The first day of the SDGA Match Play would keep all four Pierre players in contention to win the Pod as all four are 1-1. Friday will wrap up the Pod along with the Round of 16.
In the first round, Nick Bothun in Pod 4 would beat Charlie Jacobson in the first match. Bothun would win 2 & 1 only being tied after the first hole and then consistently holding the led throughout the rest of the match.
In Pod 11, Lincoln Houska would win 2 & 1 to begin the day over Watertown’s Stuart Stein. Houska would lead for the majority of the match and had a four hole led after 12 holes and held on to win the first match of the day.
In Pod 6 where both Luke Olson and Sawyer Sonnenschein are in, Olson would drop his first match against Tyson Blom 2 & 1. Blom’s highest lead with a five hole advantage before Olson cut the deficit to two, but ran out of time and couldn’t come back. Sonnenschein, on the other hand, would make the comeback and win his first match 2 Up over Brock Murphy. Sonnenschein trailed by two after eight holes and did not take the lead until hole 16. He would birdie hole 18 to win the hole and the match finishing at one under par, 71.
In the second match of the day, Bothun would not be able to catch Radley Mauney as he finished 1-1 in Pod 4. The loss doesn’t necessarily eliminate him from getting out of the pod, although it will be tougher since Mauney is 2-0 and Bothun will need help in the last match of the pod. Mauney took the lead in the first hole and while Bothun tied it up, he never relinquished the lead to Bothun winning 2 Up
In Pod 11, Houska would finish the day at 1-1, falling 1 Up to Russell Pick as Pick again never allowed Houska to lead. They were tied going into 16, but Pick birdied the hole to take the lead and tied with Houska in the final two to win. Houska eagled hole six. Houska will also need some help to still win the Pod as Pick is 2-0.
In Pod 6, Olson would beat Sonnenschein 5 Up as both finish at 1-1 for the day. Sonnenschein had the early lead, but Olson would finish the front nine strong and continue to increase his lead as the back nine was getting later. All four golfers are 1-1 and all four could advance with a win depending on how the other match finishes. Sonnenschein will face Tyson Blom and Olson will take on Brock Murphy.
Friday will feature just one match to finish the round robin in each Pod with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals on Saturday and semifinals and finals on Sunday.
Jayce Pugh of Miller will begin her tournament today as the women’s side will play two matches on Friday before finishing the round robin Pod Play Saturday morning and having the quarterfinals in the afternoon. The semifinals and championship are Sunday. The Golf Genius ID to follow along with the weekend is SD25MATCHPLAY.
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