Riley Hestwood hits a shot during the 2019 Spring Thaw at Cascades Golf Course. He will play in the City Championship Saturday against Steve Maddalena. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Those thinking that six-time city champ Steve Maddalena will keep missing putts normally find themselves on the sidelines.
He proved that again Friday in a 19-hole match.
Maddalena made his final two putts of the night to earn a classic 1-up win over Mark Kurzynowski in the City Golf Championship Friday at Cascades Golf Course.
Maddalena will face Riley Hestwood in the 36-hole final Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. at Cascades.
The second 18 holes are expected to begin about 11:30 a.m.
Maddalena uncharacteristically missed three short putts on the front nine. Both players shot 1-under par with eight pars and a birdie on No. 6.
“I knew I was due as I hadn’t made anything all day,” Maddalena said.
He took a 1-up lead on hole No. 10 with a birdie, but gave it back with a poor tee shot on No. 11.
Kurzynowski twice escaped from tree trouble on holes No. 12 and 13 to remain tied.
He went 1-up with a par on 14 and a 45-foot chip-in for birdie on No. 16.
But he couldn’t slam the door on Maddalena with chances to close out the match on holes No. 17 and 18.
“You have to be able to make putts when you need to,” Kurzynowski said.
Maddalena made a slippery 8-foot putt on 18 for a birdie.
“It was a fast slider that if you hit it too hard, it will slide down the hill,” Maddalena said. “You have to lag it.”
Maddalena made a straight-up-the-hill putt on the first extra hole to close out the match in 19 holes.
He will face Hestwood – 40 years younger – in the final. The soon-to-be Aquinas College golfer has steamrolled his opponents in match play. He has yet to play past hole 16.
“I gained a lot of confidence tying for first in the Spring Thaw,” Hestwood said. “I lost to Mike Brockie, but proved to myself I can play with these guys.”
The confidence has carried over to his putting. Hestwood changed his putter and putting style a couple of days ahead of the City Championship.
“I am using a 39-inch putter with an arm lock … like Matt Kuchar on the PGA Tour,” Hestwood said. “After you make a couple of putts, they all seem to go in.”
Hestwood was scheduled to move into Aquinas College – near Grand Rapids – this weekend, but those plans changed.
“I just need to stay calm and play my game in the finals.”
Steve Maddalena makes a birdie on the first extra hole to earn a 1-up win against Mark Kurzynowski. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.