19th The Deeg Sezna: Merion (West)

Matt duo takes Deeg Sezna Junior Boys’ title at Merion (West)

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ARDMORE, Pa. – Nephew-uncle chemistry equated into championship crowns Monday at Merion Golf Club’s West Course (par 70, 5,981 yards).

Christian Matt of Cedarbrook Country Club paired up with uncle Keith Matt of Talamore Country Club to file a 2-under 68, earning them the Junior Boys’ title in the 19th Deeg Sezna.

In the end, the Matt squad sat a top a full field of 37 teams, finishing with the event’s overall low round. The format was selective drive/alternate shot.

Five birdies dropped on the day for the family of champions. The Matt squad started on No. 12 (par 4, 335 yards) and quickly picked up their first birdie on the day after Christian’s blasted drive left Keith with just 50 yards in. His wedge approach landed to 15 feet, and Christian went on to drain the putt for 3. The next arrived on the par-3, 221-yard 15th, where Christian’s 3-iron tee shot rolled to 20 feet, leading to a converted 2 by Keith. The duo made the shortened-turn at 2 under.

“We were really hitting it good to start. We just wanted to keep giving ourselves birdie chances,” said Christian, 17, of Springhouse, Pa.

The par-5, 526-yard 3rd hole saw the next Matt birdie. After flying the green on Christian’s approach, a flop shot by Keith landed to 15 feet, leading to another mid-range birdie make by Christian. Another would drop on No. 6 (par 3, 140 yards) when Keith’s pitching wedge dart landed to two feet and Christian cleaned up the putt for 2. The final of five red figures dropped on No. 8 (par 4, 246 yards). Christian’s drive was bombed over the green, Keith chipped up and the younger Matt drained a 12 footer for 3. Despite a bogey on their last hole, the par-4, 395-yard 11th, the 2-under 68 score remained safe at the top.

“Man, he could putt today,” said Keith, 46, of Lower Gwynedd, Pa. “It’s been 31 years since I’ve played here, so it was really great to see it again. It’s a fun golf course. And I’m glad I got to experience today [with Christian].”

“I made a few changes [to my putting] and it paid off. Everything was really clicking today,” said Christian, a rising senior at Wissahickon High School.

The event itself, according to Keith, “is what GAP is all about.” Winning a trophy alongside your nephew, on the grounds of famed Merion, is what today was all about, too.

“It’s just awesome. The event, it’s really fun. I think this is the second time we’ve played and it was awesome,” said Keith.

“When we saw this event, plus it’s [at Merion], we knew we had to do this,” said Christian.

In total, there were four Divisions, consisting of both Gross and Net prizes, on the day.

Beth Brennan of Philadelphia Cricket Club and Nicole Yun of Spring Ford Country Club combined to card a 16-over 90, taking home the Junior Girls’ title.

The Junior-Junior Boys’ Division crown was captured by RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve’s Kurt Meyers and Colby Komancheck (7-over 77), topping a field of five teams.

In the Mixed category, Whitford Country Club’s Bruce Cowgill and Mia Pace took the title title with a 5-over 75, bettering eight other pairs.

The Deeg Sezna celebrates the mentorship of the older generation for its younger counterparts. It is named in honor of Davis “Deeg” Sezna, Jr. of Hartefeld National, who lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001 in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

Deeg, an avid golfer long a mentor to his younger brothers Teddy and Willy, and a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics, was in his sixth day of work on the 104th floor of the South Tower when the terrorists struck.

To memorialize his name, the Golf Association of Philadelphia and his father, Davis Sezna, Sr., established the Deeg Sezna, pairing a junior player and an older amateur in a better ball competition, with a minimum age difference of 10 years and the stipulation that the younger player be 21 or younger. The goal is to give experienced golfers quality time with the next generation, and vice versa.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 274 Full Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.