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

In a tense match of two former PGA club professionals, Mike Gotcher of Broken Arrow held off defending champion Peter Vitali of Oklahoma City 1 up 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 square off against Ron Roden of Oklahoma City, who got past two highly decorated opponents Wednesday. Roden downed three-time champion Mike Hughett of Owasso 5 and 4 in the morning quarterfinals then edged Kirk Maynard of Oklahoma City, who has been highly successful in many national amateur events, 1 up in the semifinals.

Gotcher fell two down to Vitali in the first two holes of the semifinal match before winning four of the next five holes to go 2 up through 7. Vitali won the eight hole and remained one down until he bogeyed the par-3 13th hole. He closed the gap to one by winning the par-5 15th, but both players made par on the final three holes.

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

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

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

Quarterfinals
Peter Vitali, Oklahoma City def. Dave Miley, Tulsa 1 up
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

Semifinals
Gotcher def. Vitali 1 up
Roden def. Maynord 1 up