Chandler, McGatha win openers
- Updated: September 1, 2015
Dalton Chandler uses hot stretch in middle of his round to win in County Match Play; McGatha goes extra holes
By East Alabama Sports Today
Dalton Chandler shot 30 on the front, was 8-under-par over his final 12 holes and defeated Lance Evans 4&2 in his first-round match of the 2015 Calhoun County Match Play Championship.
Later in the day, No. 3 seed Jeremy McGatha faced one of his toughest tests in a County Match Play victory, outlasting Jake Goggans in 21 holes.
Chandler, the No. 4 seed, led his match 3 up at the turn. Evans birdied the fourth hole to draw first blood, then Chandler charged into the lead with a stretch that included a 35-foot eagle putt on 5 and four straight birdies.
“It was a good little stretch,” Chandler said. “I putted the ball real good. That was the key.”
Evans birdied 10, but Chandler birdied 12 and 13 to come out of The Hollow with a 4 up lead with five to play. Evans birdied 14, they halved 15 and then Chandler won 16 to close it.
McGatha was ahead 2 up in his match, but Goggans birdied 13 and 14 and won 15 to take the lead. McGatha birdied 16 to square the match then needed to match Goggans’ 30-foot birdie on 18 from six feet to force extra holes.
McGatha won it with a par on No. 3.
Chandler now plays the winner of fifth-seeded Caleb McKinney and 12th-seed defending champion Andrew Brooks. McGatha faces the winner between his two-man partner Matt Rogers and sixth-seeded Kevin Daugherty.
CALHOUN COUNTY MATCH PLAY
Buddy Moore Bracket
Ty Cole (1) def. Daniel Black (16), walkover
Billy Thompson (8) vs. Ott Chandler (9)
Caleb McKinney (5) vs. Andrew Brooks (12)
Dalton Chandler (4) def. Lance Evans (13), 4&2
Chris Banister Bracket
Jeremy McGatha (3) def. Jake Goggans (14), 21 holes
Kevin Daugherty (6) vs. Matt Rogers (11)
Clay Calkins (7) vs. Adrian Geeting (10)
Gary Wigington (2) def. Dan Griffin (15), 6&4
You must be logged in to post a comment Login