Madison Dabagia is set to make the Pfau Course at Indiana University her new home in the near future. And what better way to start off her journey there than with a victory? While any win is satisfying, Dabagia’s triumph in the Hoosier Amateur on Aug. 1 was particularly special considering her upcoming addition to the Indiana women’s golf team. “It just holds so much meaning,” she expressed about the tournament.
Dabagia, an incoming junior transfer, overcame two rain delays in the final round at the Pfau (as well as two rain delays in the second round) to secure a 3-over finish and a two-shot lead over runner-up Katie Scheck from Ooltewah, Tennessee in the 54-hole Hoosier Amateur. Despite the wet conditions, Dabagia found the course to be very playable. With three birdies in the second round and one in the final round, she managed to keep the bogeys to a minimum. This was no easy task on the challenging Steve Smyers-designed course in Bloomington, Indiana. Dabagia acknowledged that the Pfau is known for its lightning-fast and firm greens and fairways. She shared, “Sometimes the rain does help – you can be more aggressive with your shots because often your incoming shots won’t roll out or bounce as much as they would on a typically firm course. However, it can also make the course longer, making tee shots more difficult as they don’t roll out as far. It presents a different challenge when it lengthens the course, but it definitely aids approach shots.”
For Dabagia, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, this summer has been a successful one in the Midwest. She claimed victory at the Indiana Women’s Open on June 27 in her hometown. Just a week before the Hoosier Amateur, she finished second at the Indiana Women’s Amateur after losing to Chloe Johnson in a playoff.
Dabagia’s passion for golf developed at Sycamore Hills Golf Club, where she honed her skills. Living on the golf course, she had a front-row seat to high-profile events that frequently took place there, including a Korn Ferry Tour event. During tournament week, the Dabagia family hosted players, notably Hunter Haas and Scott Harrington. “I was so young, so they were incredibly kind to me,” Dabagia reminisced.
When the U.S. Girls’ Junior was held at Sycamore Hills in 2013, 10-year-old Dabagia recalls seeking autographs from the players, particularly former World No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister Moriya. She reflected, “I just remember thinking all those girls were so impressive and that it would require a tremendous amount of hard work to reach that level. Even at such a young age, I felt like it influenced my practice routine. As a junior golfer, that’s the pinnacle, where you aspire to be. So witnessing that at such a young age definitely shaped me to some extent.”
Dabagia refines her swing under the guidance of instructor Max Niehans and has faced numerous challenges while growing up at Sycamore Hills. Nevertheless, she was grateful for the opportunity to play a few more rounds at the Pfau during the Hoosier Amateur before commencing her journey at Indiana.
Having spent the past two years at Iowa, the avid Hoosier fan expressed her love for Bloomington. The move to Indiana brings her closer to her family, particularly her older sister Morgan, who also competed in golf for Indiana from 2020-23. The two will be living together until Morgan completes her master’s degree in the upcoming year.
While Dabagia acknowledges the need to improve certain aspects of her game, she is trying to enjoy the process without concerning herself too much with what lies beyond college in terms of golf. In this regard, the Pfau will serve as an invaluable resource. “I’m incredibly excited to start playing on it and have it become my home,” she eagerly stated.
Photo by Iowa NIL Store (X)
