Meet the U.S. Mid-Amateur Semifinalists
10/12/2017 | 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...
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original