Jonathan Marsico had never played in the CGA Match Play before this week, but he certainly seems to be a fast learner. And with the help of a caddie who won the HealthOne Colorado Open a couple of years ago, the 29-year-old from Castle Pines Golf Club finds himself in Friday’s 36-hole final.
Marsico’s opponent in the championship match certainly can be said to have gone the distance to get there. Between playing four matches over the last two days — one that went 24 holes — and enduring three weather delays, Colorado School of Mines golfer Michael Lee spent more than 24 hours at Bear Creek Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday alone.
“I’m just glad I got it done” in advancing, said Lee, who plays out of Greeley Country Club. “It’s been a a lot of fun.”
Marsico (pictured above), the 2008 CGA Stroke Play champion, earned a spot in the final by defeating top-seeded Steve Irwin 4 and 3 in Thursday’s quarterfinals, then rallying from 3 down to beat Zahkai Brown 3 and 1.
Lee outlasted Spencer Sheets in a 24-hole quarterfinal marathon, then defeated University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs 2 up in the semis. Lee was all square with Fribbs through 16 holes, but made 20- and 2-foot birdie putts on Nos. 17 and 18 for the win.
Marsico had a caddie with plenty of big-tournament experience working for him on Thursday as 2009 Colorado Open champ and part-time Nationwide Tour player Derek Tolan was giving Marsico some guidance in reading putts, among other things. (The two are pictured at left.)
“This was Derek’s first day out here,” Marsico noted. “I had two friends of mine help me out prior to this. They were helpful, good guys and good caddies, but Derek has a lot of experience on these greens and this course. He’s one of my best friends and we play so much golf together. So him knowing my game and more importantly knowing these greens was a big help. I definitely wouldn’t be standing here as a winner going into the finals without Derek today.”
Unfortunately for Marsico, Tolan is scheduled to leave Friday for a tournament in Iowa, so he isn’t expected to be back on the bag for the final.
Marsico was certainly tested on Thursday. First he defeated Irwin, the medalist in this tournament and a U.S. Open qualifier this year. Then in the semifinals Marsico found himself 3 down through 7, but won six of the next 10 holes vs. Brown, making a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to close the match.
It turns out that a weather delay — the first of two Thursday that totaled about 2 hours, 24 minutes — helped get Marsico going in the right direction against Brown.
“The delay ended up being a huge positive,” he said. “I lost the first hole and three-putted 5 to go 2 down. That was right when the first delay came and it kind of gave me a chance just to collect myself. I was pretty tired and annoyed through 5. So the rain delay was great. I gathered my thoughts and was able to get focused. I told my caddie Derek Tolan that that was the last bogey I was going to make for the day and indeed it was. So that was the key to the victory, I think.”
Marsico is hoping he can notch another win Friday and complete a career sweep of the CGA’s two top championships.
Winning “this would be awesome,” he said. “I love match play. It was a big accomplishment for me to win the Stroke Play, but I was just becoming a competitive golfer at that point, and to follow it up with another victory would really mean a lot.”
Lee (pictured at left teeing off on Thursday) doesn’t have a CGA title to this point, but that may change given that he’s playing well and that he’s very familiar with Bear Creek Golf Club as Mines typically practices there twice a week during the college season.
“I love this course,” the 19-year-old said. “Our team plays out here for school, so that’s a big advantage. I know where to miss it and where not to be, so that’s helped me out.”
Lee is in the final despite not playing much this summer as he’s working 50 hours a week with an oil and gas company.
“Just this tournament is probably the most holes I’ve played all summer,” he said. “I’m just kind of having fun with it and seeing what happens.”
Friday’s 36-hole final will begin at 7 a.m.
CGA Match Play Championship
At Bear Creek GC in Denver
QUARTERFINALS
Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines Golf Club def. Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club 4 and 3
Zahkai Brown, Indian Tree GC def. Jim Knous, GC at Ironbridge 20 holes
Derek Fribbs, Plum Creek Golf & C.C. def. John Ahern, Bear Creek GC 2 and 1
Michael Lee, Greeley CC def. Spencer Sheets, Glenmoor CC 24 holes
SEMIFINALS
Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines Golf Club def. Zahkai Brown, Indian Tree GC 3 and 1
Michael Lee, Greeley CC def. Derek Fribbs, Plum Creek Golf & C.C. 2 up
FRIDAY’S 36-HOLE FINAL
7 a.m. — Marsico vs. Lee
