From Barely Qualifying to Victory
Adam Sumerall, 2010 IGA Match Play Champion
Photo courtesy Duke photography
CARMEL, ID (July 31, 2010) -- Adam Sumrall of
South Bend qualified as the
31st seed at the IGA Match Play
Championship by fending off eight fellow
competitors in a 6-hole playoff Tuesday. Ten
players shot 75 to tie for the last two spots -
Sumrall held on until the sixth hole and made
par to advance. It was the longest playoff of
his young career, but well worth it.
Friday morning he defeated defending
champion and top seed Eric Steger of
Noblesville 2 & 1 at Prairie View GC.
"I knew I had to play well today, and
we both got off to a great start," said
Sumrall, who was 2 under through 3.
"We went back and forth all day, but I
made putts to keep it going. I got rather
lucky."
Sumrall developed back problems in March
and has played less this summer than any
summer in the past, so six rounds in four
days was quite a feat. But he didn't admit
any physical fatigue, just that the 20 hole
match against Brodie Williams of Lapel was
mentally grueling. His other victories on the
way to the final included defeating Andrew
Wegeng of Avon 3 & 2, Cory Ziedonis of
Indianapolis 1 up and Alex Stinson of Anderson
1 up. "2 & 1 feels like quite a big
victory after this week," said Sumrall.
Sumrall found success with match play at the
Boys State Junior when he won at the age of
16, and once at the US Junior when we won
his first match to get to the round of 32.
"I learned a lot about match play at the
US Junior," he explained.
Next on his schedule is the US Amateur
qualifier before returning to Duke to play his
sophomore year.