RINGOES, NJ (October 11, 2009)--In a remarkable reversal, the Middle Atlantic Team won eight of the first nine matches in the second round Sunday singles of the 2009 Mason Dixon Match to record a second straight win over the Golf Association of Philadelphia Team by a tally of 10 1/2 - 7 1/2. The GAP had established a formidable 4 1/2 - 1 1/2 margin in Saturday Four-Ball play and expected to avenge the 2008 loss of 14 - 4 to the MAGA at Columbia Country Club. Instead, Captain Tim Vigotsky presented to his team what looked like an insurmountable deficit as an opportunity for a great comeback.

Vance Welch of the MAGA Team noted that "Tim told us before play today that we have two of the best seniors (Marty West and Bobby Morris) in the country and one of the best juniors (Denny McCarthy) in the country and that with some breaks these great players can take the first three matches and even the score at 4 - 1/2 - 4 1/2." Not only did Vigotsky's hope come to fruition but when Jimmy Delp dispatched Douglas Zelner 7&6 in the fourth match, the MAGA Team was suddenly in the lead. When Dan Hosek, Michael Mulieri, Will Coleman and Vance Welch took four of the next five matches, the MAGA Team had secured the Johnston Cup with 9 1/2 points. Brent Martin's win in the 11th match finalized the MAGA total of 10 1/2 points and the MAGA had retained the Edward Johnston Cup.

The 48th Mason Dixon Match was conducted on the highly regarded Ridge at Back Brook, playing at 7,156 yards and par 72. Although the MAGA players suffered a disappointing first day thumping in four-ball, taking only 1 1/2 of the possible six points, the players gained much-needed familiarity with the tough Tom Fazio layout in central New Jersey. For example, junior Denny McCarthy, who was unable to play a practice round and suffered a 5&4 loss with teammate Michael Mulieri in four-ball, came back with a critical 3&2 triumph in the match with junior counterpart Ed McCrossen, Jr. After halving their senior four-ball match yesterday, both Marty West and Bobby Morris took their senior singles matches today.

West, who has played in a combined fifty plus Mason-Dixon and Baltimore-Washington Team Matches as well as two Walker Cups and other World Amateur Team Championships, was reported to note that "this was one of the greatest comebacks that I have seen in team competitions. Tim Vigotsky pointed us in the right direction and somehow we were able to carry the day against a superb GAP Team."

The results of the singles matches, with MAGA players listed first, were as follows:

Bobby Morris (Congressional) 2&1 over Roc Irey (Lookaway)

Marty West (Columbia) 3&1 over Gary Daniels (Saucon Valley)

Denny McCarthy (Argyle) 3&2 over Ed McCrossen, Jr. (Whitemarsh Valley)

Jimmy Delp (South Riding) 7&6 over Douglas Zelner (Spring Ford)

Rusty Pies lost 5&4 to John Brennan (Spring Ford)

Dan Hosek (Fort Belvoir) 4&3 over Sean Leonard (Tavistock)

Michael Mulieri (TPC Potomac) 5&4 over Anthony Martire (Seaview)

Will Coleman (Congressional) 2&1 over Chris Lange (Overbrook)

Vance Welch (University of Maryland) 1 up over Matthew Mattare (Saucon Valley)

Jeff Long lost 2&1 to Michael Brown (Philadelphia Publinks)

Brent Martin (Breton Bay) 2&1 over Brian Gillespie (St. Davids)

Chris Baloga lost 1 down to Glenn Smeraglio (Commonwealth National)

The 49th Mason Dixon Match will be conducted at Woodmont Country Club (Rockville, MD) on the weekend of October 9 - 10, 2010.

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