GOLF / TRANS-MISSISSIPPI : Kiley, McClung Meet in Finals

Bill O’Connor had played 20 holes Friday morning in the quarterfinals of the 88th Trans-Mississippi Mid-Amateur Championship.

The last thing he needed was to play 27 more in the afternoon semifinals.

Jeff Kiley made sure O’Connor did just that.

Kiley, of Malalunk, Pa., parred the 240-yard ninth hole at Lakeside Country Club while O’Connor, 48, of Malibu, was staggering to a double-bogey five, Kiley advancing to today’s finals against Mike McClung.

The match will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Kiley and O’Connor were tied after 18 holes in what is considered the largest match-play tournament in the country. They halved eight extra holes until O’Connor hit short of the green on the match’s 27th hole.

He overshot the green by a few feet, chipped back and two-putted to finish with a five.

Kiley hit a near-perfect tee shot 15 feet from the pin. After barely missing the next putt, he parred the hole for the victory.

O’Connor had edged Mark Sollenberger of Scottsdale, Ariz., in two extra holes in the quarterfinals earlier.

McClung won the other semifinal match by fending off Pat Duncan’s rally.

Duncan of Rancho Santa Fe, was down by five holes going to the 11th tee. He then won five consecutive holes, with birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th.

The two stayed even on the 16th, but McClung’s birdie on the 17th proved to be the difference.

“On 17 is when I made the big mistake and went to the right off the tee,” Duncan said.

In the quarterfinals Duncan shot a 69 and edged Brian Lindley of Long Beach, 1-up.

Mitch Voges of Simi Valley lost in the quarterfinal to Kiley, 1-up.

McClung beat Don Baker of Canoga Park in the quarterfinals, 3-and-2.