For Biggadike, the key shot was a 5-iron struck from nearly the same position he was in when he hit it out of bounds in his semifinal match against Michael Christensen of Minnesota. Then, a 1 up lead vanished and he had to go 20 holes to reach the final. This time, he hit it to 12 feet and, when Russo failed to hole his chip for a three, the match was conceded and Biggadike was the champion.
Biggadike has won match play tournaments at heralded venues before, winning three Carnegie Shields at Royal Dornoch in Scotland. But this win, achieved in his fifth appearance in the Travis, was his biggest so far.
Russo’s achievement was notable as well, as the 60-year-old was eligible for the senior division but chose to play with the mid-amateurs, and made it all the way to the final.
Biggadike was one of three stroke play co-medalists, along with another 60-year-old, Ken Bakst, and Tommy Parker. Each shot rounds of 2-under 71 in wet, rainy conditions.
Reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale played in his first Travis, and made it to the quarterfinals. The highlight of Parziale’s week was a hole-in-one at the par-3 second hole in stroke play qualifying.
In the Senior Division, Bart Dornier of Louisiana beat Jerry Rose of Florida in the final match, 1 up.
The other flight winners were:
Devereux Emmet Cup: Jeronimo Esteve d. Kevin Gai, 1 up
Charles Blair Macdonald Cup: Daniel MacDonald d. Ken Dardis, 4&2
Robert T. Jones Cup: Mike Connors d. Steve Tarulli, 3&2
William H. Taft Cup: Tim Schmitt d. Grant Byczek, 2&1