Meet the U.S. Mid-Amateur Semifinalists
October 12, 2017 | by United States Golf Association
see also: U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, Sand Valley Golf Resort - Sand Valley
A firefighter, a Californian, the last home state hope and possibly the second U.S. Mid-Am champ in 4 years from Kernersville, NC
ATLANTA, GA (October 12, 2017) - After a stirring round of morning quarterfinal matches at the Capital City Club, the 37th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship is down to four players.
By the end of the day, the two finalists will emerge, to play for the championship first thing Thursday morning.
Related: Eight Players Remain at the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Related: SCORING UPDATE: Players to Watch at the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Related: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: U.S. Mid-Amateur Live Updates
Here are the four semifinalsts, two matches away from a life-changing win.
Matt Parziale, Brockton, MA
• Born June 5, 1987 in Brockton, Mass. (age 30)
• #58 in AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Ranking
• Earned No. 9 seed with rounds of 71-68 in stroke play
• Advance to semifinals for first time after reaching Round of 64 twice before
• Playing in his ninth USGA championship and fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Was co-medalist with Scott Harvey in 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Competed on NGA Hooters and eGolf tours before regaining his amateur status in 2013
• Made three trips to PGA Tour Qualifying School
• Firefighter with the Brockton Fire Department, and his father, Vic, works for the same department
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Matthew Sughrue 1 up, beat Jerred Barley 19 holes, beat Sam O'Dell 2 up, beat Bradford Tilley 20 holes
Dan Sullivan, Pasadena, CA
• Born April 25, 1967 in Pasadena, Calif. (age 50)
• #49 in AmateurGolf.com California Ranking
• Earned No. 29 seed with rounds of 70-75 in stroke play
• Reached the semifinals in last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur, losing to Scott Harvey in 19 holes
• Competing in his 10th USGA championship, including seven Mid-Amateurs
• Advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links
• Won this year’s Southern California Golf Association Mid-Amateur
• Chosen SCGA Player of the Year in 2013 and 2016
• His wife, Lindsay, is a vice president with Fox Sports
• Works as a real estate lender
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Clay Guerin 1 up, beat Dusty Drenth 1 up, beat David Lang 1 up, beat Joshua Irving 3&2
Mark Harrell, Lookout Mtn, GA
• Born Aug. 27, 1985 in Hazelhurst, Ga. (age 32)
• #294 in AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Ranking
• Earned No. 42 seed with rounds of 72-73 in stroke play
• Shot the equivalent of a 63, with concessions, in defeating Muehr, 1 up
• Playing in his eighth USGA championship, including three U.S. Amateurs
• Reached Round of 32 in the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Earned medalist honors in the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links
• Qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open as an amateur (missed cut by one stroke)
• Member of the 2007-08 University of Alabama team with 2012 U.S. Open runner-up Michael Thompson
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Andrew Rhodes 19 holes, beat Chad Wilfong 1 up, beat Michael Muehr 1 up, beat Tyler Crawford 19 holes
Josh Nichols, Kernersville, NC
• Born April 15, 1991 in Kernersville, N.C. (age 26)
• #118 in AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Ranking
• Earned No. 22 seed with rounds of 70-74 in stroke play
• Competing in his second consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Advanced to U.S. Open sectional qualifying the last two years
• Won the 93rd CPGA Carolinas Open and 2017 Triad Amateur
• Played his college golf at Appalachian State University from 2009-13
• His lowest competitive round is a 61 at Maple Leaf Golf Club
• Works as a wedding caterer
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Luke Phillips 2 up, beat John Hayes 1 up, beat Brad Nurski 2&1, beat Scott Anderson 2 up
By the end of the day, the two finalists will emerge, to play for the championship first thing Thursday morning.
Related: Eight Players Remain at the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Related: SCORING UPDATE: Players to Watch at the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Related: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: U.S. Mid-Amateur Live Updates
Here are the four semifinalsts, two matches away from a life-changing win.
|
Matt Parziale, Brockton, MA
|
• Born June 5, 1987 in Brockton, Mass. (age 30)
• #58 in AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Ranking
• Earned No. 9 seed with rounds of 71-68 in stroke play
• Advance to semifinals for first time after reaching Round of 64 twice before
• Playing in his ninth USGA championship and fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Was co-medalist with Scott Harvey in 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Competed on NGA Hooters and eGolf tours before regaining his amateur status in 2013
• Made three trips to PGA Tour Qualifying School
• Firefighter with the Brockton Fire Department, and his father, Vic, works for the same department
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Matthew Sughrue 1 up, beat Jerred Barley 19 holes, beat Sam O'Dell 2 up, beat Bradford Tilley 20 holes
|
Dan Sullivan, Pasadena, CA
|
• Born April 25, 1967 in Pasadena, Calif. (age 50)
• #49 in AmateurGolf.com California Ranking
• Earned No. 29 seed with rounds of 70-75 in stroke play
• Reached the semifinals in last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur, losing to Scott Harvey in 19 holes
• Competing in his 10th USGA championship, including seven Mid-Amateurs
• Advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links
• Won this year’s Southern California Golf Association Mid-Amateur
• Chosen SCGA Player of the Year in 2013 and 2016
• His wife, Lindsay, is a vice president with Fox Sports
• Works as a real estate lender
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Clay Guerin 1 up, beat Dusty Drenth 1 up, beat David Lang 1 up, beat Joshua Irving 3&2
|
Mark Harrell, Lookout Mtn, GA
|
• Born Aug. 27, 1985 in Hazelhurst, Ga. (age 32)
• #294 in AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Ranking
• Earned No. 42 seed with rounds of 72-73 in stroke play
• Shot the equivalent of a 63, with concessions, in defeating Muehr, 1 up
• Playing in his eighth USGA championship, including three U.S. Amateurs
• Reached Round of 32 in the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Earned medalist honors in the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links
• Qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open as an amateur (missed cut by one stroke)
• Member of the 2007-08 University of Alabama team with 2012 U.S. Open runner-up Michael Thompson
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Andrew Rhodes 19 holes, beat Chad Wilfong 1 up, beat Michael Muehr 1 up, beat Tyler Crawford 19 holes
|
Josh Nichols, Kernersville, NC
|
• Born April 15, 1991 in Kernersville, N.C. (age 26)
• #118 in AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur Ranking
• Earned No. 22 seed with rounds of 70-74 in stroke play
• Competing in his second consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur
• Advanced to U.S. Open sectional qualifying the last two years
• Won the 93rd CPGA Carolinas Open and 2017 Triad Amateur
• Played his college golf at Appalachian State University from 2009-13
• His lowest competitive round is a 61 at Maple Leaf Golf Club
• Works as a wedding caterer
• Road to the semifinals: Beat Luke Phillips 2 up, beat John Hayes 1 up, beat Brad Nurski 2&1, beat Scott Anderson 2 up
About the U.S. Mid-Amateur
The U.S. Mid-Amateur originated in 1981 for the amateur golfer of at least 25 years of age, the purpose of which to provide a formal national championship for the post-college player. 264 players begin the championship with two rounds of sroke play q...
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