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Scores
SPRINGFIELD, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) opened the first full week of July at Rolling Green Golf Club with 36 holes of competition of the prestigious 22nd R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship. 16 seeds advanced to Tuesday's match play bracket, led by Hunter Swidzinski (Olde Stonewall Golf Club), who earned medalist honors after finishing the day at eight-under-par with a pair of 67's. Swidzinski, who had never played the course at Rolling Green before a practice round on Sunday, was five-under through his first 12 holes on Monday and rode that momentum to a strong finish, including birdies on the last three holes of his second round to claim the top seed heading into tomorrow.
"I had a good start and once I got through about nine holes I felt like I was going to make it if I played decent golf," said Swidzinski. "I was just trying to get as high a seed as I could and felt like I had the freedom to just go for it. I hit it really solid both rounds and kept my putts in front of me. I made some easy pars and didn't have any three-putts which is good for out here with how sloped and tricky these greens can be. I just tried to keep it in play all day."
Swidzinski birdied 11 holes on Monday and finished just ahead of Jericho National Golf Club's Calen Sanderson, who finished the day seven-under to claim the No. 2 seed. Sanderson, the 2023 PAGA Player of the Year, carded 10 birdies and got better as the day wore on, with six of those coming in his second-round 65.
Behind the top two were three players tied for third at five-under: Kevin Fajt (Hannastown Golf Club), Jeff Homer (Allentown Municipal), and Evan Barbin (Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association). Of note was Fajt's championship-low round of 63 (with nine birdies, including the last four holes) in the second round after shooting a three-over 74 in the morning.
Also advancing are four players who made the cut in last year's Sigel, including two semifinalists. Amani D'ambrosio (Longue Vue Club) and Nicholas Turowski (Hannastown Golf Club) both made the final four last year and will give it another go in 2025. Samuel Feeney (Penn Oaks Golf Club) was the No. 12 seed and Colin Smith (PAGA Individual Member) was No. 14 before being ousted by eventual champion Patrick Sheehan.
There was also some bonus golf played to determine the final two spots in Tuesday's bracket, with four players tied at two-under vying for them: Matthew Homer (Allentown Municipal), Nick Werner (Huntsville Golf Club), Matthew Zerfass (Brookside CC of Allentown), and Nicolas Gaughan (Concord Country Club). Homer and Werner survived to play another day after just one playoff hole and will join Tuesday's bracket. A complete list of the Top 16 can be found below.
Top 16 seeds advancing to Match Play Bracket
No. 1 Hunter Swidzinski (-8) 67-67-134
No. 2 Calen Sanderson (-7) 70-65-135
No. 3 Jeff Homer (-5) 69-68-137
No. 4 Evan Barbin (-5) 67-70-137
No. 5 Kevin Fajt (-5) 74-63-137
No. 6 Jake Haberstumpf (-4) 67-71-138
No. 7 Colin Smith (-4) 68-70-138
No. 8 Patrick Isztwan (-4) 69-69-138
No. 9 Amani D'ambrosio (-4) 73-65-138
No. 10 Mark Miller (-4) 69-69-138
No. 11 Samuel Feeney (-3) 71-68-139
No. 12 Thomas Young (-3) 70-69-139
No. 13 John Sawin (-3) 70-69-139
No. 14 Nicholas Turowski (-3) 67-72-139
No. 15 Nick Werner (-2) 69-71-140
No. 16 Matthew Homer (-2) 70-70-140
Results from the Best 2 of 3 Team Competition found Hannastown Golf Club atop the leaderboard with a combined eight-under from Fajt and Turowski, closely followed by the Allentown Municipal pair of Jeff and Matthew Homer at seven-under. The LedgeRock trio of Zach Dilcher, Jake Haberstumpf, and Brock Kovach were in third place with a combined five-under on the day.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Rolling Green Golf Club for the hospitality shown during today's round. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.
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