Donegan Defeats Defending Champion Willman to Advance to Match Play Championship Semi-Finals

Southern Texas PGA • February 12, 2019

KINGWOOD, TEXAS --- Tuesday’s morning Second Round Matches of the 2019 Match Play Championship resulted in three top-ten seeds advancing to the afternoon’s Open Division Quarterfinals as well as three upsets.

In the upset of the day, Roman O’Rourke (#17 seed), PGA Assistant Professional at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch and STPGA newcomer, bested the #1 seed Ben Kern, PGA Head Professional at Georgetown Country Club, 2Up. Defending Champion and #22 seed, Ben Willman, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy, also advanced after defeating #6 seed Gilbert Mendez (GOLFTEC-Westlake) 2&1.

Along with O’Rourke and Willman, the following were featured in the Quarterfinals:
Alan Hodde, PGA Teaching Professional at Axis Golf Academy (#2 seed)
Chad Donegan, PGA Director of Golf at Landa Park Golf Course (#3 seed)
Garrett Driver, Wildcat Golf Club (#10 seed)
Callum McNeill, The Clubs at Houston Oaks (#24 seed)
Pablo del Olmo, The Woodlands Golf Performance Group (#28 seed)
Greg Hiller, PGA Director of Instruction at TPC San Antonio (#29 seed)

After Tuesday afternoon’s Quarterfinal Matches, Donegan is the highest remaining seed in the field after his Quarterfinal victory over Willman, 1Up.

The Championship also includes a Senior Division. Today the Senior Division played Second Round Matches and Semi-Final Matches with Steve Parker, PGA Life Member, and Robert Thompson, PGA Teaching Professional at Whispering Pines Golf Club advancing to Wednesday’s Final Match.

The 2019 Match Play Championship is being contested February 11-13 at The Clubs of Kingwood (Island Course), a 7,253- yard, par 72 layout. The Champion in the Open Division will take home $2,500 of the $5,750 purse, while the Senior Division Champion will take home a trophy and a check for $1,000.

First Round Matches of the 2019 Match Play Championship were suspended due to darkness on Monday and play resumed at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

To view Championship Bracket, please click 
here.

To view Senior Division Bracket, please click 
here.

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