FRIEDENSBURG — James Bromwell is the new Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Match-Play champion, capturing his first county title Sunday with a 3 & 2 win over Steve Rice.
The second-seeded Bromwell of Schuylkill Haven had made it to the semifinals three times in the past, but had never been in the title match. He made it by defeating third-seeded Luke Morgan of Pine Grove in Sunday’s semifinals, also 3 & 2.
Bromwell had to win four matches over two days, and the effort was evident when asked to describe the winning feeling.
“I’m pretty exhausted to be honest. Four matches is a lot in this heat,” Bromwell said.
“Waking up early both days, it’s pretty exhausting.”
When asked about a key moment, Bromwell actually looked back a day to his 1-up win over former champion Sean Misstishin in Saturday’s quarterfinals.
“Nothing really today, but yesterday on the 18th, beating Sean with that punch shot from underneath the tree to about eight feet then making the birdie won me that match and got me to today. That pretty much started it all,” Bromwell said.
Bromwell said the difference today was that he made a lot of pars.
“I think I only made two birdies total today in both matches,’’ he said. “I was just hitting fairways and greens pretty much all day. Couldn’t really get a putt to drop, just makin’ a lot of pars.”
That was borne out by his scorecard, which showed 28 pars in 32 holes, two birdies (both in the championship match), only one bogey in the finals and one double-bogey in the semis.
The hard-luck Rice was runner-up for the fourth time and is still looking for his first match-play title. He got to the finals with a 4 & 2 win over former champ Ryan Laudeman.
Despite coming up just short again, Rice took the result in stride.
“Aah, not feeling too bad,” he said. “I missed a couple of short putts today that could have kept me in it. I made a lot of pars. I made some bad bogies as well. But I mean, other than that, James played well … made some really good pars.”
Rice’s card showed he made three birdies but also four bogies.
In the front nine the lead changed hands twice, with Bromwell making the turn with a one-hole advantage. Rice thought turning points came at the 10th and 11th holes.
“I missed a short birdie at 10 that would have evened up the match, and we both missed the green at 11 and James got up and down and I did not,” Rice said.
That put Bromwell 2-up. Rice got one back with a birdie at 12, but a Bromwell birdie after an approach shot to 2 feet at the 311-yard, par-4 14th restored his two-hole lead.
He won it with a birdie to Rice’s par at the par-5, 436-yard 16th.
Describing the winning hole, Bromwell made it sound simple: “I laid up with a hybrid off the tee. Then I hit a 5-iron to the middle of the green and two-putted for birdie.”
In A Flight, second seed Chris Hartman of Pine Grove captured the title with a 6 & 5 semifinal win over third-seeded Chris Spittle of Tower City and a 1-up win over top-seeded Ryan Rhody of Schuylkill Haven in the finals.
The difference in that match was Hartman’s eagle three at the par-5 13th, which put him 1-up, a lead he kept until his birdie at 18 cemented the win.
B Flight went to second seed Jim Lord of Saint Clair, who downed fifth seed Mitch Carl of Tower City 3 & 2. Carl had advanced to the finals with a 1-up win over top seed Austin Boyer of Auburn in the other semifinal.
Lord said it was his “hot” putter that won it for him, as he birdied two of the last four holes.
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
Sunday’s results
Semifinals
Steve Rice (9) def. Ryan Laudeman (12), 4 & 2
James Bromwell (2) def. Luke Morgan (3), 3 & 2
Championship
James Bromwell (2) def. Steve Rice (9), 3 & 2
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
Sunday’s results
Semifinals
Ryan Rhody (1) def. Mike Seasock (5), 4 & 3
Chris Hartman (2) def. Chris Spittle (3), 6 & 5
Championship
Chris Hartman (2) def. Ryan Rhody (1), 1-up
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
Sunday’s results
Semifinals
Mitch Carl (5) def. Austin Boyer (1), 1-up
Jim Lord (2) def. Ken Carl (6), 5 & 4
Championship
Jim Lord (2) def. Mitch Carl (5), 3 & 2
Schuylkill County Amateur Match-Play Champions
1992 — Brian Paul
1993 — Phil Pishock
1994 — Bob Costanzo
1995 — Jim Bohrman
1996 — Jim Bohrman
1997 — Jim Bohrman
1998 — Brian Richards
1999 — Mike Muncy
2000 — Jim Rattigan
2001 — Brendt Geiger
2002 — Brendt Geiger
2003 — Jeff Paul
2004 — Jeff Paul
2005 — Jim Rattigan
2006 — Sean Misstishin
2007 — Jeff Metza
2008 — Jeff Metza
2009 — Jim Rattigan
2010 — Jim Rattigan
2011 — Chris Schultz
2012 — Ryan Laudeman
2013 — Randy Kurzinsky
2014 — Jim Rattigan
2015 — James Bromwell