ELMSFORD, N.Y. (October 4, 2013) - Twelve players from the Met Area will tee it up on Saturday, October 5 in the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala. The U.S. Mid-Am is open to golfers age 25 and over, and the format is two rounds of stroke play after which the starting field of 264 players is cut down to the low 64 who advance to match play.

Highlighting the field in the championship is two-time MGA Player of the Year Joe Saladino of Huntington, N.Y. who is playing in the U.S. Mid-Am for the second consecutive year. The 33-year-old's best finish in this event came in 2010 when he advanced to the Round of 16. This season, Saladino captured the Havemeyer and Travis Invitationals, and in 2012 he was a member of the winning New York team in the USGA Men's State Team Championship.

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Mike Stamberger, 41, of Brielle, N.J. is playing in his third consecutive U.S. Mid-Am. He is the reigning New Jersey Amateur champ and finished as a quarterfinalist in this year's Met Am at Stanwich. Stamberger made it to the quarterfinals of the 2008 U.S. Mid-Am when it was held at Milwaukee Country Club. 

Another leading player to watch is Ron Vannelli of Edison, N.J., the 2012 MGA Senior Am champ and one of the oldest players in the competition at 65. This event marks Vannelli's 12th apppearance in a USGA championship, and he just played in the USGA Senior Am a few weeks ago. During his Sectional Qualifying Round for this event at Arcola, Vannelli had a hole-in-one to help him finish with a score of 5-under 67.

Also joining the field is Matt Mattare of New York, N.Y., who was a quarterfinalist in last year's championship, his first USGA event. Mattare, 27, was the runner-up at the 2012 Met Am at Hollywood.

Also representing the Met Area:

Matthew Fields of New York, N.Y., qualified at Brooklawn Country Club with a score of even par 71.

Raymond Floyd, Jr. of Old Greenwich, Conn., the son of the 1986 U.S. Open winner Raymond Floyd. He is playing in his fifth U.S. Mid-Am.

Roger Hoit of Summit, N.J., also competiting in his fifth U.S. Mid-Am.

Mike Hyland of Marlton, N.J., qualified with a 5-under 67 at Arcola Country Club along with Vannelli.

Peter Kozubal of Bridgewater, N.J., played in this year's Sectional Qualifying for the U.S. Open.

Jared Tendler of New York, N.Y., qualified at Arcola Country Club and is a golf psychiatrist.

Steven Velardi of Stamford, Conn., a previous Connecticut Amateur champion.

David Weisfeld of New York, N.Y., qualified at Brooklawn Country Club with a score of 2-under 69. At 25 he is the youngest player in the field by two months.