Strueber Claims Senior Title, Antunes and Brown Set to Face Off in Open Division Finals

CARROLLTON, Texas - Tom Strueber, PGA Life Member claimed the Senior Division title at the Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf Match Play Championship. Strueber, the No. 7 seed bested No. 8 seed Rick Woodson, PGA teaching professional at Sherrill Park Golf Course to win.
Strueber, also a Maridoe Golf Club member, started strong, going 1 up after the first hole, but Woodson quickly bounced back and evened the match on hole 2 and went 1 up after hole 4. However, Strueber was able to bounce back to regain the lead following hole 6, and never trailed again throughout the rest of the match. Strueber clinched the title and a $3,500 payday on hole 17, winning the match 3&1.
“Knowing this golf course since I’m a member out here at Maridoe was a big advantage,” said Strueber. “I remained 2 up going into 17. I hit my shot on the green, Rick hit his in the water. So I’m thinking that was pretty much it and it’s over but he drops it in the drop zone. I’m watching his ball and it comes down and hits the flagstick and almost goes in the hole but then spins back into the water. That was the end of the match and I was glad it was over.”
The Open Division quarter final matches featured two of the top ten seeded professionals advancing to the semi-final matches.
During the opening match of the morning, No. 9 seed Greg Gregory, PGA head professional at Southern Oaks Golf Club, bested No. 17 seed Josh Havard, PGA head professional at Rolling Hills Country Club, 3&2. The second match concluded with a 2&1 finish with No. 13 seed Chris Brown, PGA surpassing No. 28 seed Henry Cagigal, PGA assistant professional at Rockwood Golf Course. No. 11 seed Jon Antunes, PGA director of instruction at Heart of Texas Golf Academy, topped No. 30 seed Julie Wells, PGA teaching professional at John Sikes Golf Academy, 3&2. The final match of the morning resulted in 21 holes of play and a win for No. 7 seed John Sikes, PGA director of golf at Hollytree Country Club, over No. 18 seed Steven Storey, PGA director of instruction at S2 Golf Academy.
In the first semi-final match, No. 13 Chris Brown took the early lead by going 1 up through two holes. No. 9 Greg Gregory then evened the score on hole 6, but fell behind on hole 11 where Brown maintained a 1 up lead until he ultimately clinched the win on hole 17, 2&1.
In the second semi-final match, No. 11 Jon Antunes took a 1 up lead on hole 7 which he held over No. 7 John Sikes throughout the match. Antunes upped his lead on back-to-back holes, finishing 2 up on hole 12 and 3 up on hole 13. Antunes closed out Sikes on hole 15, finishing 4&3.
Antunes and Brown will face off in the 18-hole Championship Match on Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. The champion will take home a $7,500 payday.
The Yamaha Golf-Car Company | Srixon / Cleveland Golf Match Play Championship is being contested October 5-7 at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, a 7,136-yard, par 72 layout. The Championship is presented by Adventures In Golf, AT&T Byron Nelson, Cyber Group and PGA TOUR.
OPEN DIVISION FINAL MATCH, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021
8:00 a.m.
No. 11 Jon Antunes, Heart of Texas Golf Academy vs. No. 13 Chris Brown, PGA
Click to view the bracket HERE

