Last year it took Randy Nichols of Brookville 25 holes to claim victory at the Senior Match Play Championship. This year he closed the deal after the 14th at Hillcrest G & CC, winning 5 & 4 against Sam Till, Jr. of Fort Wayne. Nichols’ win in 2009 against long-time friend and fellow competitor Skip Runnels of Richmond earned him an exemption for the top seed, so he faced 16th seed Jerry Jackson in the first round. He defeated Jackson 8 & 7 before taking down Dave Williamson 4 & 2. His semi-final match was against Ted Smith who he defeated 1 up to move on the the showdown against Till. Till’s road to the finals started with a 74 during qualifying to get the 10th seed. Then he defeated Bob Karcher 2 & 1 in the first round, Jerry McMullen 1 up, and Jerry Caplinger 4 & 3 in the semi-finals.
To start the final match, perhaps trying not to cause a repeat of last year’s extended final, Nichols went 3 up by the fourth hole. At the first he made an up and down from the sand to go 1 up. At the next hole, a par 3, he left his first uphill putt 15 feet short, but managed to convert the second putt to save par and move to 2 up over Till who took 3 shots to get on to the undulating green. At the par-3 4th, Nichols landed his tee shot three feet from the hole and made birdie to go to 3 up. Till battled back at the 5th when his approach hit the pin, but lost at the 8th when Nichols hit his approach close for another birdie. Sinking a 15 foot putt on 9 allowed Nichols to turn 5 up. Till fought back at the 11th to stay alive, but at the 14th Nichols hit the pin on his approach and the ball stayed inches from the hole. Till conceded the hole and Nichols defended his title.
This is Nichols’ second Senior Match Play title, but he has won three IGA Match Play titles – 2008, 1995, and 1989. This senior win also moves him further out in front of the senior pack for IGA Senior Player of the Year. He has earned 165.5 points during the 2010 season, with Runnels in 2nd at 89.83.
See complete results here.