Former Champions Advance to Semifinals at 92nd Four-Ball Championship
DEAL, N.J. - On a day that began with a 30-minute weather delay turned into a clear, yet gusty afternoon at Hollywood Golf Club for the 92nd New Jersey Four-Ball Championship.
Back in the mix after capturing the title in 2022 at Deal Golf & Country Club, Michael Brown and Peter Barron earned a spot in the semifinal after cruising to a 5 and 4 victory in the morning round of 16 match against top seeded James Arbes and Kevin King. In the afternoon, Brown and Barron defeated Matthew Porter and Cody Cox, medalists in the qualifier at Suneagles Golf Club, 1 up.
“The second round was a completely different golf course than we were playing the first two rounds,” Brown commented. “It was very challenging, some big bounces and you really had to control your distances. We both putted very well the whole tournament and that’s been keeping us moving.”
The duo is coming off an appearance in the 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in Kiawah Island.
“We both have the same personalities,” Barron added. "We stay away from each other, let each person decide what they're doing. If there's any issues or any concerns, we talk to each other, but we play our own games. Whoever hits the green first, that's our thought process and let the second get a little bit more aggressive. It's been working well for the past five years or so and we've become good friends doing it.”
Chester Patterson and Erik Stevens of Hamilton Farm eliminated Montclair Golf Club’s Andrew Kaskel and Ty Zebrowski in the quarterfinals. They picked up wins on the 17th and 18th holes to solidify their victory. In the round of 16, Patterson and Stevens took down fellow Hamilton Farm competitors, Pat Wilson and Marc Kunesch 2 and 1.
After firing a 6-under par 65 in the stroke play portion, Andrew Trask and Fraser Graham were the highest seed to advance to the semifinals. In the morning, the tandem from Watchung Valley Golf Club and the NJSGA E-Club defeated Deal’s Brian Hart and Anthony Campanile, 3 and 2 and then took down John Linker and Ethan Wagner, 2 and 1.
Running out of daylight, the sides of Joshua Feldschneider, Phillip Villari and Gage Wolfle, Jonathan Rudisill tussled through 21 holes. A back-and-forth battle, Wolfle and Rudisill were 1 up going into the 18th hole, but a dart from both Feldschneider and Villari into the green proved to be the difference, which would lead to extra holes. A victory by way of a birdie on the par-4 3rd hole would send them onto the semifinals, their first visit as a team.
“Just keeping each other grounded out there and focused on the shot at hand and not looking ahead and not looking behind, I think really paid dividends,” said Villari.
“We're having a good time,” Feldschneider added. “We're making it fun, we're cheering for each other. It's a good time.”
Semifinal play will begin at 7:30 a.m.
Round of 16 Results
Brown/Barron def. Arbes/King, 5 and 4
Porter/Cox def. Brewington/LeFante, 3 and 1
Villari/Feldscheider def. Macdonald/Drobbin, 19 holes
Wolfle/Rudisill def. Wall/Wall, 3 and 2
Trask/Graham def. Hart/Campanile 3 and 2
Linker/Wagner def. Ryan/Brigham, 5 and 4
Patterson/Stevens def. Wilson/Kunesch, 2 and 1
Kaskel/Zebrowski def. Pallis/Lankler, 19 holes
Quarterfinal Results
Brown/Barron def. Porter/Cox, 1-up
Wolfle/Rudisill def. Villari/Feldscheider, 20 holes
Patterson/Stevens def. Kaskel/Zebrowski, 2 up
Trask/Graham def. Linker/Wagner, 2 and 1
Semifinal Matchups
Brown/Barron versus Villari/Feldschneider - 7:30 a.m.
Trask/Graham versus Patterson/Stevens - 7:45 a.m.
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