Browndorf/skirkanich Reach Four-ball Semis For 1st Time

John Browndorf and Jack Skirkanich have been golfing buddies for nearly 20 years. On Tuesday, they reached the semifinals of NJSGA Four-Ball Championship for the first time, after two trips to the quarterfinals.

Browndorf , of Metedeconk National, and Skirkanich, of Rumson, defeated Eric Lasota of Colts Neck and Reid Bedell of Manasquan River, 1 up, to advance to Wednesday’s semifinals against Dan O’Rourke of Oak Hill and John Havay of High Bridge Hills.

The 85th Four-Ball Championship will be concluded Wednesday afternoon in a final match, scheduled for noon, after the morning semifinals, at Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell.

MATCH-PLAY BRACKETS PHOTO GALLERY

O’Rourke and Havay ousted David Sampson of Hendricks Field and James Cardamone of High Bridge Hills, 3 and 2, after trailing by three holes. They won the final three holes of the match with birdies.

The other semifinal will feature Baltusrol teammates Thomas Urciouli and Will Voetsch, who bested Matt Carlson of Ramsey and Spencer Shih of Darlington, 3 and 1, Their opponents have yet to be determined. Last year's champions, Evan Quinn and Justin Chae of New Jersey National battled Brian Whitman of Metedeconk National and Jason Bataille of Neshanic Valley all square for 23 holes. The match will continue Wednesday morning

Browndorf and Skirkanich won with a par on hole No. 18 Browndorf has played in a U.S. Mid-Amateur and was a semifinalist in the State Mid-Am in 2015. Skirkanich was runner-up in the Met Mid-Am to PGa Toiur pro johnson Wagner in 2001.

“Jack played great today. He had six birdies in the morning and six birdies in the afternoon,” said Skirkanich, who added an eagle and two birdies in the quarterfinal match. “These young kids keep getting better and better. It was a hard-fought win.”

“I think it’s about our comfort level. We know each other quite well and it’s kept us going, especially today,” said Skirkianich.

Urciouli and Voetsch, a pair of 20-year-olds, were the medalists on Monday with a 63. They are playing together for the first time.

“We know each other’s games and we know when to be tactical,” said urciouli, who attends Fairfield. “We understand when we can push each other and when one of us can be aggressive. It’s a great tournament. It’s very well run. ”

“WE have good chemistry,” said Voetsch, who is transferring from rice to Ohio State. He won the state high school championship three years ago. “We’re having a lot of fun.”