|
Hagen
Wins Second TBI Match Play Title
Randy Hagen captured his second TBI Match Play title in dramatic
fashion with a final hole victory over Mike Fitzsimmons at Elk Run Golf Course in Maple
Valley. Randy was also champion in 2000,
winning in a sudden death playoff.
Trailing 2 down with three holes to play, Randy made consecutive pars to draw even at
the 17th. Then, with Mike 12 feet from the final hole in three strokes, Randy drained a
40 foot putt for par. Mike's attempt to tie stayed on the lip, giving Randy the narrow
victory. "It was anything but easy", said Randy “From my angle, any of
Mike’s last three par putts looked like they were going in”.
Back nine heroics were commonplace in Randy’s playoff matches. In a close match
against Dodie Fitzsimmons at High Cedars in the semifinals, Randy chipped in for a par
at 13 and hit a gutsy, prodigiously long three wood to a water protected green at the 16th
to secure a 3&2 victory. Against Steve Denton in the quarterfinals, Randy won four
straight holes on the back nine to turn a two hole deficit into a 2&1 victory.
In the other semifinal match, Mike Fitzsimmons edged Bert Dewell 3&1 at High Cedars
despite a balky driver down the stretch on the back nine. This match exemplified the
“game of inches” expression as several rubs of the green went Mike’s way. “It
was as tight a match as I’ve ever played,” said Mike. “I’ve won matches in extra
holes that I felt more confident about than playing Bert”.
In other quarterfinal playoff action, Mike defeated John Solis 5&4; Dodie defeated
Shawn Tovey 2&1 and Bert Dewell defeated Brian Palosi 4&3.
Bert Dewell and Dodie Fitzsimmons tied for Third Place in this year’s tournament.
Region winners included Brian Palosi, John Solis, Dodie Fitzsimmons and Steve Denton.
Click
here for playoff bracket 2004 Round Robin Results by Region |
