MONTGOMERY, Ala. — There are just four
players left in the field in
the 15th Alabama State Match Play
Championship at Montgomery
Country Club after two grueling days of two
matches a day.
Jake DeZoort, Lee Hodges, Richard Douglas and
Patrick Martin are
those left standing and one of them will be
crowned a state champion
Saturday afternoon after the semifinals and final
conclude.
DeZoort, 17, of Tuscaloosa will be a freshman
on the University of
Alabama golf team in the fall of 2016 and he
beat Joey Holley of
Troy, a State champion multiple times, in Friday
afternoon's
quarterfinals. DeZoort had to come from behind
to do so and won on
the final hole, 1 up.
DeZoort will meet current UAB golfer Lee
Hodges of Elkmont in
Saturday morning's semifinals after Hodges beat
John-Michael
O'Toole of Pinson, who just graduated from the
University of
Cincinnati, 3 & 2 in the quarterfinals.
The other semifinal will pit former Vanderbilt
golfer Richard Douglas
of Trussville, who beat Hunter Bronson of
Montgomery in the
quarterfinals, against Vanderbilt incoming
freshman Patrick Martin of
Birmingham. Martin beat Mountain Brook High
School rising junior
Ben Fuller 1 up in their quarterfinal.
This championship is a true test of endurance
with the winner having
survived six matches over three days.
Semifinals set at Alabama Match Play
Lee Hodges, Jake DeZoort, Richard Douglas and Patrick Martin are the four remaining players in Montgomery