Madison, Connecticut (June 2, 2022) – For a moment it looked like Dave Jones might falter in his semifinal match at the 16th Senior Match Play Championship presented by Middlesex Health.
Leading 4 up after 10 holes at Madison Country Club in his match against Rick Nappi (Timberlin GC), Jones lost the 11th hole and then missed a makeable birdie attempt on the par-4 12th that would have won the hole.
With six holes remaining Nappi had given himself a chance. However, Jones had other ideas. The reigning Dick Siderowf Player of the Year stepped to the tee on the downhill par-3 13th and hit a gorgeous shot that scared the hole and finished 20-feet away. With Nappi, the 24-seed, struggling to get out of a greenside bunker Jones (Mohegan Sun GC) calmly two putted to win the hole and regain a 4 up advantage with five holes to play. One hole later Jones sealed the deal winning 5&4 to advance to Friday morning’s championship match where the 13-seed will be in search of his first CSGA major title.
“I don’t think I have quite processed yet what it will mean to play for a championship. I am super excited because this is what we play for. We play to try to win these tournaments and this is a golden chance,” Jones said.
Jones, after defeating 21-seed Pat McGuiness (Keney GC) 1 up in the quarterfinals on Thursday morning, jumped out to a quick lead in the semifinals with a victory on No. 1 only to have Nappi even the match on No. 2.
The tie wouldn’t last long as Jones won the next three holes to take a 3 up lead that he would never relinquish. Nappi, a winner over No. 16 Bart Weissman 1 up in the quarterfinals, tried to slow the momentum with a win on the 6th hole but Jones was not to be denied on this day as he won the next two holes to extend his lead.
“I was a late addition to the field. I have been dealing with vertigo and it has been up and down,” said Jones. “I have almost been day to day with playing. I wasn’t sure if I could make it.”
Jones has made it and now he will face Hugh Duffy, the 31-seed, who has made an improbable run on his home course to the title match. Duffy punched his ticket into the finals with a 3&2 win over 14-seed Rick Malafronte (Indian Hills CC) in the semifinals.
“I have known Rick for 20-25 years and I have never beaten him and I have played against him many times so to get to the next round is a surprise,” Duffy said following his victory.
Duffy raced out to an early advantage winning four of the first six holes and never looked back. That isn’t to say Malafronte didn’t make things interesting. On the downhill 200 yard par-3 13th Malafronte missed the green to the left apparently opening the door for Duffy to extend his lead and for a moment it looked like he had. Duffy sent a high arching shot right at the pin. The ball hit just short of the hole and rolled to within inches. A near ace that resulted in a conceded birdie. It looked as if the match was going to go dormie. Malafronte had other ideas as he answered by chipping in for birdie to tie the hole.
Malafronte, a winner in the quarterfinals over 22-seed James Lawler (Mohegan Sun GC) in 19 holes, then won the next hole trimming the advantage for Duffy to 3 up with four to play. That however would be as close as the match would get.
Duffy steadied himself with a tie on the par-4 15th hole and then sealed the deal with a tie on No. 16.
“I have been trying to repeat the things I have been doing in previous matches and really trying not to play against [my opponent] but play against the golf course,” Duffy said. “It was something that I was taught a long time ago. Sometimes it is hard to avoid that and I got thrown off track a couple times down the stretch but tomorrow will be a new day and I am looking forward to it.”
The championship match of the 16th Senior Match Play Championship will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Senior Match Play is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
