Kansas State Golf Alum Joe Ida Wins Watson Challenge
By kstatesports
Ida won the event that “determines the best golfer in the Greater Kansas City area”
K-STATE SPORTS INFORMATION
June 11, 2012
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former Kansas State men’s golfer Joe Ida carded a 54-hole score of 6-under par 204 last weekend to win The Watson Challenge held at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kan.
Ida, who won the event that “determines the best golfer in the Greater Kansas City area,” edged amateur Ryan Zech by one stroke, while he finished eight strokes ahead of legendary golfer Tom Watson, who tied for fourth at 2-over par 212.
A four-year letterwinner, Ida carded a tournament-best 6-under par 64 on Saturday in between rounds of even-par 70 on both Friday and Sunday.
“Just the idea of beating Tom Watson is not necessarily something you get a crack at every day,” Ida told the Kansas City Star following the event. “There was some pressure there, but I was making it pretty easy on myself. I was in the fairway and hitting the greens. I didn’t put myself under a whole lot of stress the whole deal.”
In addition to Ida’s win, current Wildcat Ben Juffer finished fourth at the Palmetto Amateur at Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. Juffer, who was at 7-over par 217 through the first three rounds, tallied a 5-under par 65 – the second-lowest round of the event – to card a 72-hole score of 2-over par 282.