TicketsJune 22, 2010
CINCINNATI - Joe Kastelic shot a four-under 66 to jump into first place in the qualifying stage of the 2010 Greater Cincinnati Golf Association Tony Blom Metropolitan Amateur Championship on Tuesday afternoon at Losantiville Country Club.
Kastelic put together rounds of 73-66=139 to win the stroke play portion of the championship, which now moves to match play. Bearcat teammate Andrew Desmarais fired rounds of 77-69=146 to place seventh during the 36-hole qualifier.
Both golfers will take part in the 64-man match play portion of the tournament, which begins on Wednesday morning. Kastelic will tee off at 7:30 a.m., squaring off against Kevin Haas, who qualified with rounds of 77-79=156. Desmarais is set to tee off at 10:30 against Tom Wimsatt, Jr.
Kastelic says he is up to the challenge and the change in mindset it takes from stroke play to match play.
"In match play, you have to be more aware of what your opponent is doing," the UC senior-to-be said. "Anyone can win. If your opponent makes a two and you make a 20, you have to remember that it is just one hole and move on to the next. You have to kind of play to your opponent."
A native of North Carolina, Kastelic is no stranger to match play events.
"In North Carolina, we have a big junior tournament that is match play. I played in that four times and just this fall, UC played in a match play event at Pinehurst against all the other BIG EAST teams, so i feel confident in my match play ability."
Match play continues with 18-hole battles Wednesday-Saturday. A 36-hole match play final will take place on Sunday.