Ryan Peters of the Country Club (Meadville) was quite clinical in disposing of Matt Barto in the EDGA Match Play finals. In hitting fairways and greens he was almost without exception and the constant pressure he applied to his opponent, Matt Barto, eventually paid off.

After tieing the first hole with pars, Peters took a one up lead when Barto’s tee shot on the par three 2nd found the hazard left of the green. They match birdies on three and pars on four before Peters added to his lead with a birdie on 5. Both would bogey number six. Barto won his first hole, the seventh with a birdie after a wonderful second to about 20 feet on the par five. He would, however, give that hole right back when his second on number 8 found the hazard that fronts the green. Peters would advance that lead to 3up at the turn when Barto’s tee shot missed the fairway left and was unable to save par. Peters added another on the tenth where Barto again missed the green and failed to get up and down. Neither was able to capitalize on good tee shots into the par 3 eleventh as Peters remained 4up.

Peters made his biggest mistake of the day on the par 5 twelfth when his tee shot went right and ended up in the hazard. He was able to chip out but Bart strung together 3 great shots and made his 3rd birdie on a par 5 to cut the lead to 3. Peters made a clutch 6 footer on 13 to save par after Barto had chipped up to a couple feet so the hole was halved. Barto hit it close on the par 3 fourteenth but was unable to convert and it too was halved. With Peters playing conservatively and Barto aggresively both found themselves with birdie putts on the par 5 fifteenth. Peters just missed and Barto converted (he birdied all of the par 5’s) and the lead was down to 2 with 3 to play. Peters played a great second to the par 4 16th to about 12 feet just above the hole while Barto’s rolled past the pin to about 25 feet. Pushing to win another hole Barto’s birdie try ran 5 feet long. Peters was unable to convert his birdie to win the match but when Barto missed his comeback putt Peters had another clinching putt, this time from a couple of feet, which he rolled in to end the match 3&2.

The junior-to-be at Mercyhurst captured his first EDGA major. He previously demonstrated his match play prowess with victories in both the 2016 and 2017 EDGA Junior Match Play. He also won the 2018 EDGA Junior Stroke play so this is his 4th EDGA title overall. Barto who was the runner-up last year to Drew Deimel claimed his second runner up finish.

Current Results

Tournament Prizes

Gift certificates for prize winners are available in the Whispering Woods GC pro shop.

Champion $400
Runner Up $250
Semi-Finalists $150
Quarter-Finalists $100
First Round Winners $75

Ryan Peters had an easy time with Alex Weir in the semi-finals of the EDGA Match Play Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank taking him down 7&5.

2019 Runner Up had an equally as easy time in the other semi-final match defeating Dean Rainville 6&5.

Tomorrow’s final between recent Gannon grad, Barto versus Mercyhurst’s junior to be Peters will tee off at 11:00 at Whispering Woods. Both are in search of their first EDGA title.

It was a long day at Whispering Woods Golf Club as both the second round and the quarterfinals were played.

The opening match of the day saw Drew Deimel’s 16-match winning streak end at the hands of Lake Shore’s Alex Weir 4&3. Weir went on to defeat David Hewett 3&1 in the afternoon. Hewett had disposed of Derek Aicher 2up.

Mike Garcia made a hole in one on the 168-yard 2nd hole but it wasn’t nearly enough to handle Mercyhurst’s Ryan Peters. Peters won 3&2. Peters faced Zach Henry in the quarterfinals upending him 2&1. Henry had made quick work of TJ Mitchell in the morning match 7&6.

It took extra holes for Ted Grassi, III to defeat co-medalist Jon Merriott, needing one extra hole. Last year’s runner-up Matt Barto breezed by Isaiah Swan 5&4 and then went on to eliminate Grassi. Grassi however started the match birdie-birdie-eagle jumping out the a quick 3-up lead before Barto turned the tables, ending the match on the 15th hole.

The other co-medalist, Dave Spitzer took care of Mark Majewski 4&3 before running into this year’s upset maker, Dean Rainville. Rainville is the #27 seed and defeated the #6 seed in round one, the #11 (Sean Sculley) 5&4 in round two and then the #3 seed Spitzer 2&1 in the quarterfinals.

The semi-finals tee off at 11:00 on Saturday with the winners squaring off on Sunday at 11:00. There will be a new EDGA major champion this year as none of the semi-finalists have captured an EDGA event.

Current results

2-time defending champion Drew Deimel extended his match winning streak to 16 with a 3&2 victory over Ryder Grignol in the first round of the 2020 EDGA Match Play Championship. Deimel will face Alex Weir next. Weir defeated Zach Ford in sudden death to advance. Derek Aicher also needed sudden death as he recorded his first EDGA Match Play win by downing Michael Capotis on the 19th hole. Aicher will face 2011 Champion David Hewett who defeated Tim Weyand 2up. TJ Mitchell and Carter Hassenplug were the 3rd of the first 5 matches to go extra holes with Mitchell taking the match on the first extra hole.

Lake View’s Zach Henry continued his hot play disposing of Matt Passqualinqa 8&7. 2-time runner up Michael Garcia advanced with a 4&3 victory over Bobby Scalise while Mercyhurst’s Ryan Peters took care of Dan Cullen 6&5 to complete the top half of the bracket.

Jon Merriott, who was the qualifying co-medalist had an easy time with Lucas Marsh, defeating him 6&4 putting him up against the 2013 Champion Ted Grassi III in round two. Grassi advanced with a 4&2 victory over the 2006 Champion, Rob Nicotra. 2019 runner up Matt Barto defeated Dave Lehner 3&2 and moves on to face Isaiah Swan who took care of Mike Newcomer 4&2.

The other co-medalist, Dave Spitzer was also successful in his round one match, posting a 4&3 victory over Scott Simonsen. He will face Mark Majeski in round 2. Mark was a 3&2 winner over Dustin Coleman. Sean Sculley had success against Mike Wolfe disposing of him 5&3. Extra holes was once again needed as Dean Rainville provided the biggest upset of the day by defeating Kevin McDonald in 19 holes.

Round two tees off at 8:00 on Friday with the quarterfinals to take place later that afternoon.

Current results

The qualifier of the 2020 EDGA Match Play Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank hosted by Whispering Woods Golf Club is complete as 31 golfers have advanced to join defending champion Drew Deimel for the match play portion of the event.

Jon Merriott and 2017 Runner Up Dave Spitzer led the qualifiers with scores of 2-under par 70’s. They were closely followed by a pair of 71’s by Zach Henry and Ryan Peters. Kevin McDonald was fifth with a score of even par 72. There was a group of 3 players with 74’s including Isaiah Swan, Michael Capotis and Tim Weyand. Last year’s runner up, Matt Barto finished alone in 9th with a 3-over par 75. The top ten was rounded out by 2017 Champion Sean Sculley and 2-time runner up Michael Garcia who both shot 76.

Three other past champions qualified for match play, Rob Nicotra (2006-77), David Hewett (2011-80) and Ted Grassi, III (2013-78). The match play cut came at 85 where a playoff was need to fill the final three match play spots from the 4 players at 85. Ryder Grignol was first to capture a spot with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Scott Simonsen grabbed the second spot with a par on number 2 and finally, Lucas March outlasted R.C. Chase on the third playoff hole to capture the final bracket opening.

The first round of matches begin on Wednesday at 8:00 am. The second round is scheduled for 8:00am on Friday with the quarter-finals to follow on Friday afternoon. The Semi-finals are at 11:00am on Saturday with the finals at 11:00am on Sunday. All play is at Whispering Woods Golf Club.

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