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6-19-09
WSGA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP sponsored by TaylorMade
Waukesha’s Kevin Cahill outlasted a younger, stronger, longer opponent Thursday in the finale of the Wisconsin State Golf Association Match Play Championship, sponsored by TaylorMade, earning a 1-up victory over Kelly Kretz of Antigo.
Cahill, 49, a member at Merrill Hills CC in Waukesha, led throughout most of the match, and he was dormie on the 17th tee before Kretz, whose family owns Riverview GC in Antigo, made a birdie on the par-3 17th. Still holding a 1-up lead on the 18th tee, Cahill hit his approach to the front fringe of the green. Kretz rolled in his clutch birdie putt from about 18 feet to stay alive, if only briefly, then Cahill dropped his 10-footer to close out the match.
The tournament was held at Northern Bay Golf Resort in Arkdale, and while the course is known for its replica holes honoring some of the most famous holes in golf, it was the wooded surroundings that played a bigger role in the outcome. Kretz, a 20-year-old who plays for Marquette University, couldn’t hit the fairway on a couple of key occasions, and that more than anything led to his demise.
On the 16th hole Kretz hit two drives into the woods and conceded the hole without either player hitting an approach shot. That send Cahill to to the 17th tee 2-up.
In semifinal action Thursday morning, Cahill defeated Ryan Grip of Trapp River GC in Wausau 5 and 3. Kretz beat Tyler Obermueller of River Falls GC in a tense 21-hole match that could have gone either way. The end came when Kretz made a short putt after Obermueller’s 5-foot par putt spun out of the hole.
The medalist in stroke play qualifying was Patrick Duffy of Butte Des Morts CC in Appleton with a round of 66. Kretz tied for second in qualifying with a 68, and Cahill shot 73, entering the match play portion of the tournament as the 24th seed.
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