Indiana Professional Golfers Association, West Lafayette, IN, June 9, 2026
After two very different days at Coyote Crossing Golf Club, Jon Hoover held on to claim the 2026 Indiana PGA Senior Open, finishing the championship at 3-under-par after rounds of 66 and 75.
Rainy weather took over Monday’s opening round, but play continued without delay as the field battled through wet conditions. Hoover quickly separated himself from the field with a 6-under-par 66, building a four-shot lead heading into the final day. His opening round included seven birdies, with strong stretches on both nines as he birdied Nos. 1, 2, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 18. His lone bogey came on No. 14, but he answered with steady play down the stretch to take control early.
Tuesday brought a much different test, with hot and humid conditions in West Lafayette and temperatures reaching 88 degrees by the afternoon. While Hoover began the day with a comfortable lead, the leaderboard tightened throughout the final round as several players made moves into and out of contention for the top spots.
Hoover remained in front for most of the day, but the championship took a dramatic turn on the back nine. A double bogey on No. 16 cut into his lead and brought the field within striking distance. With just a one-shot advantage heading to the final hole, Hoover stayed composed and finished steady, making the shots he needed to secure the victory.
“I really just wanted to play solid today, to be honest,” Hoover said. “There were times it got a little nervy out there, and the putter fell off a little bit, but that’s what made it exciting. Coming down the final stretch, things tightened up, and I knew I just needed to finish strong on 16, 17 and 18.”
The win marked a meaningful return to the winner’s circle for Hoover, who had gone several years without a championship victory. Despite the pressure of a closing stretch that tested both patience and composure, Hoover never faltered enough to give up the lead he had built in Monday’s opening round.
Behind Hoover, the race for second and third remained fluid throughout the final round, with several players climbing into contention before falling back as the heat and pressure of the closing holes set in. But after 36 holes at Coyote Crossing, it was Hoover’s opening-round 66 and steady finish on Tuesday that proved to be the difference.