Hanes Wins Another BDGA Match Play Championship
Billy Hanes captures his fourth BGA Match Play Championship in dominant style. Only one of his four matches reached the 18th hole as he won his final match 5 & 4 at Niagara Falls Country Club.
Related: Results
Hanes, of Crag Burn Country Club, started his tournament with a 4 & 3 result knocking out Peter Leone (Cherry Hill Club). The following day, Hanes took down host-club member Michael Boss 2&1. The most trouble Hanes ran into came in the semifinal as he needed all 18 holes to hold off Tyler Edholm (Pendleton Creek GC).
In the final, Hanes would square off against Joseph Mitchell (Country Club of Buffalo). Mitchell won his opening round match in 23 holes and his semifinal in 21. Before the final Mitchell had logged 60 competitive holes while Hanes only played 50 in the championship.
In the end it was Hanes who came out on top as he added his first BDGA win of the season. It also marked his fourth BDGA Match Play crown as he also won in 2022, 2016, and 2003 at the inaugural championship.
In the senior division, Country Club of Buffalo’s Brian Kumiega won the final in 19 holes. He started his championship by besting Ken Augustyniak (Country Club of Buffalo) in 18 holes. In the quarterfinals, Kumiega defeated Jim Berrigan (Shorewood CC) on the 15th hole, 4 & 3.
Kumiega used a late surge in the semifinal to beat Kevin Kaszuba 2 & 1. In the final, Kumiega needed an extra hole to fend off Jim Sweeney (Brookefield CC). The win was the first BDGA Senior Match Play Championship for Kumiega.
