In a showdown of former champions, Guy Mertz of The Fox Hill Club in Longmont defeated Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club 3 and 2 on Mertz’s home course Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the CGA Senior Match Play Championship.
Mertz, the 2010 winner of the Senior Match Play, won two of the first three holes and led throughout against Polk, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year.
Joining Mertz (pictured) in winning two matches on Wednesday to make the semis were Kary Kaltenbacher of Glenmoor Country Club, Robert West of Cherry Creek Country Club and Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club, who beat 2012 champion Ray Makloski of Pueblo Country in 20 holes in the quarterfinals. Oneth prevailed with a bogey on the 20th hole, where Makloski carded a double bogey. Makloski had been 3 up through 13 holes.
In Thursday’s semis, Kaltenbacher will face West and Mertz will take on Oneth. The winners will meet for the title on Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, in the CGA Super-Senior Match Play at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, Steve Scheffel of Ptarmigan Country Club and Jeffrey English of CommonGround Golf Course won two matches each on Wednesday and will meet in Thursday morning’s championship match. Each player has defeated a two-time Super-Senior Match Play champ along the way, English taking down Roger Gunderson of CommonGround in Tuesday’s round of 16, and Scheffel dominating Patrick Mooney of Colorado Golf Club in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, 8 and 7.
In Wednesday afternoon’s semifinals, Scheffel edged Don Alley of Antler Creek Golf Course, 1 up, as the players halved the last five holes with pars. And English topped Doug Jones of Tiara Rado Golf Course, 2 and 1.
CGA Senior Match Play
At The Fox Hill Club in Longmont
ROUND of 16
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC (16) def. Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks GC (32) 2 up
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines North (9) def. John Ingram, Hiwan GC (25) 1 up
Brian Woody, Ridge @ Castle Pines N (29) def. Bob Chandler, Foothills GC (13) 19 holes
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC (5) def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC (12) 19 holes
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club (2) def. Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC (15) 6 and 4
Robert Polk, Colorado GC (10) def. Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC (7) 1 up
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC (3) def. Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (14) 7 and 5
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC (27) def. Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC (22) 2 and 1
QUARTERFINALS
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC (16) def. Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines North (9) 7 and 6
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC (5) def. Brian Woody, Ridge @ Castle Pines N (29) 2 and 1
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club (2) def. Robert Polk, Colorado GC (10) 3 and 2
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC (27) def. Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC (3) 20 holes
CGA Super-Senior Match Play
At West Woods GC in Arvada
QUARTERFINALS
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (16), 8 and 7
Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4) def. Lee Hansen, Pinehurst CC (12), 3 and 2
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Randy Miller, Boulder CC (18), 2 and 1
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19) def. Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (22), 2 and 1
SEMIFINALS
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4), 1 up
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19), 2 and 1