June 16, 2011

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's alum, Steve Hudacek '09, has advanced to finals of the 2011 Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Championship. Competing at Manufacturers Golf and Country Club, Hudacek bested four opponenets to advance to the 36-hole championship on Saturday.

Click here for the 2011 Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Championship bracket.

Seeded 23rd in the 32-player field, Hudacek topped Connor McNicholas 2 and 1 in the opening round and followed with a one-hole victory over Jamie Slonis to advance to the quarterfinals.

Hudacek posted his best performance of the tournament in the quarterfinals, downing Paul Kovalcheck, 3 and 1, to advance to the semifinals against Matthew Burkhart.

Against Burkhart, Hudacek took a commanding lead on the back nine, opening a four-hole lead with four holes to play. Despite giving a hole back at 15, Hudacek recovered, winning the 16th to earn a 4 and 2 win and advance to play Michael Hyland in a 36-hole match on Saturday. Hyland has previously won the tournament in 2000, beating SJU Hall of Famer Michael McDermott '97 in a two-hole playoff.

McDermott, who won the title in 2008, advanced to the round of 16 in this year's field, but eventually fell to Burkhart.