Dillard Gets Redemption in Lajitas, Woodson Notches Senior Division Victory
LAJITAS, Texas (December 10) – Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, won the Duel in the Desert to claim the 2024 Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship Open Division title. Rick Woodson, PGA instructor at Sherrill Park Golf Course, claimed the Senior Division title.
The No. 1 seeded Dillard battled No. 3 Gabe Reynolds, PGA director of instruction at Topgolf - Dallas, in a 36-hole final match for the title and $10,000. Both players began their run to the championship match back in October at White Bluff Resort where they worked their way through the 32-player match play bracket.
“It’s tough to get here. You have to go through a lot of great players, so I feel really satisfied after the long year of hard work,” said Dillard. “He’s [Reynolds] really good. He can make a birdie or an eagle at any point. Playing with Gabe you know you have to bring your best.”
After playing 18 holes on Monday, their match stood at 2UP in favor of Dillard. The 2UP lead for Dillard held through 28 holes. Dillard then began to charge on the back nine when he hit his approach shot on the par-4 11th hole to 10 inches for a conceded birdie. He followed that up on the 12th with another birdie after a 20-foot putt. An errant tee shot on the 14th saw his lead cut to only 3UP with four holes to play. After winning the 14th hole, Reynolds hit his tee shot into the rocks on the right side of the 15th hole. After an unsuccessful attempt to play the shot, Reynolds conceded the hole, and the match ended with a 4&3 victory for Dillard.
This is the second year that Dillard has made it to the final match. Last year he fell to Chad Moscovic 7&6 in 36 holes. The redemption victory in Lajitas marks Dillard’s first individual Section major championship victory. It caps off a stellar year, one in which he also earned the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Player of the Year Award presented by Adventures In Golf and the Ben Hogan | NTPGA Stroke Play Scoring Average Award.
“Finally! I’m usually just a team champion! It feels great to finally do it on my own,” said Dillard.
In the Senior Division, Billy Harris, PGA Life Member, started the day with a 3UP lead over Rick Woodson. Harris birdied the 1st hole to go 4UP, but by the 8th tee he was only 1UP.
“I was lucky my wife was with me. She was keeping me really positive,” said Woodson.
Moving into the back nine, Woodson birdied the 11th and 13th holes to tie the match for the first time since Monday morning. He then notched a par on the 14th hole to gain his first lead of the match. Putts then began to fall for Woodson. He made a long birdie putt on the 15th and saved par with a 30-footer on the 17th to keep his lead heading into the 36th hole.
Both professionals hit their drives into the fairway and layed up about 50 yards short on the par-5. They both then left their third shots about 20 feet below the hole. Harris putted first and blew the putt by, followed by Woodson who cozied it up to 12 inches. Harris conceded the putt giving Woodson the 1UP win.
“It feels great,” said Woodson. “This one had eluded me for a while. This is my fourth time in the final match and my first time to win it. It was a great match with Billy. He is an incredibly tough competitor and he’s a grinder. I was fortunate to make some big putts at the right time.”
Woodson claimed $5,000 with his victory today and his first match play title.
This year was the third year that the Open Division championship match was conducted in Lajitas and the first year that the Senior Division joined them.
“Incredible! For all the people back home, if you have the opportunity to come down here you need to do it. It’s amazing. I just can’t get over it. I’ve played a lot of picturesque golf courses and this is absolutely at the top of that list,” said Woodson about Lajitas Golf Resort.
The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon and Nike Match Play Championship was presented by Adventures In Golf, Lajitas Golf Resort, PGA TOUR, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPx Communications and XXIO.
Lajitas Golf Resort’s Black Jack’s Crossing
Par: 36-36–72
Open Division Yardage: 7,300 yards
Senior Division Yardage: 6,500 yards
View the final results
HERE.
