Top Four Ousted from Minnesota PGA Senior Match Play at Prestwick

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  WOODBURY, Minn. – Wednesday’s first day of competition at the 2014 Minnesota PGA Senior Match Play Championship at Prestwick Golf Club saw plenty of rain and sloppy playing conditions, along with a number of upsets as the field was cut down to four heading into Thursday’s semifinals.

Play was halted for an hour and 34 minutes shortly after the quarterfinal round began Wednesday.

When play resumed Dave Nordeen provided the biggest upset of the championship as he knocked out two-time defending champion, Don Berry, 2 and 1.

“[Berry] and I have played golf together since our college days. He’s the best player in the state—I know that and he knows that,” Nordeen said. “Having said that, guys need to hit fairways and greens and not make mistakes.”

Berry, Edinburgh USA, birdied the opening hole to take a quick 1-up lead, but Nordeen evened the match with a par on the third. Nordeen took the lead shortly after, but Berry came back with a birdie at the par-5 ninth to even the match again.

The two remained deadlocked until the par-5 16th were Nordeen’s second shot landed just shy of the green, where he’d chip close and tap in for birdie to take the lead late.

Berry’s tee shot on the par-3 17th missed the green and he would pitch to eight feet. After Nordeen two-putted for par, Berry missed his par putt and Nordeen clinched the match, 2 and 1.

“You just want to hit the ball solid and that’s what I did for most of the day,” Nordeen said after advancing to the semifinals Thursday. “There was a stretch during the first match when I kind of lost it, but I need to take care of the par-5’s—I can hit every one of them in two.”

“I played pretty good in the rain. I drove it well and hit a lot of greens,” he said. “Tomorrow I’m going to try to hit it in play and this course is short enough that you can wedge it into the green and hopefully make some putts.”

Nordeen, Somerby Golf Club, defeated Bob Miller, 1-up, during the opening round before facing Berry in the quarterfinals.

Nordeen jumped out to a big lead early as he took a 4-up lead after nine holes, before Miller made a comeback by winning the first two holes on the back to pull within two.

Miller, Rich Spring Golf Club, would eventually even up the match late, but Nordeen made birdie on the 16th to take the lead with just two holes to play.

Miller came right back to even the match on the 17th, but Nordeen drilled a 25-foot birdie to win the match on the final hole to advance.

Nordeen will face Steve Whillock, Oak Marsh Golf Club, in the semifinals Thursday as Whillock defeated Craig Waryan, 5 and 4, before downing Minnesota Golf Association Tournament Director, Doug Hoffmann, 4 and 3, to advance.

Thomas Vizina was responsible for the other upset of the day as he took down third-ranked Brad Schmierer, 3 and 1, to advance to the semifinals against David Richardson Thursday.

“It was rainy,” Vizina laughed after moving on to the semifinals. “I was just hitting the ball solid. I didn’t putt very well, but I was able keep it in play and hit enough greens.”

Vizina, Oaks Golf Club, took an early lead but battled back and forth with Schmierer on the front nine, eventually taking a 4-up lead after winning the 10th and 11th holes. Schmierer conceded Vizina’s birdie on the 17th hole and Vizina clinched the match, 3 and 1.

“I basically hung in there during the second round. I only made two birdies but I made a lot of pars and didn’t make too many mistakes,” he said. “I struck the ball really well today, I think I hit out of the rough three times in two rounds—so that’s pretty good.”

Vizina will face David Richardson, Soldiers Memorial Field Golf Course, in the semifinals Thursday as Richardson won by default during the first round after No.2 seeded Dale Jones withdrew.

Richardson then went on to defeat Jeff Otto, Olympic Hills Golf Club, 3 and 2, to advance to Thursday’s semifinal match.

The 2014 Minnesota PGA Senior Match Play Championship concludes Thursday as the semifinal matches are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. with the final match beginning at the conclusion of the semifinals at Prestwick Golf Club.



2014 MINNESOTA PGA SENIOR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
PRESTWICK GOLF CLUB
WOODBURY, MINN.
6,617 YARDS, PAR 72


WEDNESDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
Dave Nordeen, Somerby GC, def. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 2 and 1
Steve Whillock, Oak Marsh GC, def. Doug Hoffmann, 4 and 3
David Richardson, Soldiers Mem. Field GC, def. Jeff Otto, Olympic Hills GC, 3 and 2
Thomas Vizina, Oaks GC, def. Brad Schmierer, Hastings CC, 3 and 1


WEDNESDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, def. James Kidd, Windsong Farm, 1-up
Dave Nordeen, Somerby GC, def. Bob Miller, Rich Spring GC, 1-up
Doug Hoffmann, MN Golf Assoc., def. George Smith, Forfeit
Steve Whillock, Oak Marsh GC, def. Craig Waryan, Edinburgh USA, 5 and 4
David Richardson, Soldiers Mem. Field GC, def. Dale Jones, Mendakota CC, Forfeit
Jeff Otto, Olympic Hills GC, def. Peter Krause, Edinburgh USA, 3 and 2
Brad Schmierer, Hastings CC, def. Ed Bialek, Oak Ridge CC, 6 and 5
Thomas Vizina, Oaks GC, def. Marty Lass, Edina CC, 4 and 2