Photo (Left: Kyle Gebhart; Right: Matt Cocorikis)
Chevy Chase, Md. – The quarterfinals and semifinals of the 105th Maryland Amateur Championship were contested Saturday, June 6, at Columbia Country Club, leaving just two players standing in pursuit of Maryland’s most prestigious amateur title.
How we got here:
The 105th Maryland Amateur Championship began with stroke play qualifying on Thursday, June 4, at Columbia Country Club, where Kyle Gebhart of Manor Country Club earned medalist honors after prevailing in a five-way playoff. The top 32 players then advanced to match play, setting the stage for the championship’s head-to-head portion.
Friday’s Round of 32 and Round of 16 further narrowed the field, with defending champion Bennett Espenshade of Elkridge Club surviving two matches to keep his title defense alive. Joining him and Gebhart in the quarterfinals were Matthew Cocorikis of the MSGA eClub, Chris Baloga of Country Club of Maryland, Carson Looney of Congressional Country Club, Brad Whitaker of Columbia Country Club, Lorenzo Sanz of Hayfields Country Club, and Brendan Peel of Columbia Country Club, leaving just eight players in contention for Maryland’s most prestigious amateur title.
Quarterfinals
(1) Bennett Espenshade vs. (8) Matthew Cocorikis
Cocorikis put the defending champion on the defensive early, winning the 1st, 3rd, and 6th holes to build a 2-up lead through nine holes. Espenshade remained within striking distance throughout the back nine and cut the deficit to one on the 17th hole. After a pair of solid approach shots on the 18th by the two competitors, Cocorikis closed out the defending champion with a 1-up victory, advancing to the semifinals.
(4) Chris Baloga vs. (12) Carson Looney
After Looney claimed the 2nd hole, Baloga responded with three consecutive hole wins to seize control of the match. Looney twice battled back to even the match, including on the 11th hole, but Baloga answered each challenge and pulled away late with victories on the 16th and 17th holes to secure a 3&1 win and a place in the semifinals.
(2) Kyle Gebhart vs. (7) Brad Whitaker
The only match to feature extra holes at this point in the tournament, Gebhart and Whitaker battled for a spot in the semifinals. Whitaker opened the match with a win on the 1st hole, and Gebhart took the 2nd and 3rd holes to go 1-up. Whitaker took back the advantage after he won the 6th and 9th holes to lead 1-up at the turn. Whitaker looked in control after winning three straight holes starting on the 11th, but Gebhart answered by claiming the next four holes to tie the match heading to the 18th tee. After the pair halved the final regulation hole, the match moved to extra holes, where Gebhart prevailed on the 20th hole to advance.
(14) Lorenzo Sanz vs. (22) Brendan Peel
Sanz seized momentum early, winning the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th holes to jump out to a commanding lead. Peel answered on the 5th, but Sanz immediately regained control with a win on the 6th and carried a 3-up advantage to the back nine. After extending his lead on the 11th hole, Sanz withstood a late push from Peel and secured a 3&2 victory to advance to the semifinals.
Semifinals
(8) Matthew Cocorikis vs. (4) Chris Baloga
Cocorikis and Baloga traded punches early before Cocorikis gained momentum with victories on the 6th and 7th holes to take a 2-up lead at the turn. He extended the advantage to three on the 11th hole and never relinquished control. Baloga trimmed the deficit on the 13th, but Cocorikis answered down the stretch and secured a 2&1 victory to advance to the championship match.
(2) Kyle Gebhart vs. (14) Lorenzo Sanz
Gebhart struck first by winning the opening two holes, but Sanz quickly responded to even the match. The stroke play medalist regained the advantage on the 7th hole and carried a 1-up lead to the back nine. Wins on the 10th and 12th holes gave Gebhart breathing room, and despite a Sanz victory on the 14th, Gebhart closed out the match on the 16th hole for a 3&2 victory.
The 105th Maryland Amateur Championship Match will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 7. Medalist Kyle Gebhart and eighth-seeded Matthew Cocorikis will face off for the opportunity to be crowned the 105th Maryland Amateur Champion.
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