PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Andrew Kozan prevailed with a victory over Jordan Batchelor in the final match to be crowned Match Play Champion at Old Marsh Golf Club.
Stroke Play Seeding Round
The 28th Amateur Match Play Championship jump started August as 63 of Florida’s finest amateur golfers teed it up to determine who would prevail and be crowned champion. Old Marsh Golf Club experienced a weather suspension with only a few groups left to finish the stroke play seeding round on Thursday. The day finished with Derek Hurwitch, Nicholas Gabrelcik, and Andrew Kozan tied as stroke play medalists with a score of 70 (-2).
Defending Champion, Gabrelcik, was looking to add another victory to his resume this year after winning the Amateur Public Links in June. Gabrelcik, who is only 17 years old, started match play as the third seed. The seeds were broken randomly for tied players, and Hurwitch’s first match as the number one seed was a bye. Andrew Kozan, who is searching for his FSGA championship win, entered match play as the second seed. Bryan Kordupel and Jordan Batchelor finished one stroke behind the medalists at one under-par heading into the Round of 64.
5 Things to Know: Amateur Match Play
Stroke Play Seeding Results
Round of 64
Tough competitors remained after the first round of match play. The second seed, Andrew Kozan, won 7&6 against Zack Justice while the third seed from Trinity, Gabrelcik, moved closer to defending his title. Gabrelcik defeated Enrique Vila 7&5 to advance. An upset came from Adam Hofmann, 51st seed, who won 2-up over 14th seed Tom Bevington. Jordan Batchelor, of Saint Augustine, continued to the next round after a 3&2 win over Shane Reynolds. Joe Alfieri, top ten finisher in both the Amateur and Amateur Public Links, earned a 3&2 win to face Joey Latowski in the Round of 32.
Round of 32
Defending Champion, Gabrelcik, continued his winning streak by defeating Miles Albright 3&1. A 5&4 victory over Matthew Avril allowed Hofmann to advance. Kozan defeated Carlos Marrero 3&2 to move closer to the finals. After a long 24 holes delayed by darkness, Latowski prevailed over Alfieri to meet Batchelor in the next match. Number one seed, Hurwitch, was victorious over Andrew Morris, while Will Davenport won over Cooper Smith 4&3. Thomas Salanito and Danny Young earned wins to face each other in the Round of 16.
Round of 16
Saturday morning began the Round of 16 where Hofmann prevailed after 19 holes to advance over Gabrelcik. Kozan, a past FJT winner from West Palm Beach, defeated Johnny Tucker 2&1 to face Alec Nachmann in the Quarterfinals. Gabriel Vanososte would go head to head against Batchelor, who defeated Latowski 3&2, in the next round. Hurwitch never took his foot off of the gas as he moved closer to the finals, defeating Hopinks 4&3.
Quarterfinals
Hofmann, of Ponte Vedra, played strong in his first FSGA Championship as he advanced past Salanito 4&2. Continuing to prevail, Kozan defeated Nachmann 1-up and Batchelor prevailed with a 6&5 win. Hurwitch, of Lake Worth, would move closer to his first individual Championship win with a 3&2 victory over Davenport.
Semifinals
Hurwitch and Batchelor played a back and forth match on the front nine ending with a 1-up par from Hurwitch on the ninth hole. Batchelor fired back with an eagle, two, on the par four 10th hole to take the match back to all-square. A birdie on holes 12, 14, and 16 secured the 3-up win for Batchelor. A similar match was being played between Hofmann and Kozan. Turning at all-square, Kozan lit on fire and won holes 11 through 15 where the match ended at 5-up.
Finals
The final match started as a back and forth battle between Batchelor and Kozan. An eagle on the par five seventh hole and a par on the eighth hole gave Kozan a 2-up lead at the turn. Kozan carded a second eagle of the day on the par five 12th hole to increase his lead by one. A par on the par three 14th hole gave Kozan a 4-up lead heading into the finishing holes. The final match ended on the 15th hole with a birdie from Kozan and 5&3 victory! Kozan played a strong seven rounds of golf to be crowned Match Play Champion.
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