Which Gannon University golfer will win Sunday's EDGA Match Play final?
NORTH EAST ― Modern golf’s origins date back to the 1400s.
It gained status as a “gentleman’s game” over the ensuing centuries.
Given the sport's dignified label, Abe Holmes expects the banter between he and Gannon University teammate Ryan Ferry to be, say, festive in nature throughout Sunday’s 1:30 p.m. final for the Erie District Golf Association Marquette Savings Bank Match Play Championship.
“It’s a battle of our (campus) household,” Holmes said. “We were pretty competitive throughout last season. This (tournament) is something we’ve been looking forward to and we anticipated this is how it would go.”
Holmes, a senior for the 2022-23 Golden Knights, advanced to Sunday’s title round with a 1-up victory vs. Mike Wolfe at Lake View Country Club.
Ferry, who transferred to Gannon after two seasons with rival Mercyhurst University, defeated three-time Match Play medalist Drew Deimel 2-up.
Any good-natured, trash-talking between Sunday’s finalists is understandable.
Holmes was voted the PSAC men’s golfer of the year for a second time. The Barrie, Ontario, native was an all-PSAC selection for each of his four seasons with the Knights.
Ferry, a Meadville graduate, also was an all-conference choice as a junior. He shot a 64 during Gannon’s appearance in last September’s California (Pennsylvania) Vulcan Invitational.
That round is believed to be the lowest in team history, according to a school news release.
There were three events last season where Holmes defeated Ferry in a playoff or a tournament tiebreaker. However, Ferry said those losses would be collectively negated if he beats Holmes in Sunday’s one-on-one format.
It’s no wonder each golfer expressed enthusiasm about Sunday’s round.
“I hope we get some people out here to watch because it’s going to be a good time,” Ferry said. “We’re each other’s biggest competition, so it’s certainly going to be interesting.”
Ferry already with a first
Mike Ferry, The Country Club of Meadville’s golf professional, caddied for Ryan Ferry throughout Saturday’s quarterfinals and semifinals.
Father and son twice walked Lake View’s course in weather that was idyllic compared to what the players endured during last Monday’s qualifying round and Friday’s first and second rounds.
Ryan Ferry said Monday’s qualifier was the worst weather he ever experienced as a golfer.
“I wasn’t worried about (making the cut) because I knew all the scores were going to be high,” he said. “I was hitting a driver and 4-iron on holes where I’d normally hit a driver and wedge.”
However, the miserable conditions didn’t deter Ferry from winning the qualifier. He was bracketed as the Match Play’s second seed thanks to a 1-under par 71 that was the only red-number round.
Matt Barto was this weekend’s automatic top seed as the tournament’s defending champ. Alex Weir defeated Gannon’s assistant golf coach 1-up during Friday’s second round.
Rounds over rinks for Holmes
Ferry started Saturday with a 3 and 2 quarterfinal victory against Ted Grassi III, the 2013 Match Play titlist. That same round saw Holmes dominate Ed Podufal 7 and 6.
Podufal, 62, upset fifth-seeded Isaiah Swan during Friday’s competition. The 2022 EDGA Hall of Famer sought to win the tournament for a fourth time and nearly 40 years after he captured his first title.
It’s no surprise Holmes, as a native of Canada, played hockey as a youth.
His assessment of his performance on the rink: good, but not great.
“I’m an average hockey player by Canadian standards,” Holmes said. “I was more a (golf) range rat. It was nice to grow up to play such a great game.”
Tyler Cozad, the Match Play’s third seed, and the fourth-seeded Holmes tied for second after last Monday’s qualifier. Each shot a 1-over 73.
Deimel beat Cozad, a two-time victor of the EDGA Amateur Tournament, 1-up in their quarterfinal on Saturday.
Wolfe eliminated Weir, who reached the 2021 and 2022 Match Play finals, 1-up in that same round.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timensews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
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Saturday’s results for the 51st annual Erie District Golf Association Marquette Savings Bank Match Play Championship at North East’s Lake View Country Club:
Quarterfinals
No. 9 Mike Wolfe def. No. 16 Alex Weir 1-up
No. 4 Abe Holmes def. No. 21 Ed Podufal 7 and 6
No. 2 Ryan Ferry def. No. 26 Ted Grassi III 3 and 2
No. 6 Drew Deimel def. No. 3 Tyler Cozad 1-up
Semifinals
No. 4 Abe Holmes def. No. 9 Mike Wolfe 1-up
No. 2 Ryan Ferry def. No. 6 Drew Deimel 2-up
Sunday
Championship
1:30 p.m: No. 4 Abe Holmes vs. No. 2 Ryan Ferry
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: A Gannon University golfer will win the EDGA Match Play Championship
