Casey Boyns

Boyns found a way to keep the round short again Thursday. The Pasadera CC member won his match 4 & 3 over Scott Anderson.

“I was mostly just making pars out there,” Boyns said. “Nothing too fantastic, but I kept the pressure on the whole round.”Boyns went 1-up early in the match with a par on No. 4. With back-to-back wins on Nos. 5 and 6, Boyns made the turn 2-up after losing the 8th hole.

“I knew it would be a tough match today,” Boyns said. “Scott is a good player and he has had a great week.”

Boyns relied on strategy as much as skill to win his match and plans to do the same for the finals Friday.

“Match play is a lot of strategy,” he explained. “You have to pay attention to what your competitor is doing and know when to play conservatively and when to get aggressive.”

Earning NCGA Player of the Year honors in 2007, Boyns is no stranger to the NCGA winner’s circle – which will make the final match against 2012 champion, Foreman that much more exciting.

Foreman struggled on the first hole of his semifinal match against the No. 26 seed, Greg Olson – who had beat out NCGA three-time Player of the Year, Jim Knoll in his previous match. Foreman brought the match back to all square with a birdie on the par-3 third. He went on to win holes 9 and 10 to go two up in the match.

“I played better today,” Foreman said. “I was able to find the center of the club face – but my short game was what saved me.”

Olson made a birdie on the par-3 15th hole, knocking Foreman back to 1-up with only a few holes left to play. Foreman sank his par putt on No. 17 to win the match 2 & 1.

“I am surprised I won,” Foreman said with a smile on his face. “It was a tough match up.”

Foreman entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed, and will battle it out with Boyns – the No. 2 seed.

“I know he will be gunning for me out there,” Foreman said. “We are good friends – it will be a great match and I am looking forward to playing with Casey. I always learn something when I play with him – He knows these courses so well.”

Spyglass Hill GC holds a special place for Foreman. When he was younger and played in events at Spyglass his mother would come and watch.

“She absolutely loved Spyglass Hill,” he recalled. “She fell in love with this place the moment she saw it – 12 was her favorite hole.”

Foreman’s mother passed more than a year ago, so the twelfth hole still holds a special place in his heart.

“I love playing here,” Foreman said. “The more I win in this event – the more I get to visit my mom out there on 12.”

Foreman and Boyns will tee off at Spyglass Hill GC for the final match Friday, August 16 at 7:15 a.m.

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