Ivan, a former University of Colorado golfer who won the 2017 CGA Senior Amateur, went 20 holes on Wednesday afternoon in the semifinals to defeat Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club. Moore, the 2006 champion, had won a 19-hole match in the first round and a 1-up decision in the quarterfinals, but couldn’t eke out another close victory in the semis. A three-putt bogey on the 20th hole saw to that.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ivan (left) had beaten 2017 CGA Senior Player of the Year Keith Atkins, 2 and 1.
Hornbeck, a semifinalist in this championship last year, scored a 5 and 4 win over Bob Chandler of Overland Park Golf Course in the quarterfinals and a 4 and 2 victory over Victor Minovich of Foothills Golf Course in the semis.
Hornbeck hasn’t been pressed much in his run to the championship match. His only match that went past the 16th hole was a 1-up round-of-32 win over Bradley Becker of Plum Creek Golf Club.
Thursday morning’s title match is schedule for 18 holes.
CGA Senior Match Play
At Buffalo Run GC in Commerce City
QUARTERFINALS
John Hornbeck, Collindale GC, def. Bob Chandler, Overland Park GC, 5 and 4
Victor Minovich, Foothills GC, def. Bill Irwin, Highlands Ranch GC, 2 up
Steve Ivan, Patty Jewett GC, def. Keith Atkins, 2 and 1
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, def. Robin Bradbury, Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, 1 up
SEMIFINALS
John Hornbeck, Collindale GC, def. Victor Minovich, Foothills GC, 4 and 2
Steve Ivan, Patty Jewett GC, def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 20 holes
THURSDAY’S FINALS
John Hornbeck, Collindale GC, vs. Steve Ivan, Patty Jewett GC
For results from Buffalo Run, CLICK HERE.
In Friday afternoon’s semifinals, Saint Leo and fellow Florida school Lynn University finished regulation play with each team winning two matches and halving another. The tiebreaker in such an event is total number of strokes for the teams, and Saint Leo prevailed — by a single shot. The Lions posted an even-par 360 total, while Lynn had 361.
That keeps Saint Leo in the running for its first NCAA DII men’s golf title.
In Saturday morning’s title match at GVR, the Lions will face Chico State (Calif.) in a battle of the top two ranked teams in Division II. (Chico State came in No. 1, according to Golfstat.) Chico State defeated third-seeded Florida Southern in the other semi, 4-1.
The Chico State-Saint Leo match will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday at GVR.
After Saint Leo and Lynn split their first four individual matches Friday, the Lions trailed through 15 holes of the fifth and deciding match. But SLU’s Ryan Gendron squared things up with a par (vs. a bogey) on No. 16, then put himself (and Saint Leo) ahead with another stroke-gaining par on 17. But Lynn’s Jose Andres Miranda prevailed by one stroke on the 18th hole with a par to see the team match finish 2-2-1. But, by the narrowest of margins, Saint Leo prevailed in the tiebreaker.
Saint Leo earlier beat Wilmington 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Winning both their quarterfinal and semifinal matches Friday for the Lions was Joey Savoie. NCAA individual champion Hugo Bernard of Saint Leo halved with Wilmington’s Ryan Rucinski at 2-under 70 in the quarters, then beat Lynn’s Elliott Whitley 69-74 in the semis.
Winning both their quarterfinal and semifinal matches for Chico State were Lee Gearhart, Matt Hutchins and Alistair Docherty.
In all six matches on Friday, the higher-seeded team prevailed. In the quarterfinals, Saint Leo defeated Wilmington 3-0-2, Lynn beat Barry 3-2, Chico State overcame West Florida 3-1-1, and Florida Southern took down California Baptist 3-2.
While Saint Leo has never won a DII men’s golf national title, Chico State has one to its credit, but that came 50 years ago, in 1966.
To read about Saint Leo freshman Bernard claiming the NCAA DII individual title on Thursday, CLICK HERE.
The men’s tourney — and the women’s DII finals at CommonGround Golf Course — are part of the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in which titles in six sports (M&W golf, M&W tennis, softball and women’s lacrosse) will be decided.
Tickets for the DII National Festival are $5 per person per day, or $15 for an all-session pass for the week. Tickets purchased at one site will be valid at all other competition sites.
For more information on the Spring Sports Festival, CLICK HERE.
For results from the men’s tournament, CLICK HERE.
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