WACONIA, Minn. – The 2013 Minnesota Golf Association’s Mid-Players Championship began Tuesday at Island View Golf Club with defending champion Sammy Schmitz winning his first two matches advancing to Wednesday's quarterfinals.
Top seeded Schmitz, Valleywood Golf Course, defeated Jeff Teal, Island View Golf Club, 5 and 4 to advance to the round of 16 Tuesday afternoon. Schmitz got off to a quick start as he birdied his first three holes to take a fast 3-up start.
Schmitz held his 3-up lead for the next nine holes, even after he and Teal both bogeyed the 7th, before going 4-up with a birdie on the 13th. On the par-5 14th hole, Teal would make bogey and Schmitz would clinch the match with a par, winning 5 and 4.
In the afternoon session Schmitz faced Brent Grossman, Chaska Town Course, and again found himself with a quick lead as he carded four birdies on the front nine to take a 4-up lead into the back nine.
Grossman would cut into Schmitz’s lead with a birdie on the par-3 11th hole, but Schmitz would go on a three-hole birdie streak to clinch the match on the 14th hole to win 6 and 4.
Schmitz will face Terry O’Loughlin, Loggers Trail, in Wednesday’s quarterfinal action teeing off at 8:02 a.m.
Second ranked Andy Jacobson, Eagle Creek Golf Club, also cruised through the opening rounds of the MGA Mid-Players Championship Tuesday.
Jacobson faced Gary Lawson, Tanners Brook Golf Club, and won on the 15th hole, 4 and 3. Jacobson took an early 1-up lead with a birdie on the 2nd hole, but Lawson would strike back as he took advantage of a bogey by Jacobson on the 8th hole and the match would was all square through eight.
Jacobson would again take a 1-up lead with a birdie on the 9th hole as he would capitalize on Lawson’s mistakes on the final nine holes to take a commanding lead and eventually clinch the match on the 15th hole making par.
In the Round of 16 play, Jacobson faced off against Joel Johnson, Links at Northfork, and again took an early lead with two birdies on consecutive holes to go 2-up through two holes. Johnson would cut into the lead with a birdie on the 3rd, but would falter on the final holes of the front nine with three straight bogeys as Jacobson took a 4-up lead to the 10th.
View results for Minnesota Mid/Senior Players
ABOUT THE Minnesota Mid/Senior Players
Concurrent mid-amateur and Senior match play
competitions. Exempt players join sectional qualifiers in
the starting field of 32.
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