ATLANTA, GA (October 13, 2017) - Before the 37th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship teed off Saturday, we highlighted 18
"Players to Watch", a sampling of some of the players who have had big wins or high finishes this year, or who had finished well in previous USGA events.
Related: Matt Parziale is the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion
Related: Parziale, Nichols Will Play for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Title
Related: Meet the U.S. Mid-Amateur Semifinalists
Related: Big Names Fall on Day One of Match Play
Related: Round 2: Tilley Medals, 25-for-16 Playoff Set
Related: Round 1: Wilfong, Irving Lead as Bad Weather Looms
Related: Players to Watch at the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Related: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: U.S. Mid-Amateur Live Updates
Tuesday started with a 25-man playoff needed to determine the final 16 spots for match play. U.S. Senior champion Sean Knapp was knocked out in the playoff, while 2014 champ Scott Harvey and Justin Tereshko survived the playoff, only to lose their first round matches.
The defending champion Stewart Hagestad appeared to be a in a strong position to make a deep run, flirting with the tournament single-round scoring record in round two of stroke play, shooting a 64 to finish runner-up to the medalist Bradford Tilley. But Hagestad was knocked out in his first round match also.
Harvey and Hagestad were both knocked out in the first round of the last tournament they played, the Crump Cup just over two weeks ago.
Four-time champion Nathan Smith made match play for the 12th time in 13 appearances in the U.S. Mid-Amateur, but he too is out after the first round.
Todd White also lost in the first round, making four Walker Cuppers (along with Harvey, Hagestad and Smith) to go down on the day.
Michael Muehr was playing some of the best golf of anyone in the tournament, carding two rounds in the 60s and then winning his first two matches easily. But in match play it can all end very quickly, and sometime you run into the wrong opponent. Muehr shot a bogey-free six-under 64 and still lost his match 1 up to Mark Harrell who shot a 63.
Matt Parziale was the only player from our 18 Players to Watch to make it past the round of 16, and he is now the U.S. Mid-amateur champion.
Players to Watch Leaderboard
Winner of the 37th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
71-68=139 (9)
Matt Parziale, Brockton, MA
Beat Matthew Sughrue 1 up, beat Jerred Barley 19 holes, beat Sam O'Dell 2 up, beat Bradford Tilley 20 holes, beat Dan Sullivan 5&4, beat Josh Nichols 8&6.
Lost in the final 16
69-69=138 (T5)
Michael Muehr, Potomac Falls, VA
Beat Mark Scheibach 7&6, Michael Muehr 3&2, lost to Mark Harrell 1 up
Lost in the second round of match play
73-71=144 (T19)
Bill Williamson, Cincinnati, OH
Beat Philip Walker 2&1, lost to Brad Nurski 4&3
72-73=145 (T28)
Gene Elliott, W. Des Moines, IA
Beat Daniel MacDonald 7&6, lost to Michael Muehr 3&2
Lost in the first round of match play
73-64=137 (T2)
Stewart Hagestad, Newport Beach, CA
Lost to Dusty Drenth 3&1
74-68=142 (T12)
Jeronimo Esteve, Puerto Rico
Lost to Joseph Ida 1 up
72-73=145 (T28)
Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, PA
Lost to Jason Anthony 6&4
75-70=145 (T28)
Todd White, Spartanburg, SC
Lost to Sam O'Dell 4&3
73-73=146 (T49)
Justin Tereshko, Greensboro, NC*
Lost to Corby Segal 2&1
74-72=146 (T49)
Scott Harvey, Kernersville, NC*
Lost to Chad Wilfong 3&2
(*advanced through 25-for-16 playoff)
Did not make match play
72-74=146 (MC)
Sean Knapp, Oakmont, PA*
73-74=147 (MC)
Scott Shingler, Haymarket, VA
75-73=148 (MC)
Michael McDermott, Bryn Mawr, PA
77-71=148 (MC)
Ken Tanigawa, Paradise Valley, AZ
76-72=148 (MC)
Joseph Deraney, Nashville, TN
73-76=149 (MC)
Keith Decker, Martinsville, VA
77-74=151 (MC)
Claudio Consul, Germany
76-76=152 (MC)
John Sawin, San Francisco, CA
(*eliminated in 25-for-16 playoff)
Other notable scores
77-77=154 (MC)
Geno Bonnalie, Lewiston Idaho
PGA Tour caddie Geno Bonnalie and tour player Joel Dahmen
swapped roles for the U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier at Jug Mountain Ranch, and Bonnalie was the medalist, shooting a one-under 71 to win by one.
ABOUT THE
U.S. Mid-Amateur
The U.S. Mid-Amateur originated in 1981 for the
amateur golfer of at least 25 years of age, the
purpose of which to provide a formal national
championship for the post-college player. 264
players
begin the championship with two rounds of sroke
play
qualifying held at two courses, after which the low
64
(with a playoff if necessary to get the exact number)
advance to single elimination match play.
View Complete Tournament Information