FRIEDENSBURG — The field is set for Day 2 of the Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Match-Play Championship at Hidden Valley Golf Course.
After two rounds Saturday, the field of 40 has been winnowed to 12 and presents some interesting matchups.
In Championship Flight, 2012 champ Ryan Laudeman of Orwigsburg will face frequent playing partner and three-time runner-up Steve Rice of Orwigsburg in one semifinal.
Rice got there by defeating Blue Mountain High School player Bailey Sophy 2 & 1 in the morning and then knocking off top seed Bobby Hillibush of Mahanoy City 4 & 3 in the afternoon. Rice took a lead on the sixth hole in that match and never relinquished it.
Laudeman defeated another frequent playing partner, Mike Kacelowicz of Orwigsburg, 2 & 1 in the first round and handled North Schuylkill High School player Hunter Mickatavage 6 & 5 in the quarterfinals.
Laudeman took the lead over Mickatavage with a birdie on the par-5 first hole. Mickatavage got even on No. 4, but Laudeman regained the advantage on the next hole and never gave it up again.
The other Championship Flight semifinal features second seed James Bromwell of Schuylkill Haven against third seed Luke Morgan of Pine Grove.
Bromwell eked out a 1-up victory over former champion Sean Misstishin of Ashland with a birdie on the 18th hole after not leading in the match until going 1-up on No. 16. Misstishin evened it up on 17 on a Bromwell bogey, but Bromwell’s birdie three on 18 got him to the semis.
Morgan advanced with a 5 & 4 win over Scott Kacelowicz of Orwigsburg and a 4 & 3 victory over Brian Noonan of Ringtown.
In A Flight, top seed Ryan Rhody of Schuylkill Haven will take on fifth seed Mike Seasock of Pottsville, who had two 1-up victories Saturday. The other semi-final matchup is second seed Chris Hartman of Pine Grove against third seed Chris Spittle of Tower City.
The potential is there in B Flight for a father-son matchup in the finals as Mitch and Ken Carl of Tower City, seeded 5th and 6th respectively, advanced with victories Saturday. Mitch Carl defeated Bob Watral 3 & 2, while Ken Carl beat Wayne Smith 1-up.
To set up that matchup, however, they’ll have to knock off the two top seeds in the flight.
Mitch Carl will face top seed and Blue Mountain High School player Austin Boyer of Auburn, who had a 5 & 4 win over John Vadyak of Schuylkill Haven. Ken Carl is up against second seed Jim Lord of Saint Clair, who downed Schuylkill Haven’s Dave Blasko 5 & 3.
Today’s semifinals will tee off at 7:12 a.m., with the finals commencing at noon.
At Hidden Valley Golf Course
(Seeds in parentheses)
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Saturday’s results
First Round
Bob Hillibush (1) def. Anthony Mehling (16), 6 & 5
Steve Rice (9) def. Bailey Sophy (8), 2 & 1
Hunter Mickatavage (4) def. Eric Schneck (13), 3 & 2
Ryan Laudeman (12) def. Mike Kacelowicz (5), 2 & 1
James Bromwell (2) def. Clair Rummel Jr. (15), 4 & 2
Sean Misstishin (7) def. Brent Jones (10), 6 & 4
Luke Morgan (3) def. Scott Kacelowicz (14), 5 & 4
Brian Noonan (11) def. Brian Paul (6), 4 & 2
Quarterfinals
Steve Rice (9) def. Bob Hillibush (1), 4 & 3
Ryan Laudeman (12) def. Hunter Mickatavage (4), 6 & 5
James Bromwell (2) def. Sean Misstishin (7), 1-up
Luke Morgan (3) def. Brian Noonan (11), 4 & 3
Today’s Tee Times
Semifinals
Steve Rice (9) vs. Ryan Laudeman (12), 7:36 a.m.
James Bromwell (2) vs. Luke Morgan (3), 7:36 a.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 12:16 p.m.
A FLIGHT
Saturday’s results
First Round
Ryan Rhody (1) def. Fred Krute (16), 7 & 5
Charles Greer (8) def. Greg Mayberry (9), 2-up
Alex Mansell (4) def. Tanner Cook (13), 1-up
Mike Seasock (5) def. Larry Strause (12), 5 & 3
Chris Hartman (2) def. Gary Metza (15), 7 & 6
Gary Hess (7) def. Matt Lescavage (10), 4 & 3
Chris Spittle (3) def. John Worthy (14), 4 & 3
Jeff Bromwell (11) def. Nate Yost (6), 2 & 1
Quarterfinals
Ryan Rhody (1) def. Charles Greer (8), 5 & 4
Mike Seasock (5) def. Alex Mansell (4), 1-up
Chris Hartman (2) def. Gary Hess (7), 4 & 3
Chris Spittle (3) def. Jeff Bromwell (11), 2-up
Today’s Tee Times
Semifinals
Ryan Rhody (1) vs. Mike Seasock (5), 7:20 a.m.
Chris Hartman (2) vs. Chris Spittle (3), 7:20 a.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 12:08 p.m.
B FLIGHT
Saturday’s results
Quarterfinals
Austin Boyer (1) def. John Vadyak (8), 5 & 4
Mitch Carl (5) def. Bob Watral (4), 3 & 2
Jim Lord (2) def. Dave Blasko (7), 5 & 3
Ken Carl (6) def. Wayne Smith (3), 1-up
Today’s Tee Times
Semifinals
Austin Boyer (1) vs. Mitch Carl (5), 7:12 a.m.
Jim Lord (2) vs. Ken Carl (6), 7:12 a.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, Noon