Rainy Rumble

Pare and Martin win their Fourth Consecutive Pro-Pro MPC

-Lakeville, MA

Jeff Martin, PGA (Wollaston GC) and Troy Pare, PGA (Ledgemont CC) won the NEPGA Pro-Pro Match Play Championship on Wednesday over Alex Hoyos, PGA (Essex CC) and Bob Bruso, PGA (Blackstone National) 1 up. This is the seventh time the pair has won the championship, and the fourth in a row.

It was a day as typical as any for the Pro- Pro Match Play. It seems as if every year for the MPC at LeBaron Hills; it’s always cold, wet, and rainy for the majority of the event. However, the course was in fantastic shape and the weather proved an added difficulty to the competition outside of the competitors in Hoyos and Bruso.

It was an evenly matched battle throughout. Where Pare and Martin made birdie, the duo of Hoyos and Bruso made it even. On the fifth hole, Hoyos sunk a 35ft birdie putt to but him and Bruso up in the match by one. That score held well against their formidable competition, until the ninth hole proved a challenge and the match dropped to even.

On the back nine, Troy Pare showed off some putting prowess of his own. He made a 15ft putt to put him and Jeff Martin up by 1. It would get close, but they never looked back and stayed up throughout the entirety of the match.

Bruso showed the clutch gene throughout. He made two putts, first on 16 and then again on 17 to extend the match further. Unfortunately the experience between Pare and Martin was too much to be overcome.

Finale

Pare/ Martin win playoff to Square off against Bruso/ Hoyos for the Pro Pro MPC Title

-Lakeville, MA

It promises to be a high-powered showdown Wednesday for the 2018 Pro-Pro Match Play Championship at Lebaron Hills final match between two tried and true champions, and strong newcomers. 

In Tuesday's quarterfinal round, Bob Bruso, PGA (Blackstone National) and Alex Hoyos, PGA (Essex CC) first squared off against Frank Dully, PGA and Steve Bramlett, PGA (Kernwood CC). As a nine seed facing the top seeded team in the bracket for match play, it had the makings of a tough day for Bruso and Hoyos. However, they prevailed, putting on a show at Lebaron Hills CC. They took the match 6&5 to move to the semifinal round.

The duo of assistants then were set to face the Bath CC team of 2017 NEPGA Senior Champion John Hickson, PGA and Leon Oliver, PGA. Making the best of the team format, Bruso and Hoyos proved better still on the course, taking their match 3&1 to advance to their first ever Pro-Pro Match Play Championship.

On the other side of the bracket, perennial Pro- Pro Match Play Championship power duo, Troy Pare, PGA (Ledgemont CC) and Jeff Martin, PGA (Wollaston GC) are looking for their seventh and fourth consecutive Pro-Pro MPC Title. It wouldn't be a simple task. 

After receiving a bye into Tuesday's round, Pare/Martin squared off against Gregg Richbourg, PGA (Cape Cod National) and Todd Scarafoni, PGA (Black Rock CC), and took the match 2&1 to move to the semi-finals. They were then slated to take on Dave Jankowski, PGA (Orleans CC) and Rico Riciputi, PGA (Wentworth by the Sea CC). Through a hard fought battle, the teams were even heading to the 18th green. After strong tee shots on both sides, Pare's approach went outside as Riciputi and Jankowski made par to go ahead in the match. Left with just a long par putt to tie it up, Martin sunk his putt to extend the match. In a battle that lasted 20 holes of golf, Pare and Martin were headed to Wednesday's final round.

Pare/ Martin will square off against Bruso/ Hoyos for the championship at 8am on Wednesday at LeBaron HIlls. Watch NEPGA social media for live updates from finals of the Pro-Pro Match Play Championship!