Qualifying: 42nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 1, 2023) - The Met Area has had a strong showing throughout the history of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and this year the event returns to the Met Area, taking place September 9-14 at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Successes in the past range from Jeff Thomas, Jerry Courville, Jr., and Ken Bakst all capturing the title in the 90s and a hard-fought battle between George Zahringer and Courville, Jr., at The Stanwich Club in 2002, to Stewart Hagestad's come-from-behind victory in 2016 shortly after his Met Amateur win and most recently, in 2021, a pair of MGA Player of the Year winners going head-to-head in the final as Hagestad emerged victorious over Mark Constanza.
Related: U.S. Mid-Amateur Home
This year, the MGA will conduct three qualifiers between August 1 and 17 as Met Area players aim to compete on the national stange in their own backyard.
August 1 - The Sewane Club, Hewlett, N.Y.
Four golfers punched their tickets to the 42nd U.S. Amateur Championship at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Brett Cooper of Rockville Centre, New York and Darin Goldstein of New York, New York topped the leaderboard after shooting 3-under 69. Cooper got off to a hot start recording 4 birdies on the front 9. He would shoot even par on the back to post 3-under. Goldstein recorded 4 birdies with just 1 bogey to shoot his 69. The final two spots were claimed by Alex Butler of East Norriton, Pennsylvania and James Arbes of Westfield, New Jersey who finished at 2-under par. Jordan Kaplan of Plainview New York and Colin Dolph of Locust Valley, New York are the two Alternates.
Results
August 14 - Sunningdale Country Club, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Sunningdale proved a tough test with no golfers shooting under par. 1-over 71 was the number needed to earn a spot at the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. With 5 spots up for grabs 6 players finished with a 71 forcing a 6 for 5 playoff for the qualifying positions. Joel Harvey of Wakefield, Rhode Island, Michael Cochrane of Norwalk, Connecticut, Alex Turner of Newburgh, Indiana and Maxwell Koehler of Long Is City New York all punched their tickets after 4 playoff holes. John Labiak of New York, New York claimed his spot the following day after darkness closed in and stopped play. Eric Terminello of White Plains, New York earned first alternate after shooting a 71 and losing the playoff. The second Alternate spot was claimed by Sam Weiss of New York, New York after winning a 7-person playoff for the spot.
Results
August 17 - Knickerbocker Country Club, Tenafly, N.J
Five golfers punched their tickets to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship after battling it out at Knickerbocker Country Club. Jonathan Sherman of Port Jefferson, New York earned medalist honor after carding a 4-under 68. It was 4 birdies on the front 9 including 3 in a row on holes 2, 3 and 4 that propelled him up the leaderboard. Thomas Lee of Alpine, New Jersey took home a share of second after shooting a 3-under 69 which included a bogey free 5-under par on the closing 9 holes. Alongside Lee was Jason Bastaille of Bridgewater, New Jersey also finishing at 3-under par. Bastialle carded 5 birdies to just 2 bogies for the day. Claiming the last two playoff spots in a playoff was Troy Vannucci of Marlton, New Jersey and Mark Sommerfeld of Ridgewood, New York. Both golfers finished at 2-under par and punched their tickets on the first playoff hole. Chris Dejohn of Ridgewood, New Jersey and Jack Maresca of Rye, New York are the alternates.
Results