2004 Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship

Matt Dorchinecz Captures Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship
 

ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Matt Dorchinecz of Canton survived an up-and-down match to defeat Don Marsh of Alpharetta, 2 and 1, and capture the 82nd Annual Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship at Rivermont Golf and Country Club. Dorchinecz, who emerged from a four-hole, all-square deadlock to go 2 up after winning the 15th and 16th holes, clinched the title with a six-foot par putt on 17.

"I still couldn't get my putts to fall today," said Dorchinecz, who relied on his tee-to-green game throughout the weekend. During the final, he watched two of his putts lip out - a par putt on No. 5 that gave Marsh a 1 up lead, then a 15-foot birdie attempt on 16 (although he won the hole). Dorchinecz took the lead for good on No. 15, when he reached the green in two and carded a birdie, breaking a string of three-straight halved holes.

"My drives on 15 and 16 were the best I had all day," he said. "I think that put the pressure on Don from that point."

Marsh, a Rivermont member who has pocketed several Club Champion titles in recent years, jumped out to the early lead on the first hole, when he put his approach shot to within one foot and Dorchinecz settled for par. But Dorchinecz then claimed the next two holes, sinking a 10-foot par putt on No. 3 after both players missed the green. Marsh brought it back to All Sqaure on the fourth hole with a 12-foot birdie putt. He then regained the lead with par on No. 5 after Dorchinecz's lip-out.

The see-saw effect continued, however, as Marsh three-putted on No. 6, making it All Sqaure. The players halved their first hole of the day on the seventh with birdies - Dorchinecz with a 4-foot putt, Marsh sinking a 15-footer - to keep the match even. Marsh regained the lead at No. 8 after Dorchinecz missed a five-footer for par, then both players missed 12-foot par putts on No. 9 to maintain Marsh's 1 up lead at the turn.

The back nine, which Marsh played three-under during his semifinal victory over DeWitt Weaver III, did not treat him as kindly on Sunday. After halving the 10th hole, Marsh's tee shot on 11 went to the right, falling just along the edge of a creek. His next shot ricocheted backwards, landing into the water. Dorchinecz, meanwhile, reached the green in two to move the match back to All Sqaure.

The duo then halved the next three holes with pars on 12 and 13 and bogeys on the 14th. Dorchinecz's solid drive (and subsequent birdie) on 15 shifted the momentum his direction as Marsh's bogey on No. 16 gave Dorchinecz a 2 up lead, the widest margin of the entire round. Both players then parred the par-3 17th to halve the hole and clinch the match for Dorchinecz.

Dorchinecz's road to the final included a pair of 1 up victories over defending champion Scott Pitts in the quarterfinals and two-time past champion Rocky Costa in the round of 16. He topped Richard Franklin, 4 and 3 in the semifinal. During Marsh's first three rounds, he played no more than 16 holes, ousting Michael Crews, Thomas Reynolds and Blake Stark. Then in the semifinal, he didn't take his first lead until No. 16 en route to a 1 up win over Weaver.

It is the second statewide amateur title for Dorchinecz, who won the 2002 Georgia Public Links Championship at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome. The former Kennesaw State golfer also made the cut in this year's Georgia Amateur Championship, and wins the Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship in his first attempt. Marsh made his first appearance in the finals after advancing to match play for third consecutive year.

Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and members of a GSGA Member Club. Rivermont Golf and Country Club, which hosted this event for the third consecutive year, played to approximately 6,767 yards and a par-72.

Dorchinecz 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.

Final Results

Championship Match
Matt Dorchinecz, Canton def. Don Marsh, Alpharetta, 2 and 1

Semifinals
Matt Dorchinecz, Canton def. Richard Franklin, Atlanta, 4 and 3
Don Marsh, Alpharetta def. DeWitt Weaver III, Suwanee, 1 up

Quarterfinals
Matt Dorchinecz, Canton def. Scott Pitts, Cornelia, 1 up
Richard Franklin, Atlanta def. Bill Kendall, Lawrenceville, 1 up
DeWitt Weaver III, Suwanee def. Erik Martin, Alpharetta, 19 holes
Don Marsh, Alpharetta def. Blake Stark, Canton, 5 and 4

Round of 16
Scott Pitts, Cornelia def. Mike Riley, Marietta, 5 and 4
Matt Dorchinecz, Canton def. Rocky Costa, Alpharetta, 1 up
Bill Kendall, Lawrenceville def. Hank Holliger, Alpharetta, 3 and 2
Richard Franklin, Atlanta def. Kermit Murphy, Atlanta, 3 and 1
DeWitt Weaver III, Suwanee def. Greg Kennedy, Cumming, 2 up
Erik Martin, Alpharetta def. Jay Hobbs, Cumming, 4 and 3
Blake Stark, Canton def. Tevis Upton, Douglasville, 1 up
Don Marsh, Alpharetta def. Thomas Reynolds, Atlanta, 5 and 3

Round of 32
Scott Pitts, Cornelia (exempt), Bye
Mike Riley, Marietta (74) def. Jackson Moore, Marietta (75), 3 and 1
Rocky Costa, Alpharetta (73) def. Mark Nickerson, Roswell (77), 2 and 1
Matt Dorchinecz, Canton (73) def. Todd Eaker, Lilburn (77), 5 and 3
Bill Kendall, Lawrenceville (77) def. Brant Ruckert, Sugar Hill (71), 5 and 3
Hank Holliger, Alpharetta (74) def. Andrew White, Smyrna (76), 5 and 4
Kermit Murphy, Atlanta (77) def. Bill Leonard, Kennesaw (72), 3 and 2
Richard Franklin, Atlanta (74) def. Tee Stribling, Atlanta (76), 1 up
Greg Kennedy, Cumming (66) def. Brandon Nelson, Roswell (77), 1 up
DeWitt Weaver III, Suwanee (74) def. Chris Hall, Marietta (75), 22 holes
Jay Hobbs, Cumming (73) def. Thomas Meyer, Jr., Alpharetta (77), 3 and 2
Erik Martin, Alpharetta (73) def. Craig Williams, Stone Mountain (76), 8 and 7
Blake Stark, Canton (77) def. Jeff Belk, Marietta (70), 3 and 2
Tevis Upton, Douglasville (74) def. Lucas Garces, Alpharetta (76), 1 up
Don Marsh, Alpharetta (77) def. Michael Crews, Atlanta (73), 3 and 2
Thomas Reynolds, Atlanta (76) def. Jon Lawson, Dallas (74), 3 and 2