Haddix wins Kentucky Match Play Champiionship, Campbell claims Senior State Match Play title.

LEXINGTON, KY (May 19, 2022) – Denver Haddix and Tom Campbell have each claimed the Kentucky Match Play Championships for 2022. The top-seeded Haddix won the Kentucky Match Play Championship on Thursday at Griffin Gate Golf Club, while Tom Campbell won the Kentucky Senior Match Play Championship.

For Haddix, his final day of the three-day competition began with a semifinal match against Drake Stepter (4). What started as an even match swung quickly in Haddix’s favor on the back nine. After being tied at the end of the front nine, Haddix won three consecutive holes on 10-12 to take control. That lead carried into the 15^th where Haddix would win his fourth hole in six holes and clinch a 4&3 victory.

While that was happening, Justin Tereshko (2) defeated Aaron Yarmuth (30) after a valiant effort from one of the highest-seeded players hit its stopping point against Bellarmine’s Head Coach of the men’s golf team. Tereshko won 2&1 which set up a championship match between the top two seeds which started much like Haddix’s semifinal match did as the front nine was evenly contested. But Haddix once again took a lead early on the back nine, as birdies on holes 12 and 13 put him 2 UP. Tereshko battled back, however, with two straight wins of his own on the 14^th and 15^th holes. The match went to the 18^th hole tied, but an out-of-bounds tee shot from Tereshko could not be overcome, and a par from Haddix was good enough to secure his fourth career victory in this tournament and his first since 2017.

“I’m thrilled,” Haddix said after his victory. “At the time of that last win, I thought to myself, ‘Well I’ll just keep this going year after year after winning it three times in four years,’ but when a few years pass by you start to question whether that will be it for you. Because of that, I think I’m probably going to cherish this one a little more than the first three.”

Like Haddix, Tom Campbell won two matches today to clinch the other trophy up for grabs. During his morning semifinal match, the 7-seed was able to build a 3 UP lead with as many holes left to play against Christopher Chee (22) with a spot in the championship match looking like a foregone conclusion. But Chee holed out for eagle on the 16^th and a drive from Campbell finding a penalty area on the 17^th took the match to the 18^th hole. And with a bogey from Campbell to a par from Chee, Campbell’s lead had evaporated and sent the match to a 19^th. Campbell showed his resiliency on the bonus hole though with a birdie that would end up being the winning moment and get to the final match, even if it came more difficultly than he may have planned.

Stefan Robbins (5) made quick work of Jim Murphy (8) in the semifinals with a 5&4 victory putting the hometown Lexington golfer in the championship match against Campbell. Once more, Campbell was able to establish a gap over his competitor and got to 4 UP after the 8^th hole. Robbins was able to trim his deficit to just 2 DOWN after the 10^th, but Campbell responded well and won the 12^th and 14^th holes to go back in front. The 15^th would prove to be the finish line, as Campbell sealed the match on that green to win his first senior tournament after cracking age 50 in 2020.

“It’s nice to pull through,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t an easy road to get to this spot after needing 19 holes in the quarterfinals (to defeat Bryan Baysinger) and extra holes again this morning against Chee. This is a nice accomplishment given this is what I consider to be one of the three “majors” for seniors throughout the season. To get a big victory like this is really gratifying.”

Click here to view the Open Division bracket

Click here to view the Senior Division bracket

Click here to view the tournament photo gallery

The Kentucky Golf Association extends its thanks to Vincent Prather, PGA Head Golf Professional and the entire staff at Griffin Gate Golf Club for their assistance in hosting this championship. Additionally, the KGA sends its appreciation towards each player who competed in the event.

The KGA’s busiest time of the season continues next week with the Kentucky Senior Team Championship which will be at Danville Country Club on May 23-24. In between now and then, qualifying for the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Amateur rolls along at various sites across the state, including one taking place at Danville Country Club today. The next tournament currently open for registration is the first Western Kentucky Am Series event of the season, which will be at Calvert City Country Club on Sunday, May 29.

About the Kentucky Golf Association:
The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is one of the three organizations encompassed under Golf House Kentucky, in addition to the Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF) and Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA). The Kentucky Golf Association represents the amateur body of Kentucky’s golfers working in assistance with the United States Golf Association (USGA). The KGA provides a wide range of services, including handicapping, USGA course and slope ratings, and tournament management software to its Member Clubs. The KGA also operates the state’s premier amateur tournaments along with USGA National Championship qualifiers. Alongside the KGF and KPGA, the KGA strives to promote the benefits and enjoyment of golf while continuing to grow the sport across the Commonwealth.

Media Contact:
Ethan Fisher, PGA | Golf House Kentucky | efisher@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703