The 50th EDGA Match Play Championship is now underway at the Downing Golf Club with the Qualifying Round complete as well as the first round of matches completed on Monday.

All results can be viewed at the Tournament Website.

The 2021 Champion, Jon Merriott was exempt from qualifying and so received the #1 spot in the match play bracket. Mike Wolfe claimed the qualifying title and the #2 position with a stellar round of 6-under par 66. He was closely challenged  by Matt Barto and Alex Weir, who both shot rounds of 4-under par 68. Interestingly enough each of these three have been Match Play finalists, including the last 4 tournaments, without having had the opportunity to claim the title.

Ed Podufal, who is a 3-time champion (1984, 1985, 1997) was the only other player to break par with a 3 birdie, 2 bogey round of 71. Dave Spitzer matched par with a round of 72. His round included an eagle, 4 birdies and 6 bogies.

There were 4 players who shot 73, 2013 Champion Ted Grassi, III, Mark Majewski, Mike Capotis, and Dean Rainville. The top 10 was rounded out by a trio of players who shot 74 which included 2006 Champion Rob Nicotra, Dustin Coleman, and T.J. Mitchell.

The cut for match play fell at 82 where a playoff of 2 players was conducted for 1 spot.

The first round of match play was completed in the afternoon with all of this year’s favorites advancing. Defending champion Jon Merriott took out Scott Simonsen 8&7, Mike Wolfe defeated 2011 Champion David Hewett, 7&6, 2021 Runner Up Alex Weir bested Kyle Westfall 6&5 and 2019 and 2020 Runner Up Matt Barto upended Mark Noce 3&2.

Additionally 3-time match play champion Drew Deimel dispatched Mike Slupski 2&1 which now sets him up for a round 2 match against the defending champion, Jon Merriott. Spitzer advanced with a 3&1 victory over Matt Modica and Grassi made short work of Tim Weyand 7&5.

The remaining results include; Pat Arrigo d. Mike Capotis 2 up, Mark Majewski d. Ron Richardson 1 up in 20 holes, T.J. Mitchell d. Brett Folga 2 up, Podufal d. Chris Keim 3&1, Jesse Yates d. Dustin Coleman 2&1, Sal Vella d. Maclain Deitrick 6&5, Phil Pedano d. Dean Rainville 3&1, Mike Newcomer d. Matt Stearns 3&2, and Zac Bihler d. Rob Nicotra 1 up.

The matches continue on Friday with the second round commencing at 9:00am and the quarter-finals scheduled to begin at 1:00pm that afternoon. The semi-finals are slated for Saturday and the finals for Sunday with play beginning at 10:00am both days.

All results will be available on the tournament website here.

The  2022 schedule is set and listed here.

The online entry site is be up and open. All of the tournaments are available for online entry by visiting the online entry portal here.

Gannon’s Connor Bennink shot a wonderful round of 5 under par 67 in Sunday’s final round of the 101st EDGA Amateur Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank. Bennink started the round 7 strokes behind the second round leader, Ryan Deimel.

He opened with a 2 birdie, 2 bogey nine of 36 and then came home in 31, with birdies on 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17. His putt on 18 for 66 would have been the eventual winner but lipped out. Bennink finished at 2-over 218. On the first playoff hole Bennink made par leaving Alex Weir with a 3 footer to extend the playoff, but Weir missed left and Bennink was the champion.

Alex Weir, who was the runner up in the EDGA’s other major (the Match Play) added a second runner up finish after losing in a playoff to Bennink. Weir started slow and was seemingly out of it after a double bogey on 8 leaving him at +6 and 4 behind. But he birdied 9 and offset bogies on 10 and 15 with birdies on 11 and 13 before closing with birdies on 16, 17, and 18 to match the clubhouse lead.

Mike Wolfe was at or near the top of the leaderboard all afternoon, needing only a par on the finishing hole to join the playoff. His second at 18 went over the back and he was unable to save par, finishing one stroke back with 72-219.

First and Second round leader, Ryan Deimel fell out of the lead for the first time after following a bogey on 3 with a double on 4. He then traded birdies on 6 and 9 with bogies on 5 and 8 to remain in the hunt. A double on 13 and a bogey on 15 ended his title hopes for all intents and purposes, but did bounce back with birdies on 16 and 17 and closed with 76, good for a tie for 4th. He tied with two players that started the round 8 back, both shot 68. Mike Garcia used an eagle on 6 to fuel his 34-34-68 while Isaiah Swan eagled the par 4 16th, and surrounded that with birdies on 13, 14 and 17 for his 68.

With Deimel’s early struggles, Dave Spitzer moved into the lead with a birdie on 6. He exchanged a bogey on 9 with a birdie on 10 and continued to hold the lead until he made bogey on 16. He added two more bogies on the finishing holes and shot 74 and finished tied for 7 with Drew Deimel. Deimel had his best round of the event with 3 birdies offset by 2 bogies for 71.

Mark Majewski also shot 71 for a 222 3-round total. He was tied with Breckin Taylor who closed with 76-222 to complete the top 10.

The top 16 won prizes and they can be redeemed in the pro shop at Lake View.

Click here for complete results.

Although he shot 74, Ryan Deimel increased his lead in the 101st EDGA Amateur Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank from one stroke to two heading into the final round Sunday at Lake View Country Club.

Breckin Taylor (75-71) and Dave Martin (74-72) will make up the final threesome, both are 2 shots back.

Five players sit one more shot back at +3. They are Mike Wolfe, who shot 69 and has the low round of the tournament thus far, Dave Spitzer (76-71), Defending Champion Ted Grassi, III (74-73), Alex Weir (74-73) and the 2021 EDGA Match Play Champion, Jon Merriott (71-76). The top 10 is rounded out by players at +4, Clayton Skoff (75-73), 4-time Champion Ellery Tarbell (71-77), and Billy Colbert (75-73).

The field was cut to the top 24 for Sunday’s final round. The cut came at 154. Play begins at noon.

The 101st EDGA Amateur Championship sponsored by Marquette Savings Bank was completed today at Lake View Country Club.

Ryan Deimel, the 2014 Champion, the last time the Amateur was conducted at Lake View, emerged atop the leaderboard with a round of 2-under par 70. The 2021 EDGA Match Play Champion, Jon Merriott is one shot back, tied with 4-time EDGA Amateur Champion Ellery Tarbell. Mark Majewski sits in fourth, one more shot back with a round of even par 72.

The defending champion, Ted Grassi, III shot 74 and is tied with 5 other players in 6th.

Click here for complete results.

Round two begins tomorrow at 10:50 am and the 54-hole event concludes on Sunday.

The EDGA is using live scoring for this event so scores are posted and updated as play continues.