RYE, N.Y. (July 28, 2025) William Knauth of New York, N.Y., carded a 4-under-par 68 on Monday at The Apawamis Club to earn medalist honors and secure a spot in the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, set for September 13–18 at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Knauth topped the field by a single shot and over Matt Wheeler of New York, N.Y. and Charles Castellano of Miami, Florida, who both advanced with matching scores of 3-under 69.
Knauth, admitted to entering the day with low expectations, found his stride early with a bogey-free 4-under 32 on the front nine. He held steady on the back, finishing with two bogeys and a birdie on the par 5 17th to post an even-par 36, sealing his spot in Arizona.
“I’ve been playing pretty bad golf for a while,” said Knauth. “But there have been some signs this summer — a couple good rounds at Rockaway, qualifying for the Met Am — and today was another step in the right direction. It just clicked a little bit more.”
Matt Wheeler was in a qualifying spot for most of the day after posting a 3-under 69. Wheeler made three birdies on the front nine, including birdies on three of his first five holes and played a bogey-free back nine to secure his place in Arizona.
Also finishing in a tie for second is Charles Castellano, of Miami, Florida, also shot 69 to grab a qualifying spot. After an even-par front nine, Castellano got hot and made three birdies in a row on holes 9,10 & 11 before adding one more on the 18th coming into the club house. Conor O’Brien of Boston, Massachusetts, earned the final qualifying spot after shooting a 2-under 70. He finished tied for the last spot and advanced in a playoff that went two holes. Earning the first alternate spot is Ben Mitchell of New York, New York.
