2005 Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship

Dalton's David Noll, Jr. Dominates in Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship

SUWANEE, Ga. - David Noll, Jr. of Dalton soundly defeated Patrick Phillips of Athens, 5 and 4, to capture the 84th Annual Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship at Laurel Springs Golf Club. Noll, who fired a one-under-par 35 on the front nine and didn't lose a single hole in the match, clinched the title with a birdie on 14.

 

"To be able to put my name on a trophy next to the names of this Championship's past winners is a great honor," said Noll. "I am just really proud of the way that I played," he said. "I came into this event knowing that I needed to perform well if I wanted to stay in the hunt for the GSGA Player of the Year award. I feel really lucky to have done as well as I did."

 

Phillips, a former player at Stanford University, matched his competition with pars on the first four holes of play. But Noll then claimed the lead when Phillips tee shot to the par-3 5th hole came up short and he failed to get up and down for par. Noll capitalized on his lead when Phillips approach shot on number 6 fell into the hazard. Both would exchange pars on the following two holes before Noll would card his first birdie of the day sinking a 14-foot putt on No. 9. Noll made the turn holding a 3 up advantage.

 

"He's a tremendous player," Phillips said of Noll. "I just feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to play with him."

 

Noll, the 2003 Georgia Amateur Champion and runner-up at this year's event, kept the pressure on Phillips with a birdie at the 418-yard 11th hole. The duo halved the next two holes with pars on 12 and 13 before Noll claimed the match with a birdie on number 14.

 

Noll showed dominance throughout the road to his final match. He opened the match play portion of the championship with a 5 and 4 win over Craig Current of Marietta. Noll then defeated Dalton's John Powell, a member of Dalton Golf and Country Club with Noll, 3 and 1. The match against Powell was Noll's closest match of the championship. Noll then went on to provide the most lopsided victory of the championship, winning 8 and 6 over Terry Prillaman of Cumming. John Belicka of Atlanta was Noll's semifinal match, which he played prior to the Championship. Belicka fell to Noll 4 and 3.

 

It is the second statewide amateur title for Noll, who won the 2003 Georgia Amateur Championship at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw. The Dalton-native also competed in and represented the state of Georgia in the 2005 USGA Men's State Team Championship where he finished second in the individual competition.
Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and members of a GSGA Member Club.

 

Noll adds his name to an impressive list of former champions, including such notables as 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).

 

GSGA conducts 18 statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups, three interstate matches and 17 USGA qualifying events each year. Other services include computerized handicapping, course rating and measuring, a summer-long junior sectional competitions program, Golf Georgia magazine and two college scholarship programs.

 

Complete Match Play Results

Championship Match
17 David Noll, Jr., Dalton def. 3 Patrick Phillips, Athens 5 &4

 

Semifinals
17 David Noll, Jr., Dalton def. 5 John Belicka, Atlanta 4 & 3
3 Patrick Phillips, Athens def. 15 Tevis Upton, Douglasville 2 & 1

 

Quarterfinals
17 David Noll, Jr., Dalton def. 25 Terry Prillaman, Cumming 8 & 6
5 John Belicka, Atlanta def. 29 Keith Hadelman, Atlanta 6 & 5
15 Tevis Upton, Douglasville def. 10 Timothy McCabe, Suwanee 1 up
3 Patrick Phillips, Athens def. 11 Chuck Pinkard, Cumming 4 & 2

 

Round of 16
17 David Noll, Jr., Dalton def. 32 John Powell, Dalton 3 & 1
25 Terry Prillaman, Cumming def. 9 Jack Hall, Savannah 19 holes
29 Keith Hadelman, Atlanta def. 20 John E. Smith, Cumming 5 & 3
5 John Belicka, Atlanta def. 12 Dave Sexton, Suwanee 19 holes
15 Tevis Upton, Douglasville def. 2 Rocky Costa, Alpharetta
19 holes 10 Timothy McCabe, Suwanee def. 7 Dennis French, Alpharetta 4 & 2
3 Patrick Phillips, Athens def. 14 DeWitt Weaver III, Suwanee 2 & 1
11 Chuck Pinkard, Cumming def. 6 Robert Schilling III, Marietta 2 up

 

Round of 32
32 John Powell, Dalton (78) def. 1 William Mitchell, Roswell (71) 4 & 3
17 David Noll, Jr., Dalton (76) def. 16 Craig Current, Marietta (76) 5 & 4
25 Terry Prillaman, Cumming (77) def. 8 Mark Stewart, Marietta (74) 7 & 6
9 Jack Hall, Savannah (74) def. 24 Jim Foote, Gainesville (77) 4 & 2
29 Keith Hadelman, Atlanta (78) def. 4 John Williams Jr., Atlanta (73) 2 up
20 John E. Smith, Cumming (77) def. 13 Hector Cora, Atlanta (75) 4 & 3
5 John Belicka, Atlanta (73) def. 28 Danny Nelson, Savannah (77) 6 & 5
12 Dave Sexton, Suwanee (75) def. 21 Mel Mendenhall, Marietta (77) 19 holes
2 Rocky Costa, Alpharetta (72) def. 31 John Saari, Lilburn (78) 2 up
15 Tevis Upton, Douglasville (76) def. 18 Michael Morrison, Atlanta (76) 4 & 2
7 Dennis French, Alpharetta (74) def. 26 Erik Martin, Alpharetta (77) 4 & 3
10 Timothy McCabe, Suwanee (74) def. 23 Sai Opraseuth, Alpharetta (77) 5 & 4
3 Patrick Phillips, Athens (72) def. 30 Jorge Cora, Atlanta (78) 1 up
14 DeWitt Weaver III, Suwanee (75) def. 19 Tom Hunt, Woodstock (77) 7 & 6
6 Robert Schilling III, Marietta (74) def. 27 Thomas Reynolds, Atlanta (77) 7 & 6
11 Chuck Pinkard, Cumming (75) def. 22 Brian Katrek, Smyrna (77) 3 & 2