"I knew I was going to have to pick up my game because Ben is one of the best players in the state," Hendrickson said.
Two double-bogeys on the final nine - one on the 11th hole and one on the 14th hole - doomed Fuqua's chances. He three-putted No. 11 and four-putted No. 14.
Hendrickson took a three-stroke lead after No. 14, then birdied the par-4 15th hole, the par-3 16th, the par-5 17th and the par-4 18th.
"There's a good reason he was the Kentucky Golf Association Player of the Year last year," said Fuqua, who also finished strong Sunday, birdieing Nos. 15, 17 and 18 on his way to a 71.
The only players to finish under par
Hendrickson and Fuqua were the only players to finish under par for the tournament. Derek Oldham of Lexington, a teammate of Fuqua's on the University of Kentucky men's golf team, shot 70-76 and placed third. Tommy Hastie of Danville shot 73-74 and finished fourth.
Despite winning the Butler in his final appearance (he plans on turning pro later this year), Hendrickson battled a case of the "lefts" with his driver in both rounds, sending several tee shots into the left rough.
"I struggled with my alignment," he said. "I kept setting up with my shoulders too open, which was causing me to hit it left. I finally worked it out on the back nine today, though, and over the final few holes I drove it much better."
While Hendrickson credited his putting as being the key to his win, Fuqua said his putting needs some work.
"My ball-striking is really good right now," Fuqua said. "I'm probably hitting it as good as I can hit it. I feel like can take my long game anywhere and compete.
"I've just got to spend some time on the putting green. I had three three-putts yesterday and two three-putts and a four-putt today, so it's not hard to see what I need to spend some time working on."
Fuqua's putting, however, was good enough to register 14 birdies - eight in the first round and six in the second round.
Hendrickson and Fuqua are heading to the Country Club of Paducah today to play a practice round in preparation for the start of the AT&T Kentucky State Amateur Championship on Tuesday. Once again, Hendrickson is defending a title he won last year.
"I've played that course several times because the Ohio Valley Conference tournament was held there, so I feel good about the state am being held there," said Hendrickson, who finished his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky University in May as the OVC Player of the Year.
He shot 71-74-72 at the OVC Championship in April on the par-72 Country Club of Paducah and tied for second.
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Kent Brown will be covering this week's Kentucky State Amateur for The Advocate-Messenger. Also, see more of Brown's photography at www.kentbrownphotography.com.
