MATCH THIS
Quiroz Wins His 2nd Major After Dramatic Finish
LOS FELIZ – If Nik Freitas’s win last year in Match Play marked the dawn of a new era on Tour, Sunday was confirmation of its arrival as the Tour’s young, new talents faced each other in the Finals. Defending champion Freitas and 2015 Tour Champion Ed Quiroz produced the most thrilling finish in the tournament’s 13-year history. 1-down on the final hole Freitas, with wedge, holed out from 20 yards and appeared to be on his way to winning the hole and forcing a playoff. But 1 demonstrative fist pump (Freitas’s) would be followed by another after Quiroz then sunk a problematic 4 foot putt to halve the hole for the win. “I didn’t expect any less from him,” said Quiroz of Freitas’s fantastic shot. “He made it interesting all the way to the end.” Of his putt on greens that gave everyone fits, Quiroz said, “I’m a champ too and I had to sink it.”
Unprecedented
Quiroz’s win on Sunday, his 2nd of the season, was also his 4th in the last 6 tournaments dating back to last year, marking the most dominant run in Tour history over such a period. Were it not for the Charly Classic, in which he not only finished runner up – he was in contention for the win having to play a sudden death playoff – it might be an incredible 5 wins in 6 tournaments. “I don’t really think about it too much but I just want to keep adding to the collection,” said Quiroz of his impressive haul of hardware so early in his career. “I’ll have to make a bigger shelf.” With Sunday’s win Quiroz matched Chris Moawad (2008) as the only reigning Tour champion to win Match Play and is now a Masters victory away from completing the career major slam.
No shame in defeat
Freitas may or may not agonize over his missed putt on 7. With the match all square through 6 Freitas’s long putt on 7 to halve the hole just missed the cup, changing the narrative of the match. But Freitas felt no shame in defeat and why should he have? As defending champion he reached the finals for the 2nd straight year and nearly won, and he produced the shot of the tournament (not to mention a beautiful tee shot on the 6th hole, dubbed “the dream killer”). Sleep deprived with 2 babies in the house, it’s a testament to the strength of his game. “I woke up this morning and I didn’t think I was going to be able to get through [to the finals], but I did.”
1st Round
In a rematch from last year #4 John Frost once again bested #5 Gerry Vaughan, defeating him 1-up. #6 Martin Witt proved to be a tough out for #3 Chris Moawad who prevailed 1-up. Witt cut Moawad’s 2 hole lead in half after the 7th hole but was unable to close the gap. Despite a reminder sent by tournament officials, #7 Patrick Bird pulled “a Crump” and still made his way to the wrong golf course. After rushing to Los Feliz Bird even took an early 1-up lead on #2 Ed Quiroz before dropping 3 of the next 4 holes. He would eventually lose 2 and 1. Defending champion Nik Freitas dispatched #8 Tim Joe 3 and 2 in another first round match.
Final Four
John Frost reached the Final Four the second straight year and even took the first hole against Nik Freitas. But Frost would prove no match for the defending champion dropping 4 straight holes after the 2nd, losing 3 and 2. Up 2 holes through 5 against Chris Moawad, Ed Quiroz had a scare on the 6th when he 2-putted inside 1 foot to lose the hole. He would rebound though, taking the next 2 holes, winning 3 and 1. The win for Quiroz avenged his 3 and 1 first round loss to Moawad in 2014.