Gotcher, Roden to meet for OGA Senior Amateur Championship at Cedar Ridge

In a tense match between two former PGA club professionals, Mike Gotcher of Broken Arrow held off defending champion Peter Vitali of Oklahoma City 1 Wednesday at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow to reach the championship match of the Oklahoma Golf Association Senior State Amateur.

At 8 a.m. Thursday, Gotcher will face Oklahoma City’s Ron Roden, who beat two highly decorated opponents on Wednesday. Roden beat three-time champion Mike Hughett of Owasso 5 and 4 in the morning quarterfinals, then edged Kirk Maynard of Oklahoma City, who has had much success in many national amateur events, 1 in the semifinals .

Gotcher lost two points to Vitali in the first two holes of the semifinal before winning four of the next five holes to go 2-7. Vitali won the eighth hole and remained one until he made a bogey on the par-3 13th hole. He cut the gap to one by winning the par-5 15th, but both players reached par on the final three holes.

Roden also had a two-hole lead on the 14th that was reduced to one when he made bogey on the par-4 17th. Both players reached par on the 18th.

Gotcher won the 2022 OGA Stroke Play Championship, but neither player has prevailed in this event before.

25th OGA State Senior Amateur Championship
Monday, June 24, 2024 – Thursday, June 27, 2024
Cedar Ridge Country Club
Results

Quarter-finals
Peter Vitali, Oklahoma City defeats Dave Miley, Tulsa 1-1
Mike Gotcher, Broken Arrow def. Kirk Wright, Oklahoma City 4 and 3
Kirk Maynord, Oklahoma City def. Michael Alsup, Tulsa 6 and 5
Ron Roden, Oklahoma City def. Michael Hughett, Owasso 5 and 4

Semi-finals
Gotcher def. Vitali 1 on top
Roden def. Maynord 1 up