Schuller bids for fourth title as Final Four is set in PGA Match Play C'ship

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Three-time Champion Rick Schuller of Chester, Virginia, made three consecutive back-nine birdies Thursday at PGA Golf Club, which was the insurance he needed to defeat Shawn Warren of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 3 and 1, and land a semifinal berth in the 52nd PGA Match Play Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR.

 

Schuller, 52, PGA Head Professional at Swaders Sports Park in Prince George, Virginia, will face Rich Berberian of Derry, New Hampshire, Friday morning in the first semifinal. Brian Cairns of Walled Lake, Michigan, meets Adam Rainaud of South Hadley, Massachusetts, in the other semifinal match. 

 

The Championship match is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., on the Dye Course. 

 

Cairns, a 50-year-old PGA Teaching Professional at Fox Hills Learning Center in Plymouth, Michigan, advanced after consecutive 1-up victories - defeating Kyle Baehler of Greenwich, Connecticut, and 65-year-old Jerry Tucker of Stuart, Florida, in a match that was extended to 20 holes.

 

Berberian, a PGA Assistant Professional at Windham (New Hampshire) Country Club, defeated co-medalist Jake Pleczkowski of Siasconset, Massachusetts, 6 and 5, in the morning before edging Greg McClimans of Clearwater, Florida, 2 up. 

 

Schuller is bidding for a record fourth PGA Match Play Championship, having previously captured titles in 2006, ‘09 and ‘11. He opened Thursday with a 6-and-5 victory over a familiar opponent, Roy Vucinich of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, whom he faced in the 2006 Championship finals.  

 

“I had a solid round against Roy who has been such a good player for many years,” said Schuller, the 2009 PGA Professional Player of the Year. “I got a real boost with an eagle on the fifth hole, which gave me a three-hole lead after nine and I was able to keep moving from there. 

 

In his quarterfinal match against Warren, Schuller said his opponent “ hit it long, but he hit it at least 10 yards past me all around, but I was fortunate to play well on the back nine and hold on. I feel like I have come out of a tough bracket, and maybe that will be what helps me prepare for tomorrow.” 

 

Schuller grinded out a two-hole lead after nine holes, then Warren birdied No. 10 to win the hole. Schuller then birdied Nos. 12, 13 and matched birdies with Warren at 14, building a 3-up lead before Warren rallied with a birdie at No. 15. The players each parred No. 16th hole before Schuller closed out Warren at the par-5 17th hole. Schuller left his approach shot within six feet of the hole. Warren then missed a 15-foot birdie putt and conceded Schuller’s putt and the match.    

 

The 52nd PGA Match Play Championship, the final event of the PGA Winter Championship season, features a total purse of $23,500.

 

52nd PGA Match Play Championship

Presented by Premier Golf & GOLF ADVISOR

PGA Golf Club – Port St. Lucie, Florida

Dye Course – Par 72, 7,017 yards

 

Third-Round Results:

Brian Cairns, Walled Lake, Mich. def. Kyle Baehler, Greenwich, Conn., 1 up

Jerry Tucker, Stuart, Fla., def. Kevin Savage, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 5 and 4

Adam Rainaud, South Hadley, Mass. def. Jeff Sorenson, Blaine, Minn., 1 up (20 holes)

Ryan McClintock, Bettendorf, Iowa def. Kyle Higgins, Massapequa, N.Y., 4 and 3

Rich Berberian, Derry, N.H. def. Jake Pleczkowski, Siasconset, Mass., 6 and 5

Gregory McClimans, Clearwater, Fla. def. Josh Rackley, Jupiter, Fla., 2 and 1

Rick Schuller, Chester, Va. def. Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa., 6 and 5

Shawn Warren, Cape Elizabeth, Maine def. Pete Catanzaro, Hartsdale, N.Y., 5 and 4

        

Quarterfinals:

Cairns def. Tucker, 1 up (20 holes)

Rainaud def. McClintock, 4 and 3

Berberian def. McClimans, 2 up

Schuller def. Warren, 3 and 1 

 

Semifinal Pairings:

Berberian vs. Schuller, 7:30 a.m.

Cairns vs. Rainaud, 7:39 a.m. 

 

Championship Match:

11:30 a.m.