Mike Wolfe first appeared in the match play finals 17 years ago against Ron Coleman at Lake Shore. He fell to the now 5-time champion 4&3. In 2018 he was back in the finals against Drew Deimel at Kahkwa. He fell again by the same count to the now 3-time champion. In the previous 2 tournaments he fell in the semi-finals. In the EDGA’s other major, the Amateur Championship he finished second in 2018 to a then record 54-hole score. He’s finished 3rd four times, in 2021 one stroke out of a playoff and 2 shots out in 2023. He also finished 3rd in 2018 and 2022.

So, to say he’s been close is an understatement. But, with today’s 6&4 victory over Ted Grassi, III at The Kahkwa Club, his wait for a coveted EDGA major has come to an end. After a week of very hot and sunny weather the players were greeted with much cooler and softer conditions due to the early morning rain. Thankfully, those rains held off and ultimately, the sun shined through as the match concluded.

Grassi, a two-time major winner himself struck first blood when his second shot on the short par 4 second, bumped the pin and ended up a foot away for a birdie and a one up lead. Wolfe’s first win came at the 4th. With both players just off the front of the green their shots to the back pin were some 80 feet away. Grassi putted and left a challenging par putt, but it wasn’t necessary when Wolfe chipped in for a birdie. On the 5th Grassi found himself short sided in the bunker, after failing to make bogey, Wolfe’s 20 footer from the front fringe was conceded for birdie and he had his first lead, a lead he’d never relinquish. Grassi had a good opportunity to get back to even on 6, but could not convert his birdie after an outstanding approach shot. The 7th proved difficult as it always does, but more so for Grassi and his drive into the right rough ended close to a tree and he was unable to advance toward the green. Once there, the uber difficult right side pin greeted players. Wolfe 3 putted from just off the back but it was good enough to take the hole.

On the 8th, both players had good opportunities for birdie but both missed, Wolfe from relatively short range. Undeterred he rammed in a 20 footer for birdie on the 9th to close the front 9 3 up. The always difficult 10th protected its par as Wolfe was unable to save par from short and Grassi failed from being shortsided again. After pars at 11 both players were close to reaching the par-5 12th in two. Grassi was unable to get closer than 10 feet, a distance from which he did not convert, and when Wolfe chipped to a couple of feet, his lead grew to 4.

Neither player was close on the par 4 13th and Grassi was in the rough just off the green so the hole was up for grabs. Grassi lipped out his much needed chip which opened the door for Wolfe who curled in a downhill, sidehill 20 footer for birdie bringing the match to dormie. Both players found the fairway with good drives and Grassi’s second did quite stay on, rolling back to just off the front. Wolfe struck a majestic long iron to about 8 feet for eagle. Grassi needed to win the hole to extend the match and when he was unable to convert his birdie, Wolfe’s eagle putt was conceded, ending the match at 6&4.

The loss was Grassi’s second in the finale, offset by his lone victory in 2013.

Complete results.

In the first semi-final, Mike Wolfe took on 5-time champion Ron Coleman. Wolfe went out quickly, opening with three 3’s to go three-up. Coleman bounced back with birdies at 5 and 6. Wolfe took 7 and 8 with 4’s before Coleman tied the match with a birdie and 9 and 11 and a par on 10. The tie was short lived as Wolfe was back on top with a par on 12 but Coleman bounced right back with a par and a win on 13. At that point the pair had halved just one of the first 13 holes. After tying the 14th Wolfe was back on top with a birdie 2 on 15 and went to the last hole 1up. Wolfe won the 18th and won the match 2up.

Like Wolfe, Ted Grassi, III started fast and with birdies on 3 and 4 he was 2up on Phil Pedano. Pedano erased that deficit with a par on 7 and a birdie on 8 and edged ahead with a par on the 10th. His only lead wash short lived when he bogied 11 and the match was tied. It remained tied through 13 when Grassi rattled off 3 consecutive holes, his birdie 3 on the 16th being the clincher, 3&2.

Wolfe and Grassi are both Kahkwa Club members and play together regularly so the finals should be a comfortable match, just with an EDGA major on the line. Certainly more important for Wolfe as he has yet to win a major while Grassi has two, the 2013 EDGA Match Play Championship and the 2020 EDGA Amateur Championship.

The pair has met three times in EDGA Match Play competition. Wolfe claimed their first meeting in 2007 at Lake View 5&4 and then triumphed again in 2022 at Downing 3&2. Both those were quarterfinal matches. Grassi claimed the second round match at Lake Shore in 2016 1up for his only victory to date.

The match will tee off at 1 p.m. at The Kahkwa Club on Sunday.

Two more rounds of match play were completed today at the Kahkwa Club in the EDGA Match Play Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank.

Here are the morning results:

Alex Weir d. Dave Spitzer 6&4
Ron Coleman d. R.C. Chase 6&5
Zach Bihler d. Scott Klein 4&3
Mike Wolfe d. Jon Merriott 3&1
Phil Pedano d. Ryan Matlock 3&1
Dylan Flinchbaugh d. Drew Deimel 1up
Ted Grassi, III d. Matt Stearns 3&1
Michael Garcia d. Matt Barto 1up

Winners advanced to the afternoon quarterfinals with these results:

Ron Coleman d. Alex Weir 1up 19 holes
Mike Wolfe d. Zach Bihler 5&4
Phil Pedano d. Dylan Flinchbaugh 1up
Ted Grassi, III d. Michael Garcia 2&1

The semi-finals get underway tomorrow morning.

Ron Coleman (39-11) v. Mike Wolfe (24-15) (10:50)

This is a rematch of the 2007 Match Play finals at Lake Shore. Coleman won the match for his second title and went on to win 4 consecutive titles. Wolfe also advanced to the finals in 2018, losing to Drew Deimel.

Phil Pedano (4-1) v. Ted Grassi, III (47-22) (11:00)

These two players have never met. This is Pendano’s second appearance in match play while Grassi now has 24 appearances including claiming the title in 2013 against Rick Carlotti at Lake View and falling to Ron Coleman in 2009 in the finals.

The 2024 EDGA Match Play Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank got underway at the Kahkwa Club. The players were greeted with sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. A field of 66 player began the day with an 18 hole stroke play qualifier, the top 32 advanced to match play and competed in the afternoon and now just 16 move forward to round two on Friday morning.

Medalist honors in the qualifier were shared by Alex Weir and Phil Pedano, both players shooting a score of 1-under par 71. They were followed by Tanner Silker (72), Zac Bihler (73) and Mike Wolfe (74).  3 players tied for 6th with 75 and two of them are past champions, Matt Barto and Sean Sculley, the other was Dylan Finchbaugh. Three more past champions were next, Ron Coleman (76) and Drew Deimel (77) and Ryan Deimel (77). David Martinez also shot 77 to round out the top 10.

The qualifying cut fell at 82 and four with that score played off for the final 2 spots.

The first round of match play also took place on Monday afternoon. Here are the results.

Alex Weir d. Evan Watkins 7&5
Dave Spitzer d. Mike Marsico 6&5
R.C. Chase d. Sean Sculley 2up
Ron Coleman d. Mac Deitrich 5&3
Zac Bihler d. Doug Fugate 5&4
Scott Klein d. Mike Newcomer 4&3
Mike Wolfe d. Jack Costello 3&2
Jon Merriott d. Ryan Deimel 5&4
Phil Pedano d. Kade Logue 2&1
Ryan Matlock d. Kyle Westfall 6&5
Dylan Finchbaugh d. Matt Modica 1up
Drew Deimel d. Tim Weyand 3&2
Matt Stearns d. Tanner Silker 1up
Ted Grassi, III d. Isaiah Swan 1up
Matt Barto d. Dustin Coleman &34
Mike Garcia d. Dave Martinez 3&2

Click here for full results.

Here are the second round matches (W-L record):

Alex Weir (19-6) v. Dave Spitzer (21-19) (8:00)
RC Chase (4-7) v. Ron Coleman (37-11) (8:10)
Zac Bihler (5-6) v. Scott Klein (4-2) (8:20)
Mike Wolfe (22-15) v. Jon Merriott 19-11) (8:30)
Phil Pedano (2-1) v. Ryan Matlock (1-0) (8:40)
Dylan Finchbaugh (1-0) v. Drew Deimel (33-9) (8:50)
Matt Stearns (1-1) v. Ted Grassi III (45=22) (9:00)
Matt Barto (17-4) v. Mike Garcia (16-14) (9:10)

The quarter-finals begin on Friday afternoon at noon. The semi-finals are at 11:00am on Saturday and the finals are at 11:00am on Sunday.