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Blake Watts Leads the Way Among KPGA's Match Play Champions

LEXINGTON, KY (October 21, 2020) – The longest competition of the season for Golf House Kentucky’s sanctioned events is in the books. After beginning in July, the three sectors of the KPGA Match Play Championships concluded today at Lexington Country Club. Things were supposed to finish yesterday, but after the heavy rains earlier in the week left several areas of standing water across the golf course, the final rounds of competition were pushed back to today.

On Monday, the Member bracket played its quarterfinal matches which led to semifinal and championship matches today. This morning, Blake Watts faced Tom Walters in a tightly contested match that required all 18 holes to decide a winner. With Watts 1 UP entering the last, Walters needed a win to send the match to extra holes but made bogey which put Watts in the championship match. His opponent in the championship match would end up being Andrew Stephens who defeated Robert Costello 4&2 in the morning’s other semifinal match.

Watts and Stephens’ match for the title in the afternoon featured steady golf with each player holding the lead at some point during the front nine, but both finalists were unable to pull away from their counterpart. Entering the par-three 13th with Stephens 1 UP, momentum in the match turned when Watts stuck his tee shot close to make birdie while Stephens would make bogey. Watts then won the 14th to take the lead and chipped in for par on the 15th to halve that hole to keep his advantage entering the home stretch. Two bogeys from Stephens on the 16th and 17th allowed Watts to win both of those holes and secure the title with a 3&1 victory.

Click here to view the Member bracket

The title match in the Assistant bracket featured a heavyweight bout between Daniel Iceman III and Nick Johnston. Iceman was able to lock down a convincing victory by outdueling Johnston to the tune of a 5&4 score. It’s the first time Iceman has won the Assistant Match Play Championship in the Section; a new trophy to add to the collection of the three-time winner of the Section’s Assistants Championship.

Click here to view the Assistants bracket

Bruce Oldendick, fresh off competing in the Senior PGA Professional Championship in Florida, played his patented style of consistent golf and added to his dominance of the Section’s senior competition. He defeated Ralph Landrum 4&3 which makes it the second straight year Oldendick has won this title. When added alongside his three consecutive wins of the Kentucky Senior PGA Professional Championship, it paints a good picture as to just how successful Oldendick has been in the Section the last few years.

Click here to view the Senior bracket

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The Kentucky PGA thanks each player who competed across the competition’s divisions throughout the season and extends its appreciation toward Greg Griffith, PGA Head Professional at Lexington Country Club along with his staff for hosting the final stages of the event. The Section’s final tournament of 2020 begins on Monday at Greenbrier Golf & Country Club with the Pro-Pro Series Championship.

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About Golf House Kentucky

Golf House Kentucky is the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations: Kentucky Golf Association, Kentucky PGA and Kentucky Golf Foundation. The vision of Kentucky’s golf leaders, Golf House Kentucky was founded in 1978, and is headquartered in a picturesque country setting in Louisville, Kentucky. Golf House Kentucky conducts competitions for golfers of all ages, gender and skill levels (amateur, professional and junior), and provides valuable services to Kentucky PGA professionals and member golf facilities. Working in partnership with the USGA, Golf House Kentucky provides individual golfers and member golf facilities with a wide range of services: Handicapping, USGA Course and Slope Rating, award programs, club consulting and golf management software. The family’s philanthropic affiliate, Kentucky Golf Foundation promotes the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame, Kentucky golf museum and provides grant and scholarship programs for youth in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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