Griffin medals at Wyoming Match Play
GREEN RIVER, WY (June 7, 2012) -- Todd Griffin is having quite the week of golf after winning the U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifier at White Mountain Golf Course in Rock Springs. He followed up this victory by qualifying as the top seed in the 36th WSGA Match Play Championship at Rolling Greens Country Club in Green River.
After a one-over front nine, Griffin was able to put together a strong back nine by finishing four under in his last six holes to fire the best round of the day with a 69. His round concluded with an impressive approach to two feet from the hole on the 18th green.
The 36th WSGA Match Play Championship included 50 participants competed for 16 spots at the end of the day. Along with Griffin, Jason Tharp of Green River recorded a multitude of birdies including 3 in his final nine and 5 total for a gross score of 70 on the par 71 layout. This score was good enough to secure a number two seed in the first round of matches.
After returning from Houston from his U.S. Open qualifying round, PJ Thomas of Riverton continued his strong play with an even par round of 71, good enough for the 3rd seed.
The first round play concluded with an exciting playoff between five competitors for two spots. The five players started the playoff on the 490 yard par 5 first. After a strong tee shot, and a second shot the carried the green, Sheridan’s Kamrin Allen faced a relatively straight forward up and down for birdie to qualify as the 15th seed. After an errant tee shot that found its way out-of-bounds, playoff contender David O’Connell of Evanston holed out from the greenside bunker for a bogey. Other playoff competitor Morgan Splichal of Sheridan also bogeyed. The bogeys of O’Connell and Splichal were eliminated by the pars of Paul Hefner and Brandon Rideout.
The playoff continued for the 16th and final position in the championship flight. The two players halved the par 3 second hole with bogeys.
The third playoff hole was a straight forward par 4 in which both players hit solid tee shots leaving them a short approach into the green. Hefner’s approach found its place 15-feet behind the hole for birdie while Rideout missed the green just short. After a chip to about 8 feet by Rideout, Hefner lagged his putt to tap-in distance to secure his par. Rideout’s attempt to continue the playoff grazed the hole but didn’t fall. The 16th and final position was then secured by Laramie’s Paul Hefner.
View results for Wyoming Match Play
ABOUT THE Wyoming Match Play
18-hole stroke play round to determine various
brackets for match play. Men's and women's, gross and
net competitions.
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