3-PEAT NONETHELESS
Moawad Match Play King Again
Call it 3 the long way. With cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 editions, it took Chris Moawad 3 years to complete his 3-peat at the MGM Match Play Invitational. Throw in the cancelled 2018 edition, his 3-peat was 6 years in the making. Moawad defeated a game Eric Stolz who pulled off a tremendous comeback to secure a spot in the finals. Down 3 to Walter Vargas, with 3 holes remaining, Stolz won the final 3 holes and the tie-breaker to complete a stunning upset.
Chip Shots:
4: Saturday’s win was Moawad’s 4th Match Play title. He became the 2nd golfer to 3-peat in the event and now trails tournament leader Armen Grigorian by 1 for most titles… Triumphant return: Eric Stolz last played Match Play in 2012, the year he retired. Ironically his opponent was Chris Moawad (4and2 loss in the 1st round). Saturday, the previously winless Stolz, won his first 2 matches and made the Finals… “My bag was in storage”: Doug Vargas made a surprise but welcome appearance, albeit with a dust covered golf bag. His last Tour start was March 1, 2020 (Charly Classic). He experienced a bit of déjà vu. His last opponent in Match Play was Chris Moawad who defeated him in the 2019 semi-finals… Tour First: The MGM Tour visited Maggie Hathaway Par-3 for the first time. Who was Maggie Hathaway? Maggie Mae Hathaway (July 1, 1911 – September 24, 2001) was an American activist, blues singer, actress, sports writer and golfer. She began her career as an actress before venturing into recording in Los Angeles where she released a few singles. Hathaway became known in the 1950s for her activism and golfing. She co-founded the NAACP Image Awards in 1967… Milestones: Saturday marked the 15th anniversary of Walter Vargas’s Tour debut; Eric Stolz made his 50th career start… Up Next: Devil Ball.
Eric Stolz joins the usual suspects in the Final Four.
Another Finals for Moawad (his 6th) while Stolz makes a surprise appearance.
0