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Last Year’s Finalists Lose in First Round, Siddens on Track to Win Senior Title at HAFB

Last year’s finalists, Bill Probst and Pat Murphy, both fell by the wayside in the first round of match play Wednesday in the UGA Senior Match Play Championship at Hill Air Force Base while Kirk Siddens, the tourney’s qualifying medalist, took two big steps toward changing the bitter-sweet taste he has carried for 15 years of Hubbard Golf Course. Back in 1999 it was the site of the Utah State Amateur in which Siddens played brilliantly, but lost in the finals to Billy Harvey. This year he is hoping for a re-write, not a replay.
Gary Stewart upset Probst, the defending champion, 3 and 2, and Gordon Garff knocked off Pat Murphy, the runnerup, 3 and 1. Stewart didn’t enjoy the victory very long as he lost in the afternoon to Mark Madsen, 2-up. Garff, a new name to senior golf, won his next match, 1-up, over Chick Lignell
While Probst and Murphy were both eliminated in the first round Siddens, playing in his rookie senior year, knocked off Karl Avant in the first round, 8 and 7, and then bumped off another big name senior, Steve Poulson, 2-up. Poulson reached the second round after edging Steve Brinton in the morning with a birdie on the 18th hole.
Thus going into the quarterfinals Siddens is the clear favorite and his next obstacle is his quarterfinal opponent Ben Maddox Thursday at 8:14 am.
In the Super Senior Division (65 and older) defending champion Al Simkins defeated Doug Rosecrans, 2 and 1 in his first match. Simkins doesn’t have an easy path however. He still needs three more wins and will face Dave Fischer in a quarterfinal match Thursday.
In the net division medalist Jason Tanner won his first match 6 and 4 against Richard Herd.
The results and schedules of each division are listed below.
Senior DivisionRound of 32 ResultsGary Stewart def. Bill Probst, 3 and 2Mark Madsen def. Mike Hacker, 20 holesMike Jones def. Rob Bachman, 1-upJeff Powars def. Corey Ford, 7 and 6Dan Parkinson def. Craig Gardner, 1-upRussell Hook def. Don Peterson, 4 and 2Eldon Richter def. Brett Sampson, 2-upKeith Olson def. Terry Defa, 3 and 2Kirk Siddens def. Karl Avant, 8 and 7Steve Poulson def. Steve Brinton, 1-upBen Maddox def. Greg Gust, 3 and 2Tracy Cook def. Paul Cannon, 2 and 1Gordon Garff def. Pat Murphy, 3 and 1Chick Lignell def. Kurt Bernhisel, 2 and 1Craig Wilson def. Richard Dibblee, 4 and 3Dana Nelson def. Ruben Escobedo, 5 and 4
Round of 16 ResultsMark Madsen def. Gary Stewart, 2-upMike Jones def. Jeff Powars, 1-upRussell Hook def. Dan Parkinson, 2 and 1Keith Olson def. Eldon Richter, 20 holesKirk Siddens def. Steve Poulson, 2-upBen Maddox def. Tracy Cook, 2 and 1Gordon Garff def. Chick Lignell, 1-upDana Nelson def. Craig Wilson, 1-up
Thursday’s Schedule8:00- Mark Madsen vs. Mike Jones8:07- Russell Hook vs. Keith Olson8:14- Kirk Siddens vs. Ben Maddox8;21- Gordon Garff vs. Dana Nelson
Super Senior DivisionRound of 16 ResultsAllen Simkins def. Doug Rosecrans, 2 and 1David Fischer def. Dave Edmonds, 2 and 1Dick Peacock def. Bill Gumeson, WDBrent Tidwell def. Sterling Larsen, 4 and 3Don Needham def. John Taylor, 5 and 4Greg Fraser def. Allan Thomas, 1-upBrent Marriott def. Ron Clark, 5 and 4Jeff Campbell def. Ron Clark, 9 and 8
Thursday’s Schedule8:28- Al Simkins vs. David Fischer8:35- Dick Peacock vs. Brent Tidwell8:42- Don Needham vs. Greg Fraser8:49- Brent Marriott vs. Jeff Campbell
 
Net DivisionRound of 16 ResultsJason Tanner def. Richard Herd, 6 and 4Kerry Coop def. Bret Hancock, 5 and 3Val Cahoon def. Terry Bonones, 3 and 2Al Krahenbuhl def. Scott Burt, 3 and 2Lee Garner def. Gary Schenck, 3 and 1Kevin Wall def. Paul Auxier, 4 and 3Dan Riddle def. Greg Wood, 22 holesGus Stribakus def. David William Pettigrew, 2 and 1
Thursday’s Schedule9:02- Jason Tanner vs. Kerry Coop9:09- Val Cahoon vs. Al Krahenbuhl9:16- Lee Garner vs. Kevin Wall9:23- Gus Stribakus vs. Dan Riddle