Here is an EMAIL I sent over the WildOnion on Wednesday, September 22, announcing the winner of the competition:
Well, after almost three months, the JNSE Match Play Championship has finally come to an end. Congratulations to Bob Leore, the winner of the JNSE Match Play Championship.
This was a very close championship, with a ton of close matches. The final was no exception. We know already that 36 holes of match play in the final decided nothing. So, we had to go to another 18 hole playoff to declare a champion.
Ferchoff took an early lead, birdieing the 2nd and 6th holes to take an early 2 up lead. But, the next four holes is where the match would turn around. Leore's birdies on 7 and 8, paired with Ferchoff's bogies on 9 and 10 turned the match around from Ferchoff being 2 up to Leore being 2 up. Leore bogied 11 to go back to 1 up, but his birdie at the 12th got him back to 2 up. They would swing back and forth between 2 up and 3 up, until Ferchoff bogied the 17th hole. That put Leore 3 up, with only one to play, giving him this thrilling match and the championship!!
Once again, congratulations to Bob on a well-played tournament. Also, thanks to all players who participated in this tournament. I would consider it to be successful, except for the fact that it dragged on WAY too long (mostly my fault).
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Here is an EMAIL I sent on the WildOnion on Saturday, September 11.
Here are the current results for the 36 final of the JNSE Match Play Championship, being played at Oakland Hills:
Ferchoff tore up the first 18 at Oakland Hills. He shot a medal score of 62 (-8), taking only 21 putts to play this difficult track. Leore kept close, however, shooting a round of 65 (-5).
Birdies by Ferchoff on holes 1, 2, and 4 gave him three of the first four holes, and a 3 up lead. Leore did not give up, however, as he birdied holes 5 through 8, good for three holes and a halve. The match was even after 8. Ferchoff birdied 9 and 10 to get himself back to 2 up. Ferchoff then birdied holes 12 through 14, giving him two more holes and halve. He was now 4 up, and looking like he could take a stranglehold on the match. But, Leore's birdie at 16 coupled with Ferchoff's double bogey on 17 got the match back to 2 up for Ferchoff. Ferchoff birdied 18 to go with Leore's birdie to get back to 3 up with 18 holes to play in this thrilling final.
The second 18 holes were quite different for Ferchoff. His putter went cold, and he shot a 72 (+2), taking 35 putts, fourteen more than the first eighteen. Leore shot a wonderful 66 (-4) in the very difficult conditions.
Ferchoff and Leore halved the first seven holes (6 pars, and birdies at the 2nd hole by both players). Ferchoff was still 3 up with just 11 holes to go and was in the driver seat. But, the next 6 holes would be a huge turning point. Leore birdied 8 to go back to 2 down. Then Leore birdied 9 while Ferchoff double bogied it (his second double in this 36 hole match) to make the match Ferchoff 1 up with just the treacherous back side remaining. Leore would then birdie the 11th to get the match back to even, and eagle the 12th hole to beat Ferchoff's par. Leore had gone from 3 down to 1 up in 6 holes. What a swing! Both players bogied 13 for a halve, and both players parred 14 through 16, so Leore remained 1 up with two to play. Ferchoff managed to make a terrific par on the 17th, while Leore made birdie. The match was back to even with only the difficult 18th to play. Both players made par, meaning that 36 holes of match play, and we cannot yet declare a champion!! This has been easily the most thrilling match of the tournament!!
Well, we must have a winner, so Ferchoff and Leore will play another 18 hole match (all 18 holes count, it isn't sudden death) at the treacherous Oakland Hills. The greens are still fast, and the winds will be up at 17, so par should be a great score here.
Hopefully, this 18 holes can decide a winner. If not, we will play another 18, until we can declare a winner.
Good luck to Bob in this 18 holes.