Two former CGA Champions will square off in the Championship final of the CGA Senior Match Play Championship at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor. Guy Mertz of TPC Colorado, the 2010 CGA Senior Match Play Champion and Chris Carlson of Highlands Ranch, the 2004 CGA Mid-Amateur Champ came out on top of their respective quarter-final and semi-final matches to reach the Championship final. For Mertz, this is his third trip to the Senior Match Play finals having won in 2010 and finishing runner-up to Robert Polk in 2009. Carlson is playing in his first Senior Match Play final.
Both Mertz and Carlson came out of Pod Play with 3-0 records but their path to the finals has been far from similar. Mertz has been tested in all three of his single-elimination matches with two of those matches ending on the first hole of sudden death and the third ending on the 18th. Carlson, on the other hand, has made quick work of his opponents to reach the finals with winning margins of 6 and 5, 6 and 4 and 3 and 2.
Mertz began his day with a quarter-final win over the 2019 Senior Match Play Champion, Scott Sullivan. Mertz never led in the match after taking the early with wins on holes 1, 3, and 5. Sullivan remained in touch throughout the match narrowing the lead to just one hole after 11. Mertz and Sullivan tied the next six holes and Mertz birdied the final hole to win the match 2-up.
Similarly, Carlson gained the lead early in his quarter-final match against Jeff Slupe of Pelican Lakes with three consecutive birdies on 3, 4 and 5. But unlike Mertz, Carlson padded his lead with wins on holes 7, 11, 12 and 14 to close out the match 6 and 4 on the 14th hole.
In the afternoon semi-final play, Mertz faced Dean Siskowski of Collindale Golf Course who upset defending champion, Robert Polk in the round of 16. Once again, Mertz had his hands full. Despite being two up with two to play, Mertz was forced into extra holes when Siskowski won the final two to square the match.
Carlson’s last step to the final was far less dramatic and came on the par-3 16th against Owen Ellis of Flatirons Golf Course. Ellis took out 2006 Senior Match Play winner, Kent Moore, in the quarters but his bid for the title ended with a 3 and 2 loss in the semis to Carlson.
The 18-hole championship final will tee off at 7:00 a.m. on Friday.
CGA Senior Match Play Championship
Highland Meadows Golf Course
Quarterfinals
Dean Siskowski, Collindale Golf Course def. Keith Atkins, Highland Meadows Golf Course 19 Holes.
Guy Mertz, TPC Colorado def. Scott Sullivan, Redlands Mesa Golf Course, 2-up.
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch def. Jeff Slupe, Pelican Lakes Golf Club 6 and 4.
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club 6 and 4.
Semifinals
Guy Mertz, TPC Colorado def. Dean Siskowski, Collindale Golf Course 19 holes.
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course 3 and 2.
Final
Guy Mertz, TPC Colorado vs. Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch.