2007 Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship

Greg Bradford Takes Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Having won two of the first five holes, Talking Rock's Greg Bradford never looked back as he went on to defeat defending champion Mark Strickland of Woodstock, 3 and 2, at the 86th annual Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship, which was held at Atlanta National Golf Club. Bradford closed out the match by sinking a six-foot par putt on the 16th hole.

"I just really cannot believe what I have accomplished out here over the past few days," said Bradford, a former Georgia State golfer from 1991-94. "This trophy has so many great names associated with it. I cannot believe that my name will be on there too."

Bradford jumped out to an early lead with a birdie at three. After halving the fourth hole, Bradford found himself leading, 2-up, as Strickland lipped a three-foot par putt at number four. The duo exchanged pars on the next three holes before Bradford took control of the match, connecting on a 45-foot eagle putt from the fringe of the ninth green.

Down three at the turn, Strickland capitalized on Bradford's bogey at eleven to bring the match to within two holes. Bradford, however, regained the three-hole lead at the 206-yard par-3, 12th as Strickland landed his tee shot short and in the water. Both players carded birdies on the par-5 13th and Strickland would again benefit from a Bradford-bogey at 14. The players each parred the 513-yard 15th and with three holes to play, Bradford was leading the match, 2 up.

Strickland teed off first at 16 and looked to land his ball on the green. He made the shot but the green would not hold and the ball came to rest on the down-slope behind the putting surface. Bradford's drive landed in the fairway and he ran his pitch to approximately 20 feet.

Strickland's second shot came to rest on the green's back fringe. He rolled his first putt to five feet and failed to connect on the par putt. Bradford parred and won the hole to claim a 3 and 2 victory.

"I had a great competitor today in Mark," Bradford explained. "I feel very honored to have had the chance to play with such a great player and I feel fortunate to have won."

Bradford's road to the final included a win by way of a forfeit in the opening round of match play over Todd Kohout of Atlanta, a 2-up victory over Chick Berry of Alpharetta in the Round of 16, a win over Gary Melampy of Norcross, 4 and 3, in the quarterfinals, and a semifinals triumph over McDonough's Michael Standard, 1 up.

The Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship was open to male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and members of a GSGA Member Club. Notable former champions include Charlie Yates (1931), Tommy Barnes (1936), Dan Yates (1942), Gene Dahlbender (1946-47, 1957-59, 1962), Bobby Jones' son, Robert T. Jones, III, (1948), Charles Harrison (1952-54, 1961, 1965, 1967-1969, 1973, 1977), Larry Mize (1979) and Danny Yates (1981-82).

Complete Match Play Results

Round of 32
1 Mark Strickland, Woodstock def. 32 William Mitchell, Roswell (75) 2 & 1
8 Spencer Sappington, Milton (72) def. 25 Nathan DeVictor, Cumming (74) 2 up
4 Terry Rush, Buford (71) def. 29 Zan Banks Jr., Atlanta (74) 3 & 2
5 David Maddox, McDonough (71) def. 28 Greg Maxey, Atlanta (74) 6 & 5
2 Jeff Belk, Marietta (67) def. 31 Jaime Kishida, Duluth (74) 2 up
7 Michael Standard, McDonough (72) def. 26 Walter Hope, Gainesville (74) 4 & 3
3 Greg Bradford, Talking Rock (69) def. 30 Todd Kohout, Atlanta (74) Forfeit
6 Gary Melampy, Norcross (72) def. 27 John Young, Atlanta (74) 5 & 4
17 Max Kern, Marietta (74) def. 16 Billy Handley, Gainesville (73) 2 & 1
9 David Noll Jr., Dalton (72) def. 24 Bob McDonnell, Suwanee (74) 2 up
13 Josh Gregory, Augusta (73) def. 20 Wills Smith, Savannah (74) 3 & 2
21 John Belicka, Atlanta (74) def. 12 Keith Hadelman, Atlanta (73) 1 up
15 Scott Northey, Roswell (73) def. 18 Randy Donahoo, Kennesaw (74) 4 & 3
23 Jonathan Finck, Commerce (74) def. 10 John Parks, Suwanee (72) 19 holes
14 Chick Berry, Alpharetta (73) def. 19 Dave Sexton, Suwanee (74) 3 & 2
22 John Powell, Dalton (74) def. 11 Ryan Wilson, Pooler (73) 3 & 2

 

Round of 16
1 Mark Strickland, Woodstock def. 17 Max Kern, Marietta (74) 4 & 2
9 David Noll Jr., Dalton (72) def. 8 Spencer Sappington, Milton (72) 2 & 1
13 Josh Gregory, Augusta (73) def. 4 Terry Rush, Buford (71) 1 up
5 David Maddox, McDonough (71) def. 21 John Belicka, Atlanta (74) 4 & 3
2 Jeff Belk, Marietta (67) def. 15 Scott Northey, Roswell (73) 3 & 1
7 Michael Standard (72) def. 23 Jonathan Finck, Commerce (74) 2 & 1
3 Greg Bradford, Talking (69) def. 14 Chick Berry, Alpharetta (73) 2 up
6 Gary Melampy, Norcross (72) def. 22 John Powell, Dalton (74) 20 holes

 

Quarterfinal Matches
1 Mark Strickland, Woodstock def. 9 David Noll Jr., Dalton (72) 1 up
13 Josh Gregory, Augusta (73) def. 5 David Maddox, McDonough (71) 3 & 2
7 Michael Standard (72) def. 2 Jeff Belk, Marietta (67) 1 up
3 Greg Bradford, Talking Rock (69) def. 6 Gary Melampy, Norcross (72) 4 & 3

 

Semifinal Matches
1 Mark Strickland, Woodstock def. 13 Josh Gregory, Augusta (73) 3 & 2
3 Greg Bradford, Talking Rock (69) def. 7 Michael Standard, McDonough (72) 1 up

 

Final Match
3 Greg Bradford, Talking Rock (69) def. 1 Mark Strickland, Woodstock 3 & 2