He’s 53 years old and a busy orthopedic surgeon, but Neil "Doc" Spitalny still makes time to play competitive golf. And these days, Spitalny is playing pretty well, perhaps inspired by the challenge of taking on players less than half his age.

Spitalny proved that yet again on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Chattanooga TPC at Council Fire. Using a hot start that include three birdies, two of them conceded, in his first four holes, Spitalny piled up an early lead against UTC player Gary Ferguson and went on to a 4 and 3 victory.

The win was Spitalny’s second straight by the same margin. A day earlier, he dispatched Jay Potter. The day before that, Spitalny handily qualified for match play.

Spitalny apparently isn’t a good judge of his ability. Practicing at Black Creek before Thursday’s qualifying round, he predicted things could get "ugly" for him.

Spitalny didn’t give himself much of a chance against the long-hitting Ferguson, either.

"When I saw that the tees were way back, I didn’t think I had much of a chance," Spitalny said. "He hits it 30 or 40 yards by me."

Though Spitalny doesn’t drive the ball as long—or as straight—as he used to, his game has remained at a high level for two reasons. One, he’s fine-tuned his short game. Two, his iron play has gotten better, thanks to playing at Black Creek.

"At Black Creek your distance control with your irons has to be good, because of all the bunkering," said Spitalny, who’s also a member at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.

Spitalny has been dialed in with his irons most of the summer. He put on an impressive display in a 3 and 2 victory over McCallie star Adam Mitchell, who recently committed to Georgia, in the 36-hole final of the country club’s championship, going nine under par in his last 22 holes.

Spitalny will need some strong iron play in Sunday’s semifinals. He draws UTC sophomore Bryce Ledford, a 2-up winner over Mitch Hufstetler on Saturday. Ledford has already secured Chattanooga amateur player-of-the-year honors and two weeks ago won his first college tournament.

Ledford had his hands full with Hufstetler, though he seemed in control of the match when he took a 3-up lead into No. 15. But he four-putted the par-4 hole—"I don’t ever remember doing that," he said—and lost No. 16 to a birdie.

"It turned in a hurry," Ledford said. "I was just trying to get to 16, make a par and end it."

Instead, Ledford had to drain a 15-foot par putt at the par-3 17^th to stay 1-up going into the par-5 18^th, where anything can happen. Lifted by that clutch save, Ledford ripped a drive, leaving him 205 yards to the green. He lofted a 5-iron to the middle of the green and had a 20-footer putt for eagle. He tied the hole and the match with a conceded birdie.

In the day’s other matches, Pat Corey defeated Chris Treadway 4 and 3, and Matt Mathis needed one extra hole to beat Patrick Williams. Corey and Mathis play the first match of the day on Sunday.

Mathis, known for his ability to make bunches of birdies to offset the occasional dreaded other, took a 2-up lead into the 10^th hole, but the match tightened considerably there when Williams made a birdie.

Williams squared the match with a solid par save at No. 14, then took a 1-up lead with a bogey at 15.

"I was playing some of the ugliest golf I’ve ever seen," Mathis said. "It had to be wearing on him."

After turning in 1 under, Mathis played the first six holes on the back nine in five over par. Still, he managed to hang around, and when Williams drove his ball into the left hazard on 18, Mathis had a chance to extend the match, which he did.

It took just one extra hole to decide the outcome when Williams three-putted from about 18 feet for bogey.

"I didn’t deserve to win," Mathis said. "I’m too old and out of shape. I’ve been very fortunate the last few days."

A day earlier, Mathis ousted No. 1 seed Ricky Honeycutt.

Mathis’ fine play has given him a brief respite from as difficult a summer as anyone could have. In the span of less than two months, he lost his grandfather, his mother, and his grandmother.

"We lost the whole side of a family," Mathis said. "It’s been unbelievably hard. Something like that makes you realize what’s important in life. But I’m glad I’ve had golf."

Mathis is the perfect match player.

"I told my dad I could make an eight on a hole and the other guy make a three, and that was just one down," Mathis said. "I do make a lot of birdies, so this is a fun format for me. I’ve got a swing that the ball either goes right at the flag or 40 yards off line."

Saturday’s Matches

Matt Mathis def. Patrick Williams, 1-up (19 holes).

Pat Corey def. Chris Treadway, 4 and 3.

Bryce Ledford def. Mitch Hufstetler, 1-up.

Neil Spitalny def. Gary Ferguson, 4 and 3.

Sunday’s Matches

8:15 a.m.—Mathis vs. Corey.

8:25 a.m.—Ledford vs. Spitalny.

12:30 p.m.—Mathis-Corey winner vs. Ledford-Spitalny winner.