Chattanooga, TN. – Austin “Ace” Eaton, formerly of XXX, is set to defend his title this week at the 25^th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at The Honors Club in Chattanooga, TN, on September 10-15.  Eaton, 35, who defeated 27-year-old Josh Dennis of Birmingham, AL, in last year’s event, leads a group of fifteen Met Area men who are also looking to add their names to the Robert T. Jones Memorial Trophy.  George Zahringer III of Deepdale, who reached the Match Play portion of this year’s U.S. Amateur, heads the Met Area contingency that includes the oldest ever Met Amateur winner Ron Vannelli of Metuchen, 2003 Met Amaterur winner Michael Stamberger of Plainfield, 1996 Met Amateur champion Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head, 1995 Ike winner Jeff Putman of Winged Foot, the Golf Club of Southern Jersey’s Jamie Slonis and Micahel Tash, Mike Reardon of Tuxedo, Mark Stankewicz of Apple Ridge, Michael Paduano of Monmouth Golfing Club, Dave Segot of Nassau Players, Hampton Hills’ Daniel Russo, Robert Stelben, Jr. of Country Club of Darien, Plandome’s Randall Beil, and Mark Kellstrom of Morris County. 

The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur is being played at the same time as the men but in Richmond, TX, at Shadow Hawk Golf Club.  Highlighting the Met Area representatives is 2004 MGA Stroke Play Champion and Carey Cup team member Gail Flanagan of Westchester.  Also in the field are Adrienne Maclean of Montclair, Lee Ann Lewis of Southward Ho, Deepdale’s Brooke Cooper, and Donna Young of Springdale.