Defending champion Terry Werner came in to the 2018 Senior Match Play Championship with hopes of a repeat at Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville. After a round of 3-under-par, 69 in the stroke play round of the tournament, Werner earned himself a 1 seed in the match play bracket.
After four wins in two days against a strong fielded bracket, Werner was Senior Match Play Champion once again.
“This means a lot to me,” Werner said on winning for the second year in a row. “Playing in IGA events and playing against great players and winning… there’s nothing like it.”
Werner admits he struggled in his matches yesterday, but was still able to win 3&2 versus Pat O’Connor and 2&1 versus Greg East on his way to today’s semifinals match.
In the semifinal match, Werner found his rhythm again as he won 5&4 over Steve Coyne. Werner won so handily that he had to wait just under two hours for his next match to begin as Sam Till Jr. and Gordie Rees battled for 22 holes.
“I can’t sit still so I had to go out hit balls and chip and putt to keep myself busy,” Werner said.
Eventually Rees outlasted Till Jr. and the final match was set.
The first nine holes were back and forth as each Rees and Werner had the lead at one point. Werner took a quick two up lead through three holes, but Rees would respond as he grabbed a one up lead after a birdie at the difficult par-3 7th. Werner gave himself a tap in birdie on the ninth, and the match was back to where it began at all square.
Werner went on to win three out of the next four holes to give himself a commanding lead. From there he would make a couple more pars as Rees was unable to make birdies, giving Werner a 4&3 victory.
“Today I played really good, especially in the final match,” Werner said. “I’ve been working hard at it and it’s finally starting to come around for me.”
Werner says up next for him is the Chicago District Senior Amateur and the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier.
In the Super Senior Match Play Championship, Jerry Crouch defeated Dave Bates two up in the finals match this morning.
For complete results of the Senior Match Play Bracket click here
For complete results of the Super Senior Match Play Bracket click here
