Top Seeds Moving Forward as First Round of Matches Concludes
Concord, NH – The Match Play Championships continued at Beaver Meadow Golf Course as the first round of matches got underway. On the Mid-Amateur side of the competition, most of the top seeds prevailed, including top-seeded Keith Stone, with just one upset along the way. For the Seniors, many of the lower seeded players will be moving forward with a few close matches on the course today.
The top seed in the Mid-Amateur bracket, Keith Stone, put together a great round in his first match of the championship as he went up against Dann Gardner. In talking about his round, Stone stated “I got off to a quick start, I was 1up after 1 but Dann played really well and actually had a 2up lead after the turn.”
Stone went on to win the 10th hole of the match and from there, both players halved a number of holes with pars. Stone was able to tie it up after the 15th hole where Gardner ended up in a tough position where he was unable to make par. The 17th hole ended up being Stone’s go-ahead hole as he drained a 14-footer for birdie to head down the 18th hole 1up. The two played 18 similarly for Stone to take the win and continue his run in the Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship.
Having to take a two-week hiatus from golf due to a back injury, Stone is happy with the way he played in his match. “I played well today. A two-week break is not always a terrible thing, so I’m kind of excited for the rest of the season.”
Stone moves on to face Jalen Rines in the Quarterfinal rounds of match play to take place at Keene Country Club on July 8th. Additional golfers moving forward in the tournament are James Kinnunen, who upset Reno Fuller in 21 holes, Sean Gildea, Ryan Blossom, Mark Stevens, Jim Cilley, and Derek Dinwoodie. The Blossom and Stevens match will be a fun one to keep an eye on in the next round as the two are good friends having grown up playing together.
In the Senior Match Play Championship, it comes as no surprise that names like Bob Mielcarz, Craig Steckowych and Danny Arvanitis are all moving forward as they won their first-round match in the tournament. Mielcarz, always a tough competitor, faced off with John Mumford in his match, closing it out on the 16th hole at Beaver Meadow Golf Course, winning 3&2.
Mielcarz moves on to face Danny Arvanitis, another match in the next round that will be fun to keep an eye on as both competitors have extensive match play experience under their belts from years of competing and winning the New Hampshire Amateur Championship. Arvanitis won his match against Steve Thompson 2&1 to move forward.
Steckowych, who is the defending champion in the tournament, had no trouble in his match, defeating his opponent Thomas Leonard 4&3. He is the defending and four-time champion of the Senior Match Play and another player who is no stranger to the match play format. He moves on to face Doug Decaprio in the next round.
Additional players moving forward in the Senior Match Play are Tony Fournier, David Larrivee and Allen Pattee. All will head down to Keene Country Club in a few weeks to take on the Quarterfinal round of the championship.
It was nothing but compliments out there today for the golf course as Beaver Meadow was in great shape with players loving the new look as the course has taken down numerous trees on the front and back nine giving the course a different, more open look.
The next round of matches will take place at Keene Country Club on Wednesday, July 6th.
The top seed in the Mid-Amateur bracket, Keith Stone, put together a great round in his first match of the championship as he went up against Dann Gardner. In talking about his round, Stone stated “I got off to a quick start, I was 1up after 1 but Dann played really well and actually had a 2up lead after the turn.”
Stone went on to win the 10th hole of the match and from there, both players halved a number of holes with pars. Stone was able to tie it up after the 15th hole where Gardner ended up in a tough position where he was unable to make par. The 17th hole ended up being Stone’s go-ahead hole as he drained a 14-footer for birdie to head down the 18th hole 1up. The two played 18 similarly for Stone to take the win and continue his run in the Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship.
Having to take a two-week hiatus from golf due to a back injury, Stone is happy with the way he played in his match. “I played well today. A two-week break is not always a terrible thing, so I’m kind of excited for the rest of the season.”
Stone moves on to face Jalen Rines in the Quarterfinal rounds of match play to take place at Keene Country Club on July 8th. Additional golfers moving forward in the tournament are James Kinnunen, who upset Reno Fuller in 21 holes, Sean Gildea, Ryan Blossom, Mark Stevens, Jim Cilley, and Derek Dinwoodie. The Blossom and Stevens match will be a fun one to keep an eye on in the next round as the two are good friends having grown up playing together.
In the Senior Match Play Championship, it comes as no surprise that names like Bob Mielcarz, Craig Steckowych and Danny Arvanitis are all moving forward as they won their first-round match in the tournament. Mielcarz, always a tough competitor, faced off with John Mumford in his match, closing it out on the 16th hole at Beaver Meadow Golf Course, winning 3&2.
Mielcarz moves on to face Danny Arvanitis, another match in the next round that will be fun to keep an eye on as both competitors have extensive match play experience under their belts from years of competing and winning the New Hampshire Amateur Championship. Arvanitis won his match against Steve Thompson 2&1 to move forward.
Steckowych, who is the defending champion in the tournament, had no trouble in his match, defeating his opponent Thomas Leonard 4&3. He is the defending and four-time champion of the Senior Match Play and another player who is no stranger to the match play format. He moves on to face Doug Decaprio in the next round.
Additional players moving forward in the Senior Match Play are Tony Fournier, David Larrivee and Allen Pattee. All will head down to Keene Country Club in a few weeks to take on the Quarterfinal round of the championship.
It was nothing but compliments out there today for the golf course as Beaver Meadow was in great shape with players loving the new look as the course has taken down numerous trees on the front and back nine giving the course a different, more open look.
The next round of matches will take place at Keene Country Club on Wednesday, July 6th.