​Mitch Oard teed off on the opening hole during match play in the City Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Tyler Jordan, who had watched his old high school baseball program reach the state championship game for the first time in 54 years, was making his own kind of history. The 34-year-old Bloomington South pitching standout hadn’t waited that long to reach the semifinals of the Bloomington City Golf Tournament in the Men’s Championships flight for the first time, and his run echoed the drama that had characterized the Panthers’ postseason in 2026. Over the weekend at Cascades Golf Course, Jordan proved himself an escapologist on the final holes and maintained a steady rhythm through the weekend’s rounds.
On Saturday, the No. 5 seed edged past No. 12 Zach Sykes 1 up, advancing to the quarterfinals. Then, in Sunday’s quarterfinals, July 12, 2026, Jordan watched as 15-year-old No. 4 seed Ryan Decker nearly forced a tie on the final putt, only to again fall by a single hole and bow out. The 98th annual match-play tournament continued to deliver drama and precision as Jordan pressed forward in the event.
“I think the first time I played was right out of college in 2014 and I shot a 101,” Jordan recalled. “In a tournament setting, it’s really different. But it’s really cool. There’s a lot of golf; you’ve got to play a lot, and these guys are so good on this course. Match play is a lot different. You’ve got to be even-keeled because it’s hole by hole. It means a lot. It’s fun to compete.”
Jordan’s recent place in the City Golf semifinals marked a notable extension of his competitive journey. He previously helped South secure a regional crown in 2010, a squad that eventually fell to Cathedral 1-0 before Jordan moved on to play at Ball State. Now, he balances his time around the sport with his work at the French Lick Resort, where his involvement and dedication have paid off with a string of tough wins.
“I knew how good he was,” Jordan said of his opponent in those moments. “He played really well. We each had some bad holes. I capitalized on a few, and so did he.” The late stages of their match remained tightly contested, with momentum swinging on several crucial holes in the stretch.
The endgame proved especially tense. Decker led by two at the turn, but the outlook shifted by the 13th hole when Jordan sunk a long putt to square things. Decker’s big putt on 14 kept him ahead briefly, only for Jordan to respond with his own clutch moments on 15. Both players parred 16, and then on 17 Decker’s drive battled the wind and rolled past the green. His chip back left a 20-foot opportunity, while Jordan’s par-saving bid on the green kept him alive at 1 up.
On the 18th, both players launched solid drives, with Decker landing about 20 feet from the green. Decker’s chip left a 10-foot putt, while Jordan’s approach slid past the hole, leaving a 12-foot opportunity that slid just left of the target. The result opened the door for Decker to force extra holes, but his closing opportunities fell just short.
“I think today I got up two,” Jordan reflected after the match. “I never even got up two on Zach yesterday. He got up two on me. I’ve kind of been playing from behind. I was the favorite yesterday, but Zach was a great opponent. I just tried to stay even-keeled when it came down to crunch time.”
With the victory, Jordan moved forward with another challenge in sight as he aimed to reach the next round and continue his strong showing in the City Golf Tournament. The field remains steep and competitive, but Jordan’s blend of experience, steadiness, and timely putts positions him well as he prepares for the next round. The tournament, now in its long tradition, continues to showcase the skill and perseverance that define City Golf’s spirited match-play format.