2001 Eddie Reed Match Play Championship(19th Annual)
7th Event of 2001 Season, 2nd Major Event 
May through October, 2001

Aaron Walburg and Randall Hooper played a first round match at Mira Vista. Aaron defeated Randall 6 and 5. Walburg won his next match vs. Eddie Reed before being humbled by the "Old Grizzly", Jack King, in the quarterfinals.

The 2001 Eddie Reed Match Play Championship was won by two first-time Eddie Reed winners. In the finals Mark Steppan edged out Jeff Hazel 2-up to capture the championship flight. They played their match at the Sequoia Country Club (which incidentally was the venue for 4 of the 6 matches that took place in the championship bracket). It was a tight match with both players all square after 14 holes, until Mark edged out Jeff on the last few holes. This was Mark's first win in a major. As the winner of the flight Mark earns $50. As runner up Jeff takes home $25. In the first flight the final pitted Jack King vs. Barry Woods at Alameda North. This was a good day to be "Barry". On the same day that Barry Bonds finally got pitched to in Houston and hit his major league record 70th home run, Barry Woods won his Eddie Reed match 6 and 4 to capture his first individual major (Barry Woods and teammate John Carlson won the 2000 2-ball Championship). Barry played very well shooting a 79(net 66). Jack got off to a rough start, losing the first four holes due largely to some bad luck. His ball kept landing next to tree trunks. Still, Jack won $25 for his second place finish. Barry takes home $50. 

Tournament Summary:

In all, Mark Steppan won three tight matches. In the first round he defeated Van Hall 3 and 2. His next match, versus Ken Lloyd,  was his closest, a 1-up win in a match which Mark never held a lead until the 18th hole. Mark won his final match 2-up over Jeff Hazel, the dragon slayer of the championship flight. It was Jeff who, in round one, had taken down three-time consecutive  champion Steve Desimone. Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in Eddie Reed history. It was an exciting year for the championship flight, for all the matches were close.

Barry Woods' road to the championship of the first flight was just about as smooth a ride as one could ever hope. He absolutely  breezed into the semi-finals, muscling past Rick Guevara and Lloyd Crenna with 5 and 4 victories before receiving a forfeit whereupon he advanced comfortably to the semifinals. His semifinal match against Dennis Smith served as his only bump in an otherwise downy road. It was Dennis who had, in an earlier round, dispatched 2001 phenom Elliott Friedman 6 and 4. Dennis gave the previously unchallenged Woods a run for his money, succumbing only in a tight 1-up match. After this bump in the road, Woods quickly hopped back into his Eddie Reed Cadillac for a comfortable cruise to victory,  beating Jack King in the finals after winning the first four holes.

If Barry's ride to the finals was comfortable, then Jack King, a member of the "Old Bear" network, deserves credit for having gotten to the finals taking the least comfortable ride. Jack's opening match was a knock-down-drag-out, 1-up victory over Bob Desimone. When the dust settled, Jack was the man left standing. In the second round Jack enjoyed what would amount to his most comfortable win, a "luxurious" 3 and 2 win over Mark Northfield. In his third match Jack was up against GOY contender Aaron Walburg. Jack won the match 1-up, edging past Aaron by a single stroke, on the final hole. Jack faced Ram Sharma in the semifinals and won 2 and 1 in a fierce "Roman gladiator"-type match (yeah, Roman). Ram, you see, had made it to the semi-finals last year before being steam-rolled by red-hot Steve Obana, the 1999 Eddie Reed champion who was in the midst of his incredible victory run of 10-consecutive matches. Ram had seen it all. He's a tough competitor; A fiery combination of haggard veteran and haggard veteran. Ram's swing looks funny, but the hammer he drops has, over the years brought down many a gallant, albeit naive, knight. He's from the old guard. He uses years of bad golf knowledge to deal death blows to the unsuspecting. Ram's match against Jack was perhaps the most titanic clash of wills seen in the 2001 Eddie Reed tournament. At an rate, Jack once again was standing after the coliseum dust settled. In his final match Jack faced the powerful magic of Barry Woods. The match wasn't even close. Barry's "Jetsons"-like cruise control simply overpowered the grizzled, bare-fisted style that Jack King had used so successfully to endure his epic battles.

2001 was a memorable year for the Eddie Reed Championship. With first-time winners, plenty of shocking upsets and even a little magic. Who could ask for more?

Championship Flight:

PDF File of Championship Flight

2001 Eddie Reed Match Play Tournament Begins

When Steve Desimone captured the Championship Flight of the 2000 Eddie Reed Tournament he achieved an unlikely three-peat. Steve will therefore be a heavy favorite this year as he attempts to make it a four-peat. What's most impressive about this streak is that it means he hasn't lost a match since 1996(in 1998 the low gross event was cancelled). Steve's dominance of the field at the Kooman Boycheff Memorial should only increase his Vegas odds. Mike Henry, the 2000 First Flight winner,  hasn't performed well in recent outings, however he exceeded at match play last year and should be a favorite this year. Others to look for in the Championship Flight are Jeff Hazel, Ken Lloyd, David Lozow, John Robertson, Mark Steppan, and Paul Zingg. In the First Flight keep an eye on Kelly Alvarez, Elliott Friedman, Paul Higaki, Andrew Kang, Steve Obana, Mike O'Neill, Eddie Reed, Dennis Smith, and Ram Sharma.

Steve Dez tries for 4 consecutive Jeff Hazel scoring well Mike Henry defends title Steve Obana a strong performer

Eddie Reed GOY point structure:

At the board meeting on 11/8/00 it was decided that an additional point for participation was warranted in the Eddie Reed tournament to make it so that all major events earn 2 points for participation. With the Eddie Reed tournament, these participation points are only earned upon the participants completion of his role in the event. Anyone that forfeits or withdraws from a match will not receive the participation points. The following summarizes the point structure in action:

Round 1 loser by forfeit or WD = 0 points for participation (total of 0 points earned)
Round 1 loser = 2 for participation (total of 2 points earned)
Round 1 winner = 2 points, advance

Round 2 losers by forfeit or WD = 0 points for participation (total of 2 points earned)
Round 2 losers = 2 for participation (total of 4 points earned)
Round 2 winners = add 2 points(4 total), advance

Round 3 losers by forfeit or WD = 0 points for participation (total of 4 points earned)
Round 3 losers = 2 for participation (total of 6 points earned)
Round 3 winners = add 2 points(6 total), advance

Round 4 losers by forfeit or WD = 0 points for participation (total of 6 points earned)
Round 4 losers = 2 for participation (total of 8 points earned)
Round 4 winners = add 2 points(8 total), advance