Micah Sheffer had a strong finish to his round Wednesday in an Indiana Golf Association Mountain Dew junior tour event at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour.
Sheffer of Brownstown tied Happy Gilmore of Bloomfield through 18 holes with scores of 76 before Sheffer scored a birdie to win the boys’ 13-15 division.
The incoming seventh-grader at Brownstown Central Middle School had to birdie No. 18 to get into a playoff.
He had three birdies during his round. On the playoff hole, No. 1, he was on the green in two and rolled in a 10-foot putt for his birdie and first win of the season.
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“I was pretty excited I tied for first, especially since I was playing 14- and 15-year olds,” the 12-year-old said. “I had a little bit of pressure. The playoff was nerve-racking, especially since the other kid had all his friends supporting him and I just had my dad (Joe). I had my ups and downs, and I finally got going on 16 through 18 when I had a couple birdies."
Sheffer said he likes being out on the golf course for many reasons.
“I enjoy relaxing when I’m walking between shots, and you can think about a lot of things," he said. "I like to get things off my mind when I go golfing.”
He enjoys playing at both Hickory Hills in Brownstown and Shadowood.
“Hickory Hills is a very good course for nine holes, and it is well-kept," Sheffer said. “Shadowood is a lot trickier, but it’s definitely a good course. You can tell they put a lot work into keeping the greens in good shape.”
Sheffer will be playing in the Hurricane Tournament on the University of Kentucky course in Lexington, Kentucky, this coming Saturday and Sunday.
He said he looks forward to playing in more Mountain Dew events.
“I’d like to thank the Indiana tour for keeping a lot of the age divisions going," he said.
In a close match, Bridget Marshall of Seymour tied Addyson Bailey of Bedford for second in the girls 16-19 age group by shooting an 84. Bailey scored an always-thrilling hole-in-one on the 105-yard par 3 second hole.
Ella Wicks of Columbus placed first in the girls 16-19 division with a round of 83.
Ethan Dippold of Seymour tied Cole Hergenrather of New Salisbury for sixth in the boys 16-19 division with an 84.
Derek Rockey of Austin was first in the boys 16-19 class with a 73.
Dippold, who will be a senior at Seymour High School in the fall, was hoping to break 80.
“I didn’t score like I wanted but not bad," he said. "I putted well. I didn’t hit my irons very well.”
He enjoys playing his home course and said a lot of the places he plays during the spring high school season are the ones he plays in the summer.
“I like Shadowood a lot," Dippold said. "I play here about every day. I like the back (nine). I think it has more character. I shot 74 out here one time. It’s fun to go out there and play with friends. “
This was the second of nine Mountain Dew tour events he is signed up for this summer.
Natalie Wilson of Bargersville scored an 87 to place first in the girls 13-15 division.
Phoebe Skidwell of Seymour placed sixth in that division with a 110, and Lainey Jackson, also of Seymour, was seventh with 112.
Both will be members of the Seymour High School girls golf team this fall.
An official with the IGA said a total of 51 golfers competed in the tournament.