Photo for Mirror by Matt Michelone Todd Homan (left) and Artie Fink Jr. are 2025 champs.

Sometimes, even the largest deficits in a match play tournament don’t hold up over the course of 18 holes.

Heading into the 11th hole on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon at the 58th annual Park Hills Classic, the fourth-seeded duo of Todd Homan and Artie Fink were trailing by five holes against the second seed Mike Macionsky and Sean Brannan.

“We weren’t playing bad golf, they were just hot,” Fink said. “They came out of the gate, they’re five under through five holes. You’re just trying to hang on.

“All you can do is try to win one hole at a time, one shot a time. It’s an old cliche, but that’s basically all you can do. You’re trying to win one hole at a time, hang in there and see what happens.”

But a couple of birdie putts helped turn the tide on the back nine as Homan’s birdie on No. 18 helped him and Fink capture the tournament crown.

“I feel like when we got down, we were not hitting bad shots,” Homan said. “Sean played absolutely phenomenal and he had a hot putter. You try to just get a hole, get some momentum, try to get back in it and although we missed some putts on the front nine.

“We just said hey, let’s see how many holes we can play today. Match play is a lot of momentum golf. You ride the wave.”

The momentum started to change for Homan and Fink once the round took them to the 12th hole.

“We were able to win 12 with a birdie, so we were starting to gain a little momentum there, and to win the par 5 with a birdie was a big one,” Fink said. “When you get it to two, all of a sudden now they’re thinking now we’re in a ballgame. When you get it to two, anything can happen.”

On No. 18, a key shot from Homan in the fairway helped set the duo up to finish off a tremendous comeback.

“I didn’t have the best line in the bunker, and Artie, great partner, he’s in good shape,” Homan said. “I hit a good shot out of there and then we came up with a number. You just try to go through your process, and try to hit a shot. I got lucky, and hit a good shot in there and made a putt.”

Both men have been on the difficult end of this tournament in the past, but are grateful to have had their chance to finish one off.

“It’s great to win one, but my heart goes out to them because they’re great, great guys,” Homan said,” We had to beat Anthony (DeGol and William Smith) to get here (in the semifinal). We probably beat the two best teams in Blair County.”

“We’ve lost so many heartbreakers here in the finals through years,” Fink said. “There’s probably been nobody that’s been in more finals than what Todd and I have, and we’ve lost some real heartbreakers.”

Joe George and Ralph Litrenta won the Championship Flight’s Beaten 4’s contest.

Rick and Matt Kinkella won the first flight over Brett Weibley and RJ Barnard with Bryan James and David Snyder taking the Beaten 4’s. Dave Rogalski and Brooks Williams took the second against Tom Trimarco and John Koury as Walter DeMase III and Walter DeMase won the Beaten 4’s.

Richard and John Fiore took the third flight title over Tony Acrie and Dan Green Jr. with Leonard Fiore and Chad Dongell winning the Beaten 4’s. Tom Haught and Ogden Lester won the fourth over Justin and Josh Chamberlain as Doug Bagley and Kevin Gnegy won the Beaten 4’s.

Jim Bierly and Harry Anderson captured the fifth flight championship over Cliff Lawson, and Tim Williams won the Dom Valore and Robert Fayre won the Beaten 4’s.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

First Round

1.) Anthony DeGol-William Smith def. 8.) Hunter Duriez-Dillon Perino; 4.) Todd Homan-Artie Fink def. 5.) Jordan Albright-Rob Keith; 2.) Sean Brannon-Mike Macionsky def. 7.) Doug Meyers-Chuck Meyers; 3.) Quinton Dziabo-Shaun Lepore def. 6.) Joe George-Ralph Litrenta.

Semifinal

4.) Todd Homan-Artie Fink def. 1.) Anthony DeGol-William Smith; 2.) Sean Brannon-Mike Macionsky def. 3.) Quinton Dziabo-Shaun Lepore

Championship

4.) Todd Homan-Artie Fink def. 2.) Sean Brannon-Mike Macionsky.

Beaten 4s

Semifinal

5.) Jordan Albright-Rob Keith def. 8.) Hunter Duriez-Dillon Perino; 6.) Joe George-Ralph Litrenta def. 7.) Doug Meyers-Chuck Meyers.

Championship

6.) Joe George-Ralph Litrenta def. 5.) Jordan Albright-Rob Keith