2002 Public Links Championship

Matt Dorchinecz Captures Georgia Public Links Championship by One

ROME, Ga. - Former Kennesaw State golfer Matt Dorchinecz of Woodstock shot a final-round 71 for a four-under 140 and a one-stroke victory over two-time champion Brent Sizemore of Calhoun at the 2002 Georgia Public Links Championship, which was held at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome, October 12-13.  Sizemore, who started the day tied for the lead with Dorchinecz, finished with an even-par 72 on his home course and site of his first of two back-to-back championships (1998).

 

Rick Cloninger of Dacula, who won the event in 2000 and is the reigning Mid-Amateur Champion, finished third with scores of 71-72-143. Frank Webster of Conyers finished alone in fourth at 144 after an opening 71. Chris Kirk of Woodstock, a junior standout who just signed with University of Georgia, finished in a four-way tie for fifth with Stan Rawl of Suwanee, Tice Vieira of Mabelton and Ladell Norton of Rome.

Dorchinecz came into his final hole, the 549-yard, par-5 ninth, with a two-stroke lead over Sizemore, who played in a different pairing and was already in at three under. Unaware of his standing and calculating Sizemore had picked up strokes on the easier back nine, Dorchinecz chose to go for the green from 238 yards over water. His "worst shot of the day," careened off into the hazard and his fourth shot barely made it across to the edge of the green. Dorchinecz collected himself and ran his chip shot to tap-in distance for a bogey and his first GSGA title.

Dorchinecz got his final round off to a great start, picking up birdies on his first hole, number 10, as well as numbers14 and 16 to make the turn at six under.  After bogeying number one, Dorchinecz learned he was one up on his closest competition. Sizemore had birdied nine and made the turn at four-under. Sizemore went on to birdie 10, only to give one back at eleven when his approach shot on the par-4, 411-yard hole flew the green and landed in a hazard. After a strong par save on the par-5 14th, where he took two shots to get out of a greenside bunker, Sizemore lost more ground on 15 when he mis-hit his chip shot and failed to get up and down. Sizemore, who had been keeping ahead of a charging Cloninger, learned he likely needed a birdie on 18 to have a chance of catching Dorchinecz, but his six-foot birdie putt didn't break as he anticipated and edged the hole.

Cloninger, who missed several makeable putts on the front side, birdied 11, 16 and 17 to move to within one of Sizemore, but ended up with a bogey on 18 when he hit his approach off line and failed to get up and down. Defending Champion Jack Larkin of Atlanta finished tied for 11th with scores of 73-75-148.

Dorchinecz, who graduated from Kennesaw State in 2001, is a pro shop assistant at BridgeMill Athletic Club, where he is working on his game in hopes of competing professionally. Dorchinecz played solidly both days and was excited and thankful for his win, noting his near disaster on the closing hole and the fact he almost missed his opening round tee time when he overslept. He was saved by the otherwise exasperating three and a half-hour fog delay Saturday morning.

The field of 144 golfers was determined by the low 72 entries plus another 72 drawn by lottery. Entrants must not have held privileges since January 1, 2002, at any club that does not extend playing privileges to the general public. Players were flighted based on handicap index, with the championship through fifth flights playing from the same tees and eligible for the overall title.

GSGA conducts 18 statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups, three interstate matches, one Atlanta-area competition 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

Top 10 Overall
1 Matt Dorchinecz, Woodstock 69 71 140
2 Brent Sizemore, Calhoun 69 72 141
3 Rick Cloninger, Dacula 71 72 143
4 Frank Webster, Conyers 71 73 144
5 Stan Rawl, Suwanee 73 73 146
5 Tice Vieira, Mabelton 72 74 146
5 Ladell Norton, Rome 71 75 146
5 Chris Kirk, Woodstock 71 75 146
9 Marty Ellison, Rome 71 76 147
9 Bill Kendall, Lawrenceville 74 73 147