17th Metropolitan Match Play Championship – May 5 & 6
Bryant Defends Match Play Title Successfully with 5 & 3 Victory
Semifinals
The morning had distinct different matches. The veteran match, Skip Berkmeyer and Tom Barry and the young gun match, Justin Bryant and Alex Cusumano. Berkmeyer and Barry had pretty even match going after 9 holes with Berkmeyer holding a 1up lead. On to the back 9, Berkmeyer proved a bit too much today for Barry winning 3&2 and advancing to his 7th consecutive match play final.
The young gun match featured defending champion Justin Bryant and Alex Cusumano, who just completed his sophomore campaign at Loyola-Marymount Chicago. The slightly more experienced Bryant played steady par golf en route to a 4&3 victory and a rematch with Berkmeyer.
Final
The top two seeds, Berkmeyer and Bryant have now competed in the last 3 major match play finals conducted in Missouri. Meeting last year in the Metropolitan final, Missouri Am final and here again in 2012.
Again, with both playing steady golf the match was All Square after 6 holes. Bryant would then win holes 8 & 9 with pars to take a 2up lead to the back 9. Another par on 10 extended the lead to 3up and a birdie from the right rough on 11 took the lead to 4up. That is where the match would remain until hole 15, where Skip conceded Bryant’s birdie bid and the match ended 5&3. Bryant joins Don Bliss, Jim Holtgrieve and Skip Berkmeyer as multiple time champions of the Match Play Championship.
See all the scoring from 17th Match Play Championship!
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