Four former champions remain in contention to become the next one for the Erie District Golf Association Match Play Tournament.
This year’s competition began Monday amid sweltering conditions at the Kahkwa Club, which is hosting the event for the first time since 2018.
A qualifier was held ahead of the first round at the newly-renovated Donald Ross course, which had some of its bunkers reshaped to conform to the original design of the late golf architect.
Kahkwa member Alex Weir, a 2021 and 2022 Match Play finalist, and former Cathedral Prep and Penn State Behrend golfer Phil Pedano were co-medalists with rounds of 1-under par 71. Most years, they would be the second and third seeds in the tournament’s 32-man bracket.
The Match Play’s defending champ is traditionally exempt from qualifying and automatically given the top seed.
However, that won’t be the case this week. Weir and Pedano were respectively bracketed first and second because last year’s finalists, former Gannon golfers Ryan Ferry (winner) and Abe Holmes, no longer live in the area.
Weir followed Monday’s qualifier with a 7 and 5 victory vs. Evan Watkins in the first round. Pedano, in the bracket’s bottom half, eliminated Kade Logue 2 and 1.
Monday’s winners will return to Kahkwa for Friday’s second round and, if successful, the ensuing quarterfinals. Play is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. when Weir tees off against 2017 finalist Dave Spitzer.
Others up early that day will be sixth seed Matt Barto, Ron Coleman (ninth), Ted Grassi III (19th) and Jon Merriott (21st). Each are former Match Play medalists, with Coleman the tournament’s record holder for most consecutive championships at four (2007-10).
Coleman claimed his initial Match Play title in 2003. His five titles are tied with Dave Ciacchini Sr. for the most going into this week’s tournament.
More:How an EDGA Match Play victory negated three recent losses for Gannon golfer Ryan Ferry
EDGA Match Play results, schedule
Results for the Erie District Golf Association Match Play Tournament at the par-72 Kahkwa Club in Fairview Township:
First round
No. 1 Alex Weir def. No. 32 Evan Watkins 7 and 5
No. 16 Dave Spitzer def. No. 17 Michael Marsico 6 and 5
No. 25 R.C. Chase def. No. 8 Sean Sculley 2-up
No. 9 Ron Coleman def. No. 24 Mac Deitrick 5 and 3
No. 4 Zac Bihler def. No. 29 Doug Fugate 5 and 4
No. 13 Scott Klein def. No. 20 Mike Newcomer 4 and 3
No. 5 Mike Wolfe def. No. 28 Jack Costello 3 and 2
No. 21 Jon Merriott def. No. 12 Ryan Deimel 5 and 4
No. 2 Phil Pedano def. No. 31 Kade Logue 2 and 1
No. 15 Ryan Matlock def. No. 18 Kyle Westfall 6 and 5
No. 7 Dylan Flinchbaugh def. No. 26 Matthew Modica 1-up
No. 10 Drew Deimel def. No. 23 Tim Weyand 3 and 2
No. 30 Matthew Stearns def. No. 3 Tanner Sliker 1-up
No. 19 Ted Grassi III def. No. 14 Isaiah Swan 1-up
No. 6 Matt Barto def. No. 27 Dustin Coleman 4 and 3
No. 22 Michael Garcia def. No. 11 David Martinez 3 and 2
Qualifying round
Alex Weir -1 71
Phil Pedano -1 71
Tanner Sliker E 72
Zac Bihler +1 73
Mike Wolfe +2 74
Matt Barto +3 75
Dylan Flinchbaugh +3 75
Sean Sculley +3 75
Ron Coleman +4 76
Drew Deimel +5 77
David Martinez +5 77
Ryan Deimel +5 77
Scott Klein +6 78
Isaiah Swan +7 79
Ryan Matlock +7 79
Dave Spitzer +7 79
Michael Marsico +7 79
Kyle Westfall +8 80
Ted Grassi III +8 80
Mike Newcomer +8 80
Jon Merriott +8 80
Michael Garcia +8 80
Tim Weyand +8 80
Mac Deitrick +9 81
R.C. Chase +9 81
Matthew Modica +9 81
Dustin Coleman +9 81
Jack Costello +9 81
Doug Fugate +9 81
Matthew Stearns +9 81
*Evan Watkins +10 82
*Kade Logue +10 82
Missed the cut
Trevor Warpus +10 82
Eric Wildauer +10 82
Ron Richardson +11 83
Ray Romanski +11 83
Joe Fugagli +11 83
Andrew Simon +12 84
Mike Capotis +12 84
Jesse Yates +12 84
Mark Noce +14 86
Anthony Tupek +14 86
Brett Folga +14 86
Nick Petrarca +14 86
Scott Simonsen +15 87
Logan Sauer +16 88
Nate Ross +16 88
Dan Abbott +16 88
Nick Seapker +16 88
Andy Klein +16 88
Levi Marsh +17 89
Homer Capotis +17 89
Ryder Grignol +18 90
Joseph Drexler +19 91
*Watkins and Logue advanced after a four-way playoff for the last two seeds.
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Friday's schedule
Round of 16
8 a.m: No. 1 Alex Weir vs. No. 16 Dave Spitzer
8:10: No. 25 R.C. Chase vs. No. 9 Ron Coleman
8:20: No. 4 Zac Bihler vs. No. 13 Scott Klein
8:30: No. 5 Mike Wolfe vs. No. 21 Jon Merriott
8:40: No. 2 Phil Pedano vs. No. 15 Ryan Matlock
8:50: No. 7 Dylan Flinchbaugh vs. No. 10 Drew Deimel
9: No. 30 Matthew Stearns vs. No. 19 Ted Grassi III
9:10: No. 6 Matt Barto vs. No. 22 Michael Garcia
Note: The quarterfinals will follow with a start time to be determined.
Mike has worked for the Erie Times-News editorial department since 1997 and full time with its sports department since 2004. He was the sports editor for the former Titusville Herald from 1991-93.
