Madison, Connecticut (June 1, 2022) – Day two of the 16th Senior Match Play Championship presented by Middlesex Health began with 32 hopefuls but by day’s end only eight players remained.
The first match of the day set the stage for a wild day at Madison Country Club as the last player into the Round of 32, Todd Schaller (Green Woods CC), took down medalist and top-seed Dick Stevens (Western Hills GC) 1 up to advance to the Round of 16 where he faced 16-seed Bart Weissman (Sterling Farms).
Weissman, the opening round leader of the 2021 Connecticut Senior Amateur, won the first hole but after Schaller won No. 2 the back and forth tilt was underway. Neither player led by more than 1 up for the entirety of the match.
With the match tied on the closing par-4, both players missed the green however Weissman was able to convert a nifty up and down from the left of the green to secure the victory and advance to the quarterfinals.
“It was a great match,” said Weissman who lost in the Round of 32 last year. “In match play you have to hang in there and grind and that was what I was able to do.”
Weissman will square off against 24-seed Rick Nappi in the quarterfinals. Nappi (Timberlin GC) made quick work of his Round of 32 opponent besting Gary Mattesen (Cedar Knob GC) 5&4 before he outlasted Richard Shildneck (Alling Memorial GC) 1 up in the Round of 16.
The second quarterfinal will feature two heavy weight performers as 2018 champion Pat McGuiness (Keney GC) will face off against 2021 Dick Siderowf Player of the Year Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC).
McGuiness, the 21-seed, punched his ticket to the quarterfinals with two hard fought victories. In the Round of 32 McGuiness led by as many as 4 up against Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club) but needed a long birdie putt on the first extra hole to advance.
“I was not looking forward to going to overtime,” said McGuiness. “I just made a good putt on the first extra hole. It is golf, it is just crazy. I was going sideways and then I made a birdie.”
With new life, McGuiness handled his afternoon match against No. 5 Tom Yellin (The Stanwich Club) by a tally of 2&1.
Jones advanced with a pair of comfortable victories. First, he bested No. 20 Tom Brett (Rockledge CC) 4&2 and then the 13-seed beat No. 4 Rich Quinn (Madison CC) 6&5.
The highest remaining seed is Madison CC member Hugh Duffy. Utilizing his home course knowledge Duffy got the better of two-seed Jim Ezold (Black Hall Club) in the Round of 32 by a 2&1 margin and then bested No. 15 Jim Romaniello (Shorehaven GC) in dramatic fashion.
Leading 1 up and playing the short but tricky par-4 17th Duffy used his home course knowledge to his advantage. With the wind blowing hard Duffy sent his tee shot into the 10th fairway so that he could have a better angle into the exposed green. The move paid off as Duffy rolled in a long par putt to close out the match 2&1.
“It is a lot of fun and it is a treat to play on my home course,” said Duffy. “I am just happy to be here and tomorrow I will just take it one step at a time.”
In the quarterfinals, Duffy will square off against 23-seed Drew Greenland (Rockrimmon CC). Greenland made his way through the bracket thanks to a 2 up win over 10-seed Dennis Bongiovanni (Rockledge CC) and a 1 up triumph over No. 26 Mike Noel (Blackledge CC).
The final quarterfinal match will feature 14-seed Rick Malafronte (Indian Hill CC) and No. 22 James Lawler (Mohegan Sun GC).
Malafronte, a quarterfinalist last year, needed extra holes to win his match over No. 19 Jeff Schroeder (Madison CC) before he defeated 3-seed Paul Dinardo (Richter Park GC) 2&1 in the Round of 16.
Of the remaining eight players nobody had a more difficult draw than Lawler. In the Round of 32 he faced last year’s runner-up Bob Murphy, Jr. (Brownson CC) and then in the Round of 16 he squared off against defending champion Craig Platt (Mill River CC).
In his opening match Lawler only trailed once on his way to a 1 up win over the 11-seed. The afternoon match was just as difficult. Platt, the six-seed, jumped out to an early advantage and led 1 up after eight holes. Unfazed Lawler methodically made his way around the difficult Madison CC layout and eventually he found himself leading 2 up with four holes remaining.
However, Platt wasn’t going away quietly. He won the 17th hole to stay alive but Lawler had all the answers on this day and when he tapped in for par on No. 18 he had secured a 2 up victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I am happy to still be alive and I am playing with Rick Malafronte [in the quarterfinals] who is a great guy to play with,” Lawler said. “Anything can happen in match play so we will see what happens.”
Play at the 16th Senior Match Play Championship will continue on Thursday with the quarterfinals and the semifinals. The quarterfinals will begin at 8 a.m. with the semifinals to follow in the afternoon.
Photo: 31-seed Hugh Duffy playing at home is onto the quarterfinals.
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.
