Brown wins record third IGA Match Play title
Jon Brown (right) added another IGA Match Play title to his list of accomplishments. Truth be told, no one has ever won two of them and Brown has put his name on the match play trophy a total of three times.
Brown, the #10 seed following a qualifying round of 71 (-1), knocked off John Mey (5&4) and Cody Holck (3&2) in his first two matches of the week. Brown then went toe to toe with Gene Elliott, where he finally coming out on top after 19 holes.
As if 19 holes weren’t enough in the Round of 16, Brown defeated #2 seed Dennis Bull in 20 holes. Brown fought cramps during the round throughout his body, including his hands during the quarterfinal match against Bull.
“To be beat Gene and Denny (on Friday) that was so special,” Brown said. “It was such a boost of confidence. I did find a little something in my game these last couple weeks. I didn’t play any tournaments, I was just hitting balls. I was working hard on my game and something started to feel good.”
Brown would then meet Matthew Walker, who had only one of his matches reach the 14th hole during his own run to the semifinals. Brown would defeat Walker 4&3, thanks in part to a bushel basket of birdies. A lengthly birdie on the 15th hole would ultimately end the match and leave Walker scratching his head in defeat.
“I came in with some confidence,” Brown said. “But you never know what match play. It’s all about putting and my putting has been all over the place the last couple years. I putted well against Matthew in the morning (on Saturday).
In a back and forth final match, which looked to be anyone’s to win throughout the whole round, Brown would get past Frank Lindwall 1 up. Brown’s up and down for birdie on the Par 5 18th hole proved to be the difference. Lindwall, who defeated J.D. Anderson (5&4) in his semifinal match, gave Brown all he could handle in the finals.
“My speed (on the greens) was good and I was seeing the line today,” Brown said. “Conditions changed this afternoon (against Frank), I just wasn’t quite as on, but I was able to still be pretty good. Frank and I had a great match. I missed a short putt on #16 and wondered if I would get a chance like that again. Things just worked out in my favor.”
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