LINCOLN, R.I. – Only two teams remain in the New England PGA Pro-Pro Match Play Championship after two semifinal matches on Wednesday morning at Kirkbrae Country Club.
Four-time defending champions Troy Pare (Ledgemont CC) and Jeff Martin (Wollaston GC) will look to make it five straight titles after a 2&1 semifinal victory over John Hickson (Bath CC) and Thomas Tobey (Sandwich Hollows GC).
Martin & Pare will have to go through Kirk Hanefeld (Salem CC) and Greg Farland (Marlborough CC) if they’re going to add to their streak of titles. Hanefeld & Farland made quick work of Mike Haas-Zanghi and Brenden Mitchell, with a 6&4 semifinal triumph.
Martin & Pare got off to a quick start on Wednesday morning, making birdie on their first three holes to go 2 up through three. Tobey & Hickson bounced back, however, winning the fifth and sixth holes, and halving the seventh with a birdie to get the match to all square.
After exchanging a few holes in the middle of the round, Martin & Pare went 1 up on a critical 14th hole after Tobey & Hickson each missed birdie putts inside 12 feet. Martin went on to birdie the 17th hole and Hickson and Tobey each came close, but were unable to extend the match with birdies of their own, giving Martin & Pare the 2&1 win.
Hanefeld & Farland didn’t lost a hole on Wednesday morning, winning the third, fifth and ninth to build a 3-up lead at the turn. The pair kept up that momentum by winning the 10th and 12th holes to go five up, then closed out the match in style winning the 14th hole for the 6&5 win.
The NEPGA Pro-Pro Match Play Champion will be determined Wednesday afternoon with an 18-hole match between the two semifinal winners.
The NEPGA would like to thank Kirkbrae CC and host PGA Professional Mike Bradshaw for hosting the Championship, along with partners Golf Max, Prize Possessions, Maui Jim, ProQuip and the PGA Tour.