Vanyo takes down McGuire in a thrilling battle

from Resorters - Friday, August 04, 2023

Top seeds tumble out of the tournament

Empanger rolls on

By Sam Stuve Alexandria Echo Press

Thursday’s match between the No. 9 seed Rick Vanyo and the No. 1 seed Dennis McGuire captivated the course at Alexandria Golf Club in what was a back-andforth battle to the end.

Vanyo captured the win and advances to the semifinals, where he’ll meet another top-four seed on Friday.

Vanyo def. McGuire, 2-1

Vanyo and McGuire battled well against one another and didn’t give the other too much of an edge. Vanyo won holes 1, 4, 5, and 7, while McGuire won holes 2, 3, 6, and 8, and that match stood even after eight holes.

But with a win on holes 9 and 11, Vanyo took a 2-up lead that he would never relinquish.

McGuire won hole 14 to cut Vanyo’s lead to 1-up, but the 2020 Men’s Senior champ held on from there to advance to the semifinals as the No. 9 seed.

M. Herzog def. Blanchard, 4-3

The No. 4 seed Mike Herzog took the lead after the first hole and never looked back in his win over the No. 12 seed Norty Blanchard.

Herzog, last year’s Men’s Senior runner-up, won the first two holes and then traded hole wins near the end of the front nine and led 2-up heading to the back nine.

Blanchard cut into Herzog’s lead with a win on hole 10 but wins on holes 12, 13, and 15 sealed the win for Herzog.

Empanger def.

S. Herzog, 5-3

The defending division champion Jon Empanger didn’t lose a single hole in his quarterfinal match against the No. 7 seed Steve Herzog.

Empanger won holes 1, 5, 7, 13, and 15 in the win. Empanger shot 2-under par in 15 holes as he had two birdies and 13 pars.

Mattson def.

Hildahl, 5-3

Third-seeded Greg Mattson finished his match strong against the No. 6 seed Mark Hildahl. With wins on holes 14 and 15, Mattson won the match 5-3.

On the front nine, Mattson built a 3-up lead thanks to winning three out of the first four holes and winning holes 6 and 9. Hildahl won the second and fifth holes with a birdie.

These two traded hole wins to start the back nine.

Mattson is a 1-time Resorters winner, as he won the 2016 Men’s Senior title, and he finished runner-up in the Men’s Senior division in 2013 behind Steve Herzog.