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Hagestad Captures 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur

Three-time U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship winner, Stewart Hagestad. Photo: USGA/Kathryn Riley

Update (September 15, 2023) -- Friday created yet another Met memory for Stewart Hagestad, as the 2016 Met Amateur and MGA Player of the Year captured his third career U.S. Mid-Amateur title, defeating Evan Beck of Virginia Beach, Va., by a 3-and-2 margin at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home | Results

"My first thought this morning was, 'Hey, let's go get it,'" said Hagestad, who owned a 5-up advantage heading into the final 18 holes of the 36-hole championship match, which was split between Thursday and Friday because of multiple weather suspensions early in the championship. As he said he had done the rest of the week, Hagestad wanted to "pick conservative targets and make aggressive swings," as he aimed to close out the match and claim the title.

Though Hagestad extended his lead to 7 up after opening birdies on the par-4 first and par-3 third, Beck still had a charge left in him. Beck, a former Wake Forest standout, won Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 10, pulling trimming his deficit to three through 28 holes. Beck missed a short par attempt on the par-4 11th, but came back with a win on the par-5 12th to once again stand three down. A 10-foot par putt on 14 pushed Hagestad's lead back to 4 up and though Beck eagled the par-5 15th, ties with par on the iconic par-3 16th closed out the match in favor of Hagestad, 3 and 2.

"To have it take place here means a lot to me," said Hagestad, 32. "It's where a lot of my, I would say, internal experience, and confidence, and belief comes from -- playing in the Ike and the Met Am and the Met Open -- on courses like this against competition that's just as good as anywhere in the country. I'm very lucky to have spent time here..."

 

 

The win puts Hagestad in elite company, as he joins Jay Sigel (3) and Nathan Smith (4) as the only players to have won the U.S. Mid-Amateur at least three times in his career. With the victory, Hagestad earns a spot in next year's U.S. Open Championship at Pinehurst No. 2 and a likely invitation to The Masters, where in 2017 he became the first mid-amateur to make the cut and finished as low amateur. He also gains exemptions into the next two U.S. Amateurs and the next 10 U.S. Mid-Amateurs.

Update (September 14, 2023) -- After a morning semifinal victory, 2016 MGA Player of the Year Stewart Hagestad kept his solid play rolling by building a 5-up lead over Evan Beck of Virginia Beach, Va., halfway through the 36-hole championship match of the 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home | Scoring

A par on the par-4 18th earned Hagestad the 1-up victory in his semifinal match against Sam Jackson of West Columbia, S.C. The two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur winner then surrendered just one hole over the first 18 holes of the championship match -- a Beck birdie on the par-4 ninth.

Otherwise, Hagestad carded birdies of his own on Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 8 to build a 3-up lead through nine holes. The momentum continued on the back, as birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 and a par 4 on the 14th extended Hagestad's lead to 5 up.

Hagestad, No. 16 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, would become the third player to win the U.S Mid-Amateur title at least three times in their career, joining Jay Sigel (three) and Nathan Smith (four).

The championship match resumes at 7 a.m., Friday morning.

UPDATE (September 13, 2023) -- New Jersey's Jason Bataille had his run in the 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship come to an end on Wednesday in the Round of 16, but two victories by Stewart Hagestad at Sleepy Hollow Country Club has the 2016 MGA Player of the Year back in a familiar spot in the event's semifinal round.

Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home | Scoring

Hagestad, a two-time champion, advanced to the semifinals for the fifth time in seven U.S. Mid-Amateur appearances and owns an amazing 26-4 match play record. His stellar play continued in the Round of 16, where he carded nine birdies en route to a 3-and-1 victory over Nate McCoy of Ankeny, Iowa. In the afternoon quarterfinal, four birdies through 13 holes had Hagestad 2-up against Parker Edens of Brookings, S.D., but birdies from Edens on Nos. 14 and 15 returned the match to tied. Hagestad rose to the occasion quickly, draining a 25-footer for birdie on the iconic stage of the par-3 16th hole. A par on the 17th secured his 2-and-1 victory and a return to the semifinal round. He squares off against Sam Jackson of West Columbia, S.C., at 7:15 a.m., Thursday.

At the conclusion of the semifinals, the 36-hole championship match is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., with the final 18 slated for Friday morning.

Bataille, 40, had his run ended by Edens in the Round of 16 by a 2-and-1 margin. With their match starting on the 10th hole in order to quicken play against weather, Bataille owned a 2-up advantage as the duo made the turn. However, Edens won the next four holes to flip a two-hole deficit into a 2-up lead. Four ensuing ties closed out the match and a memorable week for Bataille.

 

 

UPDATE (September 12, 2023) -- With no challenging weather in sight on Tuesday, two rounds of match play were completed in the 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Sleepy Hollow, with two time champion and past MGA Player of the Year Stewart Hagestad and Jason Bataille of Bridgewater, N.J., both winning a pair of matches to advance to the Round of 16.

Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home | Scoring

In a rematch of the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur final, Hagestad and two-time MGA Player of the Year Mark Costanza of Morristown, N.J., met in the Round of 32. Costanza won the opening hole, but after nine consecutive ties -- including ties with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6 -- Hagestad tied the match with a birdie on the par-3 10th. Another birdie on the par-5 12th earned Hagestad the 1-up advantage. The birdies continued to fly down the stretch, with ties on both Nos. 14 and 15. Hagestad converted a final one on the par-4 17th to earn the 2-and-1 victory. The duo combined for 12 birdies on the day, with Hagestad making seven. Hagestad will face Nate McCoy of Ankeny, Iowa. Their match tees off on the 10th hole at 7:20 a.m.

Costanza's Round of 64 match closed with a pair of birdies as he held off Josh Persons of Fargo, N.D., 1-up. Hagestad had picked up a 5-and-3 victory in the morning over Matt Van Zandt of Houston, Texas.

Meanwhile, Bataille earned the No. 59 seed after advancing from a 16-for-14 playoff. In the morning, Bataille defeated No. 6 seed Harry Bolton of Australia, 2 and 1. A birdie on No. 4, an eagle on No. 6 and another birdie on No. 7 helped lift Bataille to a 3-up advantage, while back-to-back wins on Nos. 12 and 13 extended his lead to 4 up. While Bolton won the next two, ties on Nos. 16 and 17 closed out the match.

In the afternoon, Bataille met 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Todd White of Spartanburg, S.C. Birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 earned Bataille a 2-up lead. Though White trimmed the deficit to one on four occasions, Bataille never relinquished his lead. A birdie on the par-4 14th, ties with birdie on 15 and ties with pars on Nos. 16-17 earned Bataille a 2-and-1 victory. Bataille faces Parker Edens of Brookings, S.D. in the Round of 16, with the match beginning on the 10th hole at 7:30 a.m.

UPDATE (September 11, 2023) -- After three days of play at Sleepy Hollow Country Club and Fenway Golf Club, two seeds are yet to be determined for the Round of 64 in the 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship thanks to weather suspending play each day. However, four Met Area players have advanced and will look forward to the opportunity to make a run in the bracket at Sleepy Hollow in the coming days.

Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home | Scoring

A trio of past MGA Player of the Year recipients secured their spots, with 2017 honoree Stewart Hagestad of Newport Beach, Calif., 2020 and 2021 honoree Mark Costanza of Morristown, N.J., and 2022 honoree Brad Tilley of Easton, Conn., earning the No. 14, 19, and 40 seeds, respectively. Hagestad, fresh off playing a part in his fourth consecutive Walker Cup victory with the USA, carded rounds of 69 at both Fenway and Sleepy Hollow for a 3-under total that placed him tied for seventh. He faces No. 46 seed Matt Van Zandt of Houston, Texas, beginning at 10 a.m., Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Costanza posted scores of 69-70 in his two rounds over three days, finishing 2-under to tie for 16th. Costanza played steadily, carding just three bogeys over the 36 holes while adding five birdies to his cards. Costanza, who was the low amateur last month in the 108th Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway, tees off against Josh Persons of Fargo, N.D., at 10:10 a.m., Tuesday. Should both Costanza and Hagestad win their opening round matches, the duo would square off in a rematch of the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur final at Sankaty Head.

Tilley has found comfort at home with plenty of friends and family coming out to his home club at Sleepy Hollow and nearby Fenway. He carded a pair of 71s en route to a 1-over total and a tie for 37th. Tilley's Round of 64 match began Monday afternoon. Through five holes of play, he owns a 1-up advantage over David Szymanski of East Lansing, Mich.

Jason Bataille of Bridgewater, N.J., tied for 51st with rounds of 74-70, to find himself in a 16-for-14 playoff for the final match play spots. A birdie on the par-5 15th secured Bataille's spot in the bracket as the No. 59 seed. He squares off at 10:20 a.m. against Harry Bolton of Australia

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (September 7, 2023) - The 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship begins Saturday with several Met Area players set to compete at historic Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y., which is hosting its second USGA championship. The 2022 Met Amateur host site, Fenway Golf Club in nearby Scarsdale, N.Y., will serve as the stroke-play qualifying co-host over the weekend. 

 

Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home | Pairings

Christian Cavaliere of Katonah, N.Y., Stewart Hagestad of Newport Beach, Calif., Mark Costanza of Morristown, N.J., and Brad Tilley of Easton, Conn. were all exempt into the field. Cavaliere, who was runner up at the Ike and Met Amateur this season, will play in his first U.S. Mid-Amateur after qualifying for this year's U.S. Open Championship. Two-time Mid-Amateur champion and 2016 MGA Player of the Year Hagestad will look to secure his third Mid-Am title fresh off of a thrilling Walker Cup victory at St. Andrew's. Two-time (2020 and 2021) MGA Player of the Year Costanza was the runner-up to Hagestad in the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Sankaty Head on Nantucket. Competing in his fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur, Tilley is no stranger to the two host courses as he won the 2022 Met Amateur at Fenway, and captured the 2022 Westchester Open title at Sleepy Hollow. 

Brett Cooper of Rockville Centre, N.Y., and Darin Goldstein of New York, N.Y., shared medalist honors to secure qualifying positions at The Seawane Club on August 1, both shooting 3-under 69s. Goldstein, the 2018 MGA Player of the Year, has been named to this year's Carey Cup team along fellow competitors with Cavaliere, Costanza, and Tilley. James Arbes of Westfield, N.J., also qualified at Sewane. 

Michael Cochrane of Scarsdale, N.Y., John Labiak of New York, N.Y., and Maxwell Koehler of Long Island City, N.Y., all posted 1-over 71s to qualify at Sunningdale Country Club on August 14. Cochrane will compete in his first USGA championship after advancing from a 6-for-5 playoff. He is the director of platform tennis, pickleball, and tennis at Saucon Valley Country Club and previously worked at Sleepy Hollow for one year as the head platform tennis professional. 

Johnathan Sherman of Port Jefferson, N.Y., secured his first U.S. Mid-Amateur start with a 4-under 68 at Knickerbocker Country Club. Jason Bataille of Bridgewater, N.J., and Thomas Lee of Alpine, N.J., finished right behind at 3-under 69. Troy Vannucci of Marlton, N.J., and Mark Sommerfeld of Ridgewood, N.Y., also qualified shooting 2-under 70s on the day. 

Anthony Alex of Fort Lee, N.J., is in the field after finishing as the first alternate at the New Mexico qualifying site. Alex played in MGA junior events before heading to Florida State; he is now a reinstated amatuer. His sister, Marina Alex, is a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour. 

 

Stroke-play qualifying takes place Saturday and Sunday, with the top 64 competitors advancing to match play. Following the Round of 64 on Monday, both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 are scheduled for Tuesday. Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches follow on Wednesday, with the 36-hole championship match taking place on Thursday, September 14. 

Player Hometown Rd. 1 Rd. 2
Anthony Alex Fort Lee, N.J.  7:00am, 10-F 11:50am, 1-SH
James Arbes Westfield, N.J. 7:22am, 1-F 12:12pm, 10-SH
Jason Bataille Bridgewater, N.J. 8:17am, 1-F 1:07pm, 10-SH
Christian Cavaliere Katonah, N.Y. 12:23pm, 10-SH 7:33am, 1-F
Michael Cochrane Norwalk, Conn.  1:18pm, 1-F 8:28am, 10-SH
Brett Cooper Rockville Centre, N.Y. 7:22am, 10-F 12:12pm, 1-SH
Mark Costanza Morristown, N.J. 7:11am, 10-F 12:01pm, 1-SH
Darin Goldstein New York, N.Y. 11:50am, 1-SH 7:00am, 10-F
Stewart Hagestad Newport Beach, Calif. 12:01pm, 1-F 7:11am, 10-SH
Maxwell Koehler Long Island City, N.Y. 7:00am, 10-SH 11:50am, 1-F
John Labiak New York, N.Y.  12:34pm, 1-F 7:44am, 10-SH
Thomas Lee Alpine, N.J. 12:34pm, 10-SH 7:44am, 1-F
Johnathan Sherman Port Jefferson, N.Y. 1:18pm, 10-F 8:28am, 1-SH
Brad Tilley Easton, Conn.  7:00am, 1-SH 11:50am, 10-F

All times Eastern. SH - Sleepy Hollow Country Club, F - Fenway Golf Club

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