• COURSE: Los Feliz Par-3
• CHECK IN TIME: 8:45am (Sunday April 24)
• FIELD WATCH: With half the field missing, this year’s tournament will suffer its worst attendance in its history. Not since the inaugural edition (2003), when 8 golfers made up the Tour, has there been such a small field.
• LAST YEAR: Nik Freitas, in just his 5th career start, had his first win on Tour come in a major. He was nothing short of impressive in first defeating defending champion Travois Gordón, then former 2-time champion Doug Vargas (semi-finals), and former champion Chris Moawad in the finals.
• STORYLINES: Defending champion Freitas (4-0) earns the #1 seed and will face #8 Tim Joe (3-12). Reigning Tour champion Ed Quiroz (0-1) is the #2 seed and will face #7 Patrick Bird (7-12). Bird has not won in the first round since 2013. Meeting for the first time will be #3 Chris Moawad (15-9) and #6 Martin Witt (2-8). Witt’s last win in Match Play was in 2005. In a rematch from last year, #4 John Frost (4-11) faces #5 Gerry Vaughan (13-9). Frost handed Vaughan his first ever loss in the first round. It was Frost’s first win in the 1st round against a live opponent.
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• SHORT CHIPS: Charter Tour member Tim Joe will be making the 100th start of his 14 year career. Fellow charter member Martin Witt makes his 70th. 2 golfers will miss this tournament for the first time in their career: Clint Crump, after 12 editions; Doug Vargas after 10 years.
Freitas defeated Moawad 2-up in last year’s finals.
PAST CHAMPIONS:
2003, Jo Clemente
2004, no tournament held
2005, Jo Clemente
2006, Armen Grigorian
2007, Armen Grigorian
2008, Chris Moawad
2009, Doug Vargas
2010, Armen Grigorian
2011, Armen Grigorian
2012, Armen Grigorian
2013, Doug Vargas
2014, Travois Gordón