Seymour remains poised to win 2nd straight Matterhorn International Pro-Am

East Hartford’s Justin Seymour won the Matterhorn International Pro-Am for the second straight year on Saturday.

CANTON, Sept. 21, 2019 – East Hartford’s Justin Seymour was feeling the heat on Saturday at the third annual Matterhorn International Pro-Am.

Seymour, the defending champion of the miniature golf tournament at Canton’s Matterhorn Mini Golf, had a four-stroke lead after four rounds. But he made enough shots in the fifth and final round, including sinking a one-foot putt for par on the 18th hole to win the tournament for the second consecutive year.

Seymour finished with a tournament record 29-under-par, 196 and beat 2017 tournament champion Mark Novicki of Danbury and Manchester’s Patrick Sheridan by a single stroke.

Avon’s Brian Hogan won the three-round amateur competition at the Matterhorn International Pro-Am with a one stroke victory Canton’s Heather Garvin.

Anna Wallace of South Windsor makes a putt while Newington’s Robert Boisvert, left and Canton’s Jonah Hurley watch.

Seymour led the tournament the entire day. He had a one-stroke lead after one round and leads of two strokes after the second and third round. A tournament record 36 in the fourth round gave Seymour a four-stroke lead over his closest competitor – Novicki.

But Novicki kept the pressure on shooting a 40 on the par 45 course while Sheridan shot his third 38 of the tournament to pull within a stroke.

“It was really, really hard,” Seymour said. “The mental game is the toughest. I had a four stroke and I hung on by one stroke. The nerves were there and they caught up to me a little. But I was able to pull it out.”

Seymour shot a 43 on the final round – his highest score in the tournament but it was enough.

What brings him back to play at Matterhorn? “It’s the competition,” he said. “They are all good players. Anyone can really win on any given day and luckily I had it.”

Justin Seymour can celebrate after winning the Matterhorn International Pro-Am for the second time.

Seymour said one of the keys to his victory was experience and mentally staying in the game. He took home a $500 first prize for winning the professional division.

Novicki and Sheridan finished tied for second place with a 197. Novicki beat Sheridan in a three-hole playoff to secure second place and a check for $250.

Earlier this month, Seymour prevailed at the Lee Stoddard Dolphin Open in Boothbay, Maine, a 10-round event over two days. He beat Sheridan by four strokes for the $500 first prize in that tournament.

In August, it was Sheridan with an ace on the 18th hole to beat New Britain’s Dylan Koerner by a stroke to win the 38th annual Farmington Miniature Golf Tournament. Seymour was third in the event.

In the amateur competition, Hogan led from start to finish to win his first Matterhorn Pro-Am championship. He got off to a great start with a tournament-low 39 in the first round for a two-stroke lead over Garvin. Hogan’s 39 tied the tournament low score for an amateur with two other golfers.

With a 41 in the second round, Hogan extended his lead to six strokes over Garvin after two rounds. But Garvin charged in the third round with a 41 as Hogan struggled with a 47 – his highest round in three appearances at the Matterhorn Pro-Am. But Hogan made enough putts to earn the victory.

Garvin grew up in Canton at the old Canton Golf Course where the Shoppes at the Farmington Valley on Route 44 is now located. Garvin’s father was PGA professional Walter Lowell and Garvin spent plenty of time on the links on the nine-hole course.

From left, Patrick Sheridan, Justin Seymour, Mark Novicki and Dylan Koerner, the top four finishers at the 2019 Matterhorn International Pro-Am.

2019 Matterhorn International Pro-Am
At Canton (Par 45)

Tournament records
Low round: 36, Justin Seymour 2019
Low round (amateur): 39, Brian Hogan, 2019; Dave Hudon, 2018; George Bachman, 2017
Tournament record (pro, 5 rounds): 196, Justin Seymour 2019
Tournament record (amateur, 3 rounds): 125, Dan Hurley and Dave Hudon, 2018
Most aces: 10, Dylan Koerner, 2019; Anna Wallace, 2018

Previous Matterhorn International Pro-Am champions
Professional
2017: Mark Novicki, Danbury, 198
2018: Justin Seymour, East Hartford, 198
2019: Justin Seymour, East Hartford, 196

Amateur
2017: Stephen Langlois, East Granby, 129
2018: Daniel Hurley, Canton, 125*
2019: Brian Hogan, Avon, 127
*Won in 3-hole playoff