Marc Ehudin, a golfer from Pikesville, Maryland, is on the brink of potentially advancing to the match play segment of the prestigious U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, held at the Baltimore Country Club in Lutherville. After a lengthy wait of over seven hours on Sunday, he learned that he would participate in a playoff to determine his fate among the top 64 competitors.
Ehudin, who turned 63 just last week, will compete against 12 other golfers for three available spots in the match play round. This playoff is set to take place on Monday morning at 7:30 a.m., starting at Hole No. 9 on the East Course. The anticipation has been palpable for Ehudin, who expressed his mixed feelings about the situation: excitement for the opportunity and a sense of reflection on his prior performances.
“To not know where I stood the entire day and then find out, ‘OK, I’ve got to kick it back into gear tomorrow and focus and get ready to play again,’ I’ve got some mental adjusting to do tonight, but I will be very excited tomorrow,” Ehudin stated. This sentiment reflects the unique challenge of competing at this level, especially after his near-miss in the previous year’s championship.
In the two rounds leading up to the playoff, Ehudin recorded a 5-over 75 on Sunday, following a 6-over 76 on Saturday, culminating in a two-day total of 11-over 151. His performance placed him in a precarious position, tied for 62nd place when the day concluded. If he secures one of the coveted playoff spots, he will join the match play round, which commences later that same day at 8:30 p.m.
Ehudin's journey in this tournament is particularly significant as he aims for redemption after narrowly missing the match play cut last year by just one stroke. The emotional support he received from family and friends, including his wife Rachel and daughter Peri, has been a source of motivation for him throughout the competition. “I don’t want to leave with any regrets about how I played on Monday,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of this opportunity.
While Ehudin is poised for a playoff, three other local golfers—Phil Fairbanks from Columbia, Tom Winegardner from Lothian, and Richard Sovero from Catonsville—did not fare as well and fell short of the top 64, concluding their tournament runs. Winegardner, who is 65, struggled significantly over the weekend, finishing with a total score of 14-over 154 after rounds of 76 and 78. He expressed disappointment over his performance, particularly regarding his driving game.
Fairbanks, 56, entered the final round tied for 45th but faltered with a double bogey and a bogey early in his round, ultimately finishing with a total score of 17-over 157. He acknowledged that his ball striking was not up to par, which significantly impacted his chances. Similarly, Sovero, 57, ended with a total of 23-over 163, citing issues with his driving as a major factor in his performance.
As the playoff approaches, all eyes will be on Ehudin as he seeks to capitalize on this opportunity and make a significant impact in the match play round of the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
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