Mitch Jefferson (Rochester Country Club) outlasted Jake Etherton (Manchester Country Club) in the finals of the 2026 NHPGA Match Play Championship on Wednesday, in an epic 22-hole battle at Manchester CC. Trailing one down going into the 18th hole, Jefferson stuck his approach to about 7 feet. Etherton answered by tucking it to about 5 feet. Jefferson rolled in his must-make putt while Etherton’s slid by sending the match to a sudden death playoff. They halved the first 3 holes in the overtime with par, par, birdie before Jefferson ended it with a par putt on the tough par three 3rd hole.
The Final Four – Greg Sandell, Danny Kish, Jake Etherton and Mitch Jefferson
Jefferson took down Greg Sandell in the morning semifinals while Etherton defeated Danny Kish (The Indoor Golf Club) to set up the afternoon finale. The final four players worked their way through a talented field of PGA Professionals beginning with matches in June and lasting the entire summer. Kish took the consolation match and a third-place finish.
Congratulations to our Final 4 who endured 36 holes at The Manchester Country Club, and big thanks to Gary Nye, PGA Director of Golf and his staff for hosting us on a gorgeous fall day and directing traffic during the playoff. Next up is the very popular Bald Peak Pro Am on October 6th.