GREENWICH, Conn. – George J. Zahringer III, 49, of New York, N.Y., edged closer to a rematch of last year’s final by advancing to the semifinals at the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship following a 3 and 1 victory over fellow Met Area competitor Austin Eaton, 33, of Stamford, Conn., in this morning’s quarterfinal round. Zahringer’s semifinal opponent will be Jeff Wilson, 39, of Suisin, Calif., who edged Terrence Miskell, 35, of New Braunfels, Texas, in 19 holes.

Defending champion Tim Jackson, who defeated Zahringer in the 2001 Mid-Amateur final, also advanced after grinding out a one-up win over 2002 British Amateur champion John Kemp in his morning quarterfinal match. Jackson will meet 1995 Mid-Amateur champion Jerry Courville Jr., 43, of Milford, Conn. in the afternoon semifinals. Courville now has 32 career match plays win at the Mid-Amateur, surpassing previous record holder Danny Yates, the 1992 champion after defeating John Pate, 42, of Santa Barbara, Calif., 3 and 2.

Courville, who has reached the semifinals for the fifth time, defeated Jackson in two previous meetings at the Mid-Amateur, winning 3 and 1 in the quarterfinals in 1995 and 2 and 1 in the first round in 1999. In both years, Courville advanced to the final.

  A win by Couville could set up an unprecedented all Met Area Mid-Amateur final.