Rookie Mid-Am, Matthew Cocorikis, Captures WMGA Mid-Am Crown
Matthew Cocorikis (Ft. Belvoir GC) toured Norbeck CC with a two over 74 in the morning round of the 36th WMGA Metropolitan Mid-Amateur Championship. The 74 left him five back of morning
Matt Cocorikis – 2022 Champion
leader Tracy Vallandingham (Breton Bay G & CC) who brought in the best morning round, a 69 (-3) which included 4 birdies and 1 bogey. 2018 Champion Joe Scheffres (Woodmont CC) and Richie Steinwand (University of Md GC GC) were one back at 70 (-2). Following was Greg Sadowski (Hillendale CC) with a 71 (-1) and then a bunch of players at 72 – 74, among them Cocorikis.
The afternoon round saw temperatures which rose into the mid nineties start to take a toll on the players, especially as they turned for their fourth nine of the day. Bright, sunny skies and almost no breeze helped turn the temperature up. It would not bother the eventual winner.
Starting from number 1 in the afternoon, Cocorikis birdied the par 4 4th and the par 5 5th to get back to even on the day. Then the roller-coaster ride began. On the 536 yard par 5 8th he hit his second from 195 yds with a 7-iron to 10 feet and made the putt for eagle. He followed that up with a three putt bogey on 9, a birdie 3 on ten, and another three putt bogey on the par 5 11th. Pars on 12-15 set the stage for a strong finish. Birdies on the par 3 16th and par 5 17th got him to five under on the round and three under for the day. His drive on the 422 yard 18th left him 110 yards from the hole. The next shot, with a sand wedge, sealed the deal as it found the bottom of the hole for an eagle 2 and a 65 (-7)! In the afternoon he hit every green in regulation, no small feat at Norbeck. His bogeys came with those two three putts on 9 and 11.
Sterling Ruffin (Chevy Chase Club) went out in the AM with an even par 72 and brought in a two under 70 in the afternoon, holding the lead for a short time. He wisely stuck around in case his 142 held up or gained a play-off. It still looked good even after Zach Verses (Trump National GC-Wash DC) came in with 73-69–142 to tie Ruffin. It was the next group that saw Cocorikis change their plans and allow for a departure. Vallandingham, the morning leader, could not maintain his momentum and returned a 75 for an even par total of 144. Steinwand and Scheffres suffered the same fate, finishing just behind Vallandingham. 2020 and 2021 Champion Charlie Winegardner (The Cannon Club) never got it going, at least going deep as he had done in the past two years, finishing at 147. Zack Miller (Baltimore CC), 2021 WMGA Metropolitan Amateur Runner-up, returned 73-71–144 to finish in the top five. Miller advanced through U. S. Open Local Qualifying a few weeks ago, gaining a spot in the field next week at Woodmont C. C. for the U. S. Open Final Qualifying, another 36 hole day.
Cocorikis, a new Mid-Am who turned 25 in the fall, played college golf at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2019. While at IUP he earned First Team Division II All-Atlantic Region honors his senior year, winning four tournaments and placing in the top 10 eight times. In the summer of 2018 he qualified for and played in the U. S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach GL, which was won by Victor Hovland. He has solid credentials and a lot of game. We hope to see him again soon.
Norbeck CC was played at 6,846 yards and a par of 72. Its full yardage from the tips is 7,021 yards.
Full field results ⇒ HERE
Past Winners ⇒ HERE
Matt Cocorikis 2nd round score card
