WEST LAFAYETTE — A hard rain pattered the back of Western Kentucky golfer Nic Hofman as he stepped into the tee box for his opening drive on hole No. 1 at Kampen-Cosler Golf Course.
Hofman’s shorts and shirt were nearly drenched as the rain poured harder and harder.
But to Hofman, the rain and unsettling weather are an advantage.
Hofman hit his drizzle drawn tee shot and dropped it softly three feet from the hole.
A birdie putt followed in what became a clinical 5 & 3 victory over his playing partner and friend Mike Rivas in the Lafayette Men’s City Tournament match play final.
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“I felt comfortable out there,” Hofman said. “I always try to embrace it as much as I can. It’s easy to get down and get mad about the weather. It’s something I’ve always prided myself on and something I try to teach my younger teammates. To embrace it and it’s something I learned when I got into college.”
The rain dissipated after two holes but Hofman kept rolling along at his home course. Any hopes of a comeback for Rivas were dashed on 13 after Hofman sank a 19-foot birdie putt.
Sunday makred Hofman’s second Lafayette Men’s City Tournament, having previously won the tournament as a student at Harrison High School in 2019. And it was Rivas who he beat that still triggers fond memories for fans of the event.
History repeating itself at Kampen-Cosler was rewarding in a multitude of ways for Hofman, who is also the youngest player in history to win the event.
Hofman joined his father Brent as a multiple time champion. Brent Hofman has won the Lafayette Men’s City Golf Tournament seven times in the 3-week tourney that first started in 1930.
Brent caddied for Nic after being knocked from the tournament by Rivas on Saturday. Nic was the dominant player from start to finish, earning a $500 skins bonus for winning first round stroke play two weeks ago before his mother caddied last Saturday.
“Dad has done it a lot more than my mom but they both have their own special place in my heart,” Hofman said. “They both do a great job.”
Rivas was a runner-up for the fifth time.
“It’s a long three weekends and it’s always fun to make it this far but it was a little disappointing to come up a little short,” Rivas said. “The first few holes were pretty wet and Nic honestly just played great today. It was going to take a really good round of golf to compete with him and unfortunately I get some squirrely drives and put me in some spots. Hats off to Nic, he played great from start to finish.”
Hofman has played numerous rounds with Rivas throughout his golf career and considers him a role model for his game. He invited Rivas to play a round with on a course he uses at Western Kentucky called The Club at Olde Stone.
“I used to play out here every Saturday and Sunday morning and we’d have a blue tee game out here,” Hofman said. “I gradually got into it and Mike would always play with (Lafayette City Golf Commissioner) Earl Emerick. They made me a lot better and made me a great person. They made me a lot better golfer and the friendships I’ve made throughout golf, those are the closest guys we have.”
Rivas is still chasing that elusive first championship.
“I keep putting myself in the position and this is the fourth time in the last seven or eight years I’ve been in the final match,” Rivas said. “So if I keep putting myself in position, I’ll get it one day.”
He was supported by his wife Beth and his father-in-law, Indiana Baseball Coaches Hall of Famer Jake Burton.
“With having to give up three weekends during the summer we know we can’t plan out vacations and things like that,” Rivas said. “But (Beth) is super supportive and comes out here as much as she can and I’m appreciative of all that.”
Hofman admitted to wanting to see Rivas pull out the victory one of these seasons. For now, the Lafayette Men’s City Championship trophy will be engraved with his name for a second time.
“He’s going to win one eventually and I think he’ll win more than just one,” Hofman said. “He’s a great guy and I think it’s very easy to get caught up with results but Mike is an unbelievable guy and that’s what shines more than his golf game.”
Lafayette Men’s City Golf Championship 2024 winners:
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Third flight Champion: Michael Odom
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Second Flight Champion: Christian Vukas
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First Flight Champion: Tyler McNeely
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Super Senior Champion: Randy Rupp
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Senior Champion: John Thompson
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Nic Hofman captures second Lafayette Men’s City Golf Championship
