That putt changed the momentum of the semifinal. The 2015 Senior Match Play champion went on to win holes No. 7-12 to go from two-up to three-down. Jackson made his fifth consecutive birdie on No. 12, but Green matched the birdie to stay three-down. Green birdied No. 13 to get within two, but that would be as close as the former US Mid-Amateur champion got. Jackson won Nos. 14-15 to win the match 4&3.
In the other semifinal, defending champion Bob Rice led a back and forth affair by two at the turn. Rice got to three-up with a win on No. 10. His opponent, Buzz Fly, fought back winning the next two to cut his deficit to one-down. Rice won No. 15 to regain a two-up lead and eventually closed out the match 2&1, giving himself the opportunity to defend his title.
In the championship match, Jackson jumped out to an early lead with a birdie on No. 1. Rice leveled the match by winning No. 3. From there, the past two champions played neck and neck until Jackson won No. 7 to take a one-up lead. Three holes later Jackson doubled his lead after winning No. 11. Yet again, three holes later Jackson won No. 15 to take a three-up lead. Jackson made a three-foot par putt on No. 16 to win 3&2.
The Senior Amateur Match Play Championship is Jackson’s 19th state championship. “Bob is a great competitor and it was an honor to play him and I am fortunate to win,” Jackson said, trophy in hand.
The inaugural Super Senior Match Play Championship ended in anticlimactic fashion. Dr. Neil Spitalny, the No. 2 seed, was unable to compete Friday morning, forcing him to concede to match to Ed Link. This is Link’s first state championship and caps off a special week at Five Oaks Golf & Country Club that included a hole-in-one.
