Metropolitan Section PGA

August 4th 2022 - In the finals of the 2022 Senior Match Play Championship at Pelham Country Club, Philip Cardwell of Rockville Links Club took a 2 up lead on the opening two holes against two time Senior Match Play Champion, Frank Bensel of Century Country Club and ultimately held on to the victory by a final score of 2 and 1.

Met Section Senior Professionals qualified for 31 spots in the championship at Pelham CC, with defending Champion, Scott Ford, earning an exemption. The round of 32 and round of 16 highlighted the incredible play of some of the best Senior Professionals in the Met Area including Craig Thomas of Metropolis CC, Carl Alexander of Golf Club of Purchase, Frank Bensel of Century CC, Jimmy Farrell of The Hamlet Golf and Country Club, and Charlie Bolling of Glen Cove Golf Club who all went on to compete in quarterfinal play.

Cardwell's road to victory was not an easy feat: first facing Scott Ford of Glen Oaks Club in the Quarterfinals, and then besting three time Champion, Craig Thomas, in the Semifinals to make it to Thursday's final round. If those matches weren't enough of a test already, meeting Frank Bensel in the finals would prove to be a steep climb.

"It's an unbelievable feeling. You don't sleep well when you know you are going up against Frank Bensel. He is one of the most decorated players in the Met Section so I know how good he is and its just a great win" - Phil Cardwell, Rockville Links Club

In the final match, Cardwell capitalized on Bensel's back-to-back bogeys to begin play, eventually extending his advantage to 3 up, his largest lead of the day, by hitting a second consecutive birdie on the fourth hole.

Bensel attempted to make a comeback as he compiled two straight pars on holes 11 and 12 to slash Cardwell's lead to 1 up.

On the 17th hole, a 405-yard par 4, Cardwell sank a par to secure his first Senior Match Play Championship victory.

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