Top Seed Upset at Canadian Mid-Amateur
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:43:59
Seeded 32nd, Stroumos faced off against medallist W. David Schultz of Calgary, AB - and won. His second match of the day was against 16 seed Kelly Roberts of London, ON. Again, Stroumos finished on top, defeating Roberts 4 and 3.
At first glance it would seem as though all odds are against Stroumos.
He just barely squeezed into stroke play. It is his first appearance at the Canadian mid-amateur championship. It's also the only tournament he's played in all year. He's never competed in a match play championship. He's never won a championship, and he'll face off against six-time defending champion Graham Cooke of Hudson, QC during Friday's quarter final match.
However, Stroumos is steadily climbing towards Sunday's final match. He doesn't consider himself to be at a disadvantage.
"I play well, and know that while both players in match play are going to give holes back and forth, I'm not going to give away too many. More importantly, I play because I love to go out there, hit the ball, chase it, and hit it again," said Stroumos.
He'll face off against one of Canada's most talented and seasoned amateur golfers Saturday morning. Graham Cooke, 56, is winner of over forty golf championships, including four-time champion of his provincial amateur, and champion of his first Canadian Senior Championship in 2001.
Cooke struggled during the first two rounds of stroke play and was at risk of not making the cut for match play. But he came back in style, shooting a 72 on his third round to finish as 9th seed. He defeated 24th seed John Archibald of Truro, NS Friday morning and then walked through his afternoon match, eliminating 25th seed Rick Dodds-Hebron of Brampton, ON 4 and 3.
"This afternoon's match was the best I've played all tournament. I hit good shots and stayed focused. I played aggressive," said Cooke.
Cooke made all pars during his afternoon match against Dodds-Hebron. Tomorrow he'll try and position himself for his third consecutive mid-amateur title, and seventh mid-amateur title since 1987.
"It's more important to position yourself well on the fairway and give yourself a good shot on to the green than to just drive the ball to the green. If I can do that and keep making pars, I'll be tough to beat," said Cooke.
Saturday Matches:
Quarter final round (seed numbers in brackets)
Morning Draw
7:30 Angelo Stroumos, Toronto, ON (32) VS Graham Cooke, Hudson, QC (9)
7:45 Mel Murray, Fredericton, NB (4) VS Chris Markle, Cobourg, ON (21)
8:00 Alan Gladwin, Lower Sackville, NS (2) VS Peter Malo, Beaconsfield, QC (7)
8:15 Thomas Skinner, Red Deer, AB (19) VS Don Gowan, Victoria, BC (22)
Match Play Results:
Morning Round
Angelo Stroumos, Toronto, ON (32) def. W. David Schultz, Calgary, AB (1) 23rd hole
Kelly Roberts, London, ON (16) def. Jim Briggs, Fenwick, ON (17) 4 and 3
Rick Dodds-Hebron, Brampton, ON (25) def. Brian Murray, Bedford, NS (8) 21st hole
Graham Cooke, Hudson, QC (9) def. John Archibald, Truro, NS (24) 2 and 1
Mel Murray, Fredericton, NB (4) def. Tony Ravenda, Welland, ON (29) 5 and 3
Dave Webber, Dartmouth, NS (13) def. Paul Batchelor, Bedford, NS (20) 2 up
Vince Ramscar, Calgary, AB (28) def. Gary Kullman, Winnipeg, MB (5) 3 and 2
Chris Markle, Cobourg, ON (21) def. Rick Hillestad, Saskatoon, SK (12) 3 and 2
Alan Gladwin, Lower Sackville, NS (2) def. Michael Mealia, Richmond Hill, ON (31) 21st hole
Dean Woodman, Windsor, NS (18) def. Chris Ingram, Brampton, ON (15) 21st hole
Peter Malo, Beaconsfield, QC (7) def. Steven Ward, New Minas, NS (26) 23rd hole
Steve Brodie, London, ON (10) def. Martin Hay, Stoney Creek, ON (23) 2 up
Frank MacKenzie, Edmonton, AB (3) def. Kenneth Innis, Charlottetown, PE (30) 4 and 2
Thomas Skinner, Red Deer, AB (19) def. Garth Collings, Winnipeg, MB (14) 1 up
Kelly Risling, Medicine Hat, AB (27) def. David Schultz, St. Joseph, MI (6) 6 up
Don Gowan, Victoria, BC (22) def. Michael Jackson, Collingwood, ON (11) 2 and 1
Afternoon Round
Angelo Stroumos, Toronto, ON (32) def. Kelly Roberts, London, ON (16) 4 and 3
Graham Cooke, Hudson, QC (9) def. Rick Dodds-Hebron, Brampton, ON (25) 4 and 3
Mel Murray, Fredericton, NB (4) def. Dave Webber, Dartmouth, NS (13) 5 and 3
Chris Markle, Cobourg, ON (21) def. Vince Ramscar, Calgary, AB (28) 4 and 2
Alan Gladwin, Lower Sackville, NS (2) def. Dean Woodman, Windsor, NS (18) 1 up
Peter Malo, Beaconsfield, QC (7) def. Steve Brodie, London, ON (10) 1 up
Thomas Skinner, Red Deer, AB (19) def. Frank MacKenzie, Edmonton, AB (3) 3 and 2
Don Gowan, Victoria, BC (22) def. Kelly Risling, Medicine Hat, AB (27) 4 and 3"
