Day One of the 2015 RDGA Match Play Championships at Ontario CC Complete

 

The first day of the 2015 RDGA Match Play Championships featured several close matches – and a few upsets – as the field was narrowed from 32 to 16 in the morning round and from 16 to 8 in the afternoon.

 

Hosted by the lush and well-manicured Ontario Country Club on Friday, May 22, the District Match Play Championships also included the inaugural RDGA Senior Match Play Championship, which began with a field of 16 players, ages 55 and older. In both competitions, seedings were arranged based on points earned by eligible players throughout the 2014 season. The No. 1 seed in the Match Play Championship was held by defending champion Jim Scorse of Stafford Country Club, while the No. 1 seed in the Senior Match Play was held by 2014 RDGA Senior Champion Bob Zeman of Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club.

 

Jim Scorse opened the defense of his RDGA Match Play title on Friday by defeating Oak Hill Country Club’s Conor Talty, 5-and-3 in their Round of 32 matchup. He then defeated Ben Hauser of Webster Golf Club 3-and-1 in the Round of 16 on Friday afternoon.

 

Ben Cratsley of Centerpointe Golf Club recorded the biggest upset of the day, defeating Oak Hill’s Jim Mason by a 2-up margin in the opening round. Cratsley, a recent winner in the RDGA’s Two Person Four Ball, was the No. 30 seed coming into the Match Play Championship; Mason, a past winner of the District Match Play title, was the No. 3 seed.

 

Sean Flint of Midvale Country Club, the No. 5 seed and runner up in last year’s Match Play Championship was upset in second round action Friday by No. 21 Rob Smith of Mendon Golf Club by a 3-and-1 decision.

 

In the Senior Match Play Championship, No.1 seed Bob Zeman cruised to a first round victory over No. 16 Donivan Neal of Blue Heron Hills in a 7-and-6 decision.

 

Play continues on Saturday at Ontario Golf Club with Quarterfinal and Semifinal action in both the RDGA Match Play Championship and the RDGA Senior Match Play Championship, beginning at 7:30 am.

 

James Scorse d. Conor Talty, 5-and-3;
Ben Hauser d. Thomas Linehan, Jr., 2-up;
Shawn Baker d. Jacob Reimer, 3-and-2;
Kevin Peters d. Ken Starkweather, 1-up 19 holes;
Kevin Thornton d. Patrick Cahill, 3-and-2;
Andrew Dailey d. Troy Allen, 3-and-2;
Sean Flint d. Steve Fisher, 2-up;
Rob Smith d. Darren Ressler, 1-up;
Adam Condello d. Michael Frank, 3-and-1;
Matthew VanNiekerk d. Jon Pecor, 1-up;
Shane Gleason d. Bryan Taillie, 2-and-1;
Zachary Ottman d. Marty Coddington, 3-and-2;
Ben Cratsley d. James Mason, 2-up;
Zach Fuller d. Jeremy Paton, 1-up;
Shane Dobesh d. Stuart Harris, 4-and-3;
Ryan Glazier d. Wade Sarkis, 1-up 19 holes.

Round of 16:
James Scorse d. Ben Hauser, 3-and-1;
Shawn Baker d. Kevin Peters, 2-and-1;
Andrew Dailey d. Kevin Thornton, 3-and-2;
Rob Smith d. Sean Flint, 3-and-1;
Matthew VanNiekerk d. Adam Condello, 5-and-4;
Zachary Ottman d. Shane Gleason, 5-and-4;
Ben Cratsley d. Zach Fuller, 2-and-1;
Shane Dobesh d. Ryan Glazier, 5-and-3.

Round of 16:
Robert Zeman d. Donivan Neal, 7-and-6;
Andrew Conway d. Dale Landl, 2-and-1;
Mark Battle d. Thomas Worden, 4-and-2;
Dan Overbeck d. Caleb Strong, 4-and-2;
Robert Hospers d. Bob Weston, 3-and-2;
Stephen Schickler d. Curt Reimer, 2-up;
Steve Hakes d. Robert Brongo, 3-and-2;
George Privitera d. Chuck Ryan, 2-and-1.