On Wednesday, Evan Katz (p) won the 101st Maryland State Open after finishing 9-under-par (68-68-65) for the week at Manor Country Club. Katz finished four strokes ahead of second place finishers Ryan Siegler (p) and Zachary Lese (p). The par 70 course was in phenomenal condition for the 101st Maryland State Open. After a rain delay suspended play on Tuesday afternoon, players who didn’t finish had to come back Wednesday morning to complete their second round and try to make the cut.
Watch the
After the first round, 2009 Champion Matt Bassler was in the lead after carding a 65 to shoot 5-under-par. Bassler had a bogey-free first round with five birdies to head into the second round with the lead. Peter Knade (p) was right behind Bassler as he shot a 4-under-par 66 to be one shot behind going into the second round. 2021 Open Champion Jake Griffin finished his first round at 1-over-par, carding a 34-37-71.
On Tuesday, a stunning front nine score of 28 was shot by Blake Micholas. Micholas, started his day on #10 and went birdie, birdie, eagle on the first three holes. After hitting his drive into the bunker, he eagled the short par-4, No. 12. Micholas went on to birdie No. 14, 15, and 17 to record an incredible 7-under-par 28 on his front nine. However, Micholas would go on to triple bogey No. 1, his first hole of his back nine, and called it a “heat check” as the triple bogey hurt his momentum. Micholas went on to par the next seven holes with a birdie on 9 to finish 5-under-par for the day.
As the day went on, the weather started to get worse. The sirens blew, and play was suspended late Tuesday afternoon. The remaining players returned Wednesday morning with play resuming at 8:30. After everyone finished their second round, the cut was made at 6-over-par.
Heading into the third round Evan Katz and Zachary Lese were tied for the lead at 4-under-par. A strong push by Lese and Ryan Siegler wasn’t enough as Katz went on to have his best round of the week, shooting 31-34-65, 5-under par. Katz was able to eagle the par-5 No. 4 to move to 2-under-par and didn’t look back. Katz went on to birdie 4 of his last 14 holes, which included a birdie on the par-4 18th to end the day. Jake Griffin also shot his best round of the week as he carded in a 32-34-66, 4-under-par, to win the Harry Pitt (Low Amateur) for the second year in a row. Griffin had a bogey-free round with three birdies on the front nine and one on the back nine. Griffin’s rounds of 71-70-66 were good enough to see him lift the Harry Pitt by one stroke.
Jake Griffin, Harry Pitt (Low Amateur)
