As he approached the 18th tee Thursday, Trevor Matese went into Jim Nantz mode.
“And this epic battle continues at Glenn Dale Golf Club,” said Matese, drawing giggles from Dan Hathway.
Matese and Hathway had reason to be giddy. They are longtime friends at Georgetown Prep. When Hathway enters college this fall, he will join Matese on the Georgetown University golf team. After they matched birdies on the 17th hole Thursday, they shared the lead in the 56th Bubby Worsham Memorial.
So on the 18th green, when Matese, grazed the cup with his 15-foot birdie putt, Hathway did a limbo dance, rooting forthe ball to drop. Moments later, Hathway tapped in for a birdie to claim his first Washington Metropolitan Golf Association title.
“I wanted Trevor’s putt to go in,” said Hathway. “Not so much because I wanted us to go to a playoff, just because you always root for your friends.”
With a final round 68, Hathway clipped Matese by one stroke, finishing the three-day event with a 1-over 211. Matese also shot a final-round 68 as he and his partner surged past second-round leader Stephen Bosdosh, who shot a 73 to finish three strokes back in third place.
Matese and Hathway have similar resumes. Matese won the Interstate Athletic Conference title in 2006. Hathway won it this spring. Both were Examiner Player of the Year in their respective senior seasons.
Matese, a member at Congressional Country Club, pulled into a tie with Hathway Thursday by making birdie putts on Nos. 14 and 16. Then Matese appeared to take the edge as he hit his approach on No. 17 to within five feet. But Hathway, a member at Bethesda Country Club, responded with a 25-foot downhill putt to match Matese’s birdie.
On No. 18, a 462-yard par 5, Hathway pushed his drive right, but reached the green with a fairway wood. Matese hit his drive through the fairway and had to punch out in front of the green. After Hathway lagged his 30-foot eagle putt to within a foot. Matese missed his 15-footer for birdie.
