Final Four Set for Sigel Match Play at St. Davids
WAYNE, Pa. - A career year continued for Chris Crawford, as the Spring Mill Country Club standout followed up his medalist performance in the qualifying rounds with a pair of wins in his first two matches today at the 13th R. Jay Sigel Match Play at St. Davids Golf Club, presented by Allegheny Health Network.
Crawford, who followed up an outstanding senior season at Drexel University by qualifying for the recent U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, shot 66-67 in yesterday's qualifying rounds to earn the top seed in match play. There, he managed to knock off the two previous champions of the event in back to back matches today. In the round of 16 this morning, Crawford edged Honesdale Golf Club's Eric Williams, the 2014 champ of this event, 3 and 1. And in the afternoon's marquee matchup, Crawford went 6-under through 16 holes to defeat four-time champion Nathan Smith, who played well to the tune of -2 through 16 but couldn't gain ground on Crawford.
Crawford advanced to the semifinals, where he will face Indiana Country Club's Matt Holuta, who advanced with a first round win over Thomas Steve (4 and 2) and a quarterfinal defeat of Lu Lu Country Club's Scott McLaughlin by a score of 2 and 1.
Also making the semifinals was Huntingdon Valley Country Club's Kyle Sterbinsky, who fired nine birdies in his morning round to defeat Lancaster's Aaron Fricke, 4 and 2. Sterbinsky came back in the afternoon and knocked off home club champ and local favorite Stephen Dressel, 6 and 4, to move on to the semis tomorrow morning. Dressel was in that position after winning a 19-hole match in the morning session over Hickory Heights Golf Club's Jimmy Ellis. Dressel battled back in that match with a par on 18 to force a playoff after Ellis missed the green with his approach. On the playoff hole, the 385-yard par-4 first hole, Dressel won with par after an Ellis three-putt.
Sterbinsky's opponent in the semifinal is Chad Warmbein of Hickory Heights Golf Club. Warmbein advanced with a 1-up win over Arnie Cutrell in the round of 16 before edging St. Clair Country Club's Luke Miller in the quarterfinals in 20 holes. After Miller tied the match on No. 17, the two men halved the 18th before going to a sudden death playoff beginning on No. 1. Warmbein was in the fringe about 40 feet away for birdie, while Miller had a good look from 15 feet. After Warmbein lagged his putt up, Miller just missed a putt to win the match before Warmbein converted a par to force a second playoff hole. On the 445-yard par-4 second hole, Miller's tee shot went left into the trees, while Warmbein was safely in the fairway. After Miller had to chip out sideways to get back to the fairway, the two men approached the hole with Miller facing a bogey chip just off the green and Warmbein putting for birdie from the middle of the green. Warmbein rolled the putt close enough for a gimmie, causing Miller to concede the hole and the match.
The semifinals will begin on Thursday morning with Crawford and Holuta facing off at 7:30 a.m., while Sterbinsky and Warmbein will follow at 7:45 a.m.
Stroke Play Qualifying
Crawford dominated the stroke play qualifying with eight birdies and an eagle among his 36 holes. He carded just three bogeys over the two rounds and took advantage of the par 5s, where he was -5 in total on the day. Tying for second in qualifying were Fricke and another past champion, Greensburg Country Club's Cutrell, who each shot 137 (-3).
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of St. Davids Golf Club for their hospitality during the championship.