said. “‘I want to do that someday.’ So, happy to be here.”
‘Here’ is Cascades, with his dad caddying as Jordan navigated his way to the semifinals for the first time last weekend. He came in 0-4 all-time in match play and from humble beginnings.
Baseball consumed his time after arriving at Bloomington South, leading the Panthers to semi-state in 2010 and earning a spot on the pitching staff at Ball State. But that was the end of the road for his baseball career, and he needed something to fill the competitive void.
So he returned to his roots. Back in 2015, Jordan’s first try at the championship qualifier saw him turn in a 110. His second round improved to 97, but he was still dead last. He ended up as an eighth seed the sixth and final flight of the Men’s tournament, losing his opener 3 and 2.
But that seed grew. So much so he makes a living as a Golf Group Sales Manager at French Lick Resort.
“I fell in love with the game in college when I figured out I wasn’t going to make it in baseball,” Jordan said. “… I’m around it every day, and it’s fun to get the competitive juices going again.”
The 34-year-old has put in the work on the course to improve his game. In 2017, Jordan shot 165 in the qualifier and in 2020, made the cut with a 154 for 11th. He played former champ Mitch Oard tough that year in the opener, falling 2 and 1.
The climb continued with a pair of 1 up wins in this year’s tourney, where he had to hit clutch shots on 18.
“Lot of practice,” Jordan said. “I kind of obsessed over it and watched a lot of videos. My TV’s always on the Golf Channel. I’m always trying to learn. Having a baby, I don’t get to practice as much anymore, which also takes away some of that pressure. There are bigger things in life.
Four-time defending champ Jason Bannister awaits Jordan when the semifinals tee off at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18. Oard and Logan Vernon face off in a 2-3 matchup in the other semi. Jordan’s task is a big one but a familiar one.
Bannister’s reign of terror, which now stretches to 18 matches, started with an 8 and 6 win over Jordan in the 2022 tourney opener. Bannister was a fifth seed at the time, having tied for third in the qualifier between his freshman and sophomore years at Southern Indiana.
Since then, he’s been nearly unstoppable. He’s beaten 15 different players along the way, two of them twice: Jace Day and Hunter Desilet. In half of his 15 wins (not counting the 36-hole finals), he’s been done by the 15th hole.
Only twice, in the first year, has he had to play the 18th (in back-to-back 1 up wins). Jacob Paine took him to the 17th in 2023 in a 2 and 1 loss. His last five wins: 8 and 6 (36 holes), 6 and 5, 6 and 4, 6 and 5, 3 and 2 (36 holes), forfeit and 7 and 6.
“I have to be aggressive,” Jordan said. “Can’t be reserved. I’ve got to make a lot of birdies against him.”
The winners will come back Sunday at 7:30 a.m. in an 18-hole final. A new rule eliminated the 36-hole in one day format that was instituted when the Championship fields were cut down from 32 to 16.
Former champs fill Senior, Super Senior spots
What should be four highly competitive semifinals highlight the Senior and Super Senior Championship flights.
The Seniors final four, which tees off at 7:40, has fourth seeded Matt Till, the 2022 Senior champ vs. ninth-seed Charles Combs, the runner-up in 2024. and four-time Senior champ No. 2 seed Gary EuDaly will take on the 2018 Men’s winner in third seeded Brian Muehlhaus.
In the Super Seniors (7:50 tee time), the running commentary alone could make this group worth a follow as fourth seed Bob Hasty looks to knock off defending champ and 13-time winner Ike Martin. Hasty has not been to a final since winning the last of his three Senior titles in 2013.
The other pairing has 2024 champ No. 2 Dan Neubecker, looking for his fourth straight trip to the finals, taking on 2022-23 winner and third seed Rory Brown, in the semifinals for the fifth straight year.
The Women’s first flight semis tees off at 9:20 and has top seed Libby McElhinney vs. No. 5 Kourteney Grimes and second seeded Carly Cauble vs. No. 7 Lisa Wise.
BLOOMINGTON CITY GOLF TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
Saturday, July 18 tee times
PHIL TALBOT MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:30 a.m.: [1] Jason Bannister vs. [5] Tyler Jordan; [2] Mitch Oard vs. [3] Logan Vernon.
PAUL GRAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:40 a.m.: [4] Matt Till vs. [9] Charles Combs; [2] Gary EuDaly vs. [3] Brian Muehlhaus.
ROSS RUSH SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:50 p.m.: [1] Ike Martin vs. [4] Bob Hasty; [2] Dan Neubecker vs. [3] Rory Brown.
MEN’S REGULAR
First flight, 8:00 a.m.: [1] Cameron Cochren vs. [4] Aaron Wicker; [2] Robert Wise vs. [3] Jake Cunningham.
Second flight, 8:10: [1] Kevin Greve vs. [4] Russ Wilkie; [2] Jeremy Wise vs. [6] Jackson Storm.
Third flight, 8:20: [1] Matthew Wilson vs. [4] Richard Wise; [2] Ike Wilkie vs. [3] Jim Bothwell.
SENIOR REGULAR
First flight, 8:30 a.m.: [1] Jay Freund vs. [4] Dan Smith; [2] Rick Scheid vs. [6] Brian Wise.
Second flight, 8:40: [1] Jeff Huntoon vs. [4] Brandon Chambers; [2] Ed Huff vs. [6] Ramesh Venkataraman.
SUPER SENIOR REGULAR
First flight, 8:50 a.m.: [1] George Finley vs. [4] Keith Houk; [3] Gerald Wright vs. [7] Drew Antilla.
Second flight, 9:00: [1] Jim Sims vs. [4] Jan Bond; [2] Brian Werth vs. [6] Sam Janaraweragul.
Third flight, 9:10: [1] Gary Walters vs. [4] Tom Dukes; [2] Rand McKamey vs. [3] Steve Englert.
WOMEN’S REGULAR
First flight, 9:20 a.m.: [1] Libby McElhinney vs. [5] Kourtney Grimes; [2] Carly Cauble vs. [7] Lisa Wise
Second flight, 9:30: [1] Ann Huntoon vs. [4] Sadie Woodring; [2] Mira Bruce vs. [3] Merrin Joseph.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: City Golf Tournament semifinalist having fun back in the old neighborhood
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
