Pete Williams Captures Second Senior Amateur Match Play Title
Finals
Pete Williams, of Juno Beach, captured his second Senior Amateur Match Play crown on Monday, July 16th over defending champion, Owen Joyner.
When weather ultimately delayed the final match on June 13th, forcing the Championship to be extended, Williams and Joyner were unable to play the following day due to scheduling conflicts. The two gentlemen, and past champions came to an agreeable date and set to play on Monday, July 16th.
That morning, both gentlemen played some fantastic golf. Williams would birdie the first hole, then Joyner answered quickly with a birdie of his own on the 2nd to bring the match to all square. Pars would halve the 3rd and 4th holes, before Williams would birdie 5 to return to 1 up. The match would stay that way as the duo both matched each others birdies on 6 and 7, then pars on 8 & 9, before Joyner squared the match with his birdie on the 10th. Holes 11-13 would be halved with pars, until Joyner made his first mistake of the match on 14. His approach would come up on the front of the two tiered green, leaving a long putt for birdie. Joyner would three-putt to and ultimately lose to Williams par and go one down. Another mistake on 15 resulting in bogey for Joyner, saw Williams move to 2-up. On the par 3, 16th, the two players hit excellent approach shots. Joyner's 25 foot birdie putt would narrowly miss. With the door open to close out the match, Williams knocked in his 18 foot birdie putt to close out the match 3 & 2.
Stroke Play Seeding Rounds
The Golf Club of the Everglades, located in Naples, started 78 players on Sunday, June 10th vying to be crowned Senior Amateur Match Play Champion. Two rounds of stroke play would determine the low 32 players advancing to match play. Don Whittemore, of Temple Terrace, finished on top as the number one seed after two impressive and consistent rounds of 69 for a 138 (-6). Whittemore, a familiar force in FSGA events, is searching for another victory after winning the Four-Ball Championship in 2012. Past Senior Player of the Year and 2014 Senior Amateur Match Play Champion, Pete Williams, tied Richard Kerper at 139 (-5) in second place. Defending Champion, Owen Joyner, of Bonita Springs, carded two great rounds of 72-69 to finish fourth at 141 (-3). 2013 Champion, Doug LaCrosse advanced to match play along with 2017 Senior Player of the Year, George DeSear.
The cut to the top 32 players was made at nine over-par, 153. Five players tied for 32nd and continued to a sudden-death playoff for the last spot in match play. Jose Novo, of Miami, advanced from the playoff to play number one seed, Don Whittemore, in the Round of 32 matches Monday afternoon. Tough competition would determine the 2018 Senior Match Play Champion!
Round of 32
The round of 32 wrapped up with many notables advancing. The number one seed, Don Whittemore, defeats Jose Novo to advance into the round of 16 where he will face Jacque Legere from Fort Myers. The 2017 Senior Amateur Championship, George DeSear, moves on to the round of 16, where he will be playing against Patrick Becker of Cape Coral. Last year's Senior Match Play Champion, Owen Joyner, has also moved on along with Micheal Cox of Naples. Other notables that have moved on are the second and third seeded players, Richard Kerper and Pete Williams. Doug LaCrosse, the winner of this year's Super Senior Amateur Championship has also advanced and will be playing against Bill Barnes, the winner of this year's Senior Amateur Championship. Round of 16 matches are currently underway.
Round of 16
The round of 16 has now ended with 8 players moving on to the quarterfinals including Medalist Don Whittemore, defending Champion Owen Joyner, 2014 Champion Pete Williams, and 2013 Champion Doug LaCrosse. Three matches exceeded 18 holes with the longest match of the day played between Richard Kerper and Bill Moore. Kerper won the 25th hole to advance to the quarterfinals. Williams played an impressive match with a 7&6 victory. LaCrosse beat out this year's Senior Amateur champion, Bill Barnes, with a 5&4 victory. The quarterfinal matches will take place Wednesday morning with the semifinal round taking place Wednesday afternoon.
Quartefinals
The quarterfinals ends with Whittemore, Kerper, Joyner and Williams advancing into the semifinals. Whittemore defeats Becker after starting off down through twelve holes but came back with three consecutive birdies to go up in the match and eventually win 2&1. Defending champion Joyner never gave up his lead in his match against Roger Dean. Joyner started off one up and steadily grew his lead to win 4&3. Kerper's match was all square after nine hole playing against Himelsbaugh. Kerper then came back with winning six consecutive hole to claim victory by 4&3. The last match of the day was played by Williams and LaCrosse. Both former champions, Williams started with wins on the first three holes and while LaCrosse fought back to only be one down, Williams won three consecutive holes to claim the victory by 3&2.
Semifinals
Joyner and Williams are victorious in the semifinal matches. The first match in the semifinals saw Joyner taking a commanding lead going four up in the front nine and then closing the match out 3 up against this year's number one seed, Don Whittemore. The second match played between Williams and Kerper was tied up for most of the round until Williams made three birdies in the back nine to get to 2 up. Kerper fought back but it wasn't enough to take the victory away from Williams who won 1 up.
The Senior Amateur Match Play is a great chance for seniors in Florida to compete in a state Championship hosted by the Golf Club of the Everglades in Naples. Players will compete in golf's original match play format at the exclusive and prestigious Golf Club of the Everglades. For a look at the 2017 Championship Results 
