PORT CARLING — The grind of a match play championship is one of the toughest tests for any golfer. Not only must they best a field of competitors, but unlike a stroke-play event, four rounds is only the beginning. On June 9, from The Lake Joseph Club in Port Carling, Golf Ontario wrapped up the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship with Delaware, Ontario’s Chase Komaromi hoisting the trophy after seven matches.
The championship match featured Komaromi and Waterloo’s Matt LeMay. Komaromi, from The Oaks Golf Club, jumped out to a great start by winning holes two, three and four to build a 3up lead. The 23-year-old added to his lead on the seventh with a birdie after a great second shot. A par on the eighth allowed him to make it 5up, which he carried to the back nine.
LeMay, 21-years-old, would mount a comeback early on the back nine. He pared the 10th to cut the deficit to four. Then, after a nice approach on the 11th, LeMay got another shot back and was just three down. He continued to cut into the lead with a birdie on the 12th hole. Then, LeMay made par on the 13th, after Komaromi’s tee shot found the woods, making it a one-hole match. However, that was as close as LeMay would come. Komaromi took back-to-back holes on 14 and 15 and then the two halved the 16th ending the match 3&2 for Komaromi.
After the win Komaromi talked about what the win meant to him. “It has been a stressful week. I basically drove here through the night Monday from a U.S. Open Sectional in Columbus, so it was unexpected to get the win. I played pretty well all week, stuck to my game plan and it all worked out.”
Despite capturing the title, Komaromi definitely recognized that the final match became interesting when he saw his 5up lead evaporate. “I think the worst I had been all week on the front nine was 3up, but 10 and 11, I gave those holes back in each match. Even after losing those holes today, I figured if I kept plugging away I would get back into it and it worked out in the end.”
Chase Komaromi’s road to the final match
Komaromi entered the event as the 31st seed. He beat Newmarket’s Doug McNeil in the first round 4&3. That earned him a match with four-time Ontario Match Play Champion Brampton’s Dave Bunker. However, Komaromi was not fazed by the challenge, winning 2up. “Beating Dave definitely gave me a big boost of confidence. It was nice to meet him, he is a great player,” added Komaromi.
Round three saw a match with Kitchener’s Keaton Jones where Komaromi won 3&2. In the quarter-finals, it was Komaromi versus Burlington’s Jeff Clarridge. Komaromi narrowly took the match 1up. That sent him to the semi-finals against Mississauga’s Conner Watt. Komaromi’s roll would continue with a 3&1 win, punching his ticket to the finals.
Matt Lemay’s road to the final match
LeMay entered the event as the number five seed. The Golf Ontario Public Player matched up with Mississauga’s Keith Joel in the opening round. LeMay got by Joel with a 2&1 victory. Then LeMay, the 2014 Ontario Junior Boys’ Champion, knocked out Toronto’s Harris Bundy with a 9&8 win. In the third round, LeMay faced off with Barrie’s Braydon White and took the match 2&1. That win advanced LeMay to the quarter-finals where he took on Elmvale’s Andrew Nagel. It turned out to be a very close match with LeMay pulling out the 1up victory. His semi-finals match saw him faceoff with Dundas’ Nicholas Ross. LeMay got past Ross with a 5&4 win to earn his place in the finals.
For full tournament information, including round by round results, see the tournament page at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao1715/index.htm
Golf Ontario would like to thank ClubLink and The Lake Joseph Club for hosting the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship. Thanks also to the Golf Ontario volunteers who make these events possible.
About the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship
Established in 1986, the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually and features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers that have qualified through one of four qualifying tournaments held earlier this season, or who have gained an exemption into the event. Notable former champions include: David Hearn, David Byrne and Dave Bunker.
