CHARLOTTE, NC (September 26, 2018) - Before the 38th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship teed off Saturday, we highlighted 18
"Players to Watch", a sampling of some of the players who have had big wins or high finishes this year, or who had finished well in previous USGA events.
Related: O'Connell wins U.S. Mid-Amateur in home state
Related: North Carolinians Boner, O'Connell to meet in Mid-Am final
Related: U.S. Mid-Am: Past champ Hagestad headlines quarterfinals
Related: U.S. Mid-Am: Hagestad, Wilson set for 2nd-round showdown
Related: Behr reps Class of '11 at U.S. Mid-Am with stroke-play medal
Related: Round 1: Experience matters as Tilley, Hagestad lead Mid-Am
Related: Players to Watch at the 2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur
Related: 38th U.S. Mid-Amateur: A Closer Look at the Field
After two rounds of stroke play qualifying, only 10 of the 18 were still alive and onto the match play stage.
The defending champion Matt Parziale looked to be in trouble after an opening 76 at Carolina Golf Club, but he rebounded with a 68 at Charlotte CC to comfortably make match play. But he
unexpectedly bowed out to Andres Schonbaum in the first round.
Four-time champion Nathan Smith missed the cut for only the second time in 14 appearances in the U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Sam O'Dell survived a 16-for-12 playoff on Monday morning, then won his match against Todd Mitchell. He is still alive after two match wins on Tuesday.
Jeff Wilson, the reigning U.S. Senior champion, won his first match in his quest for two USGA championships in the same year, but fell to another USGA champion, Stewart Hagestad, in the second round. Hagestad took out another senior stalwart, Matt Sughrue, in the round of 16, before bowing out in the semifinals.
After five match play rounds, it came down to two North Carolinians: local favorite Brett Boner and Monroe Invitational champion Kevin O'Connell. In the end it was O'Connell who walked away with the trophy.
Players to Watch Leaderboard
The 38th U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
71-70=141 (T7)
Kevin O'Connell, Cary, N.C.
Beat Nick Reardon 8 and 7, Beat Broc Haymon 2 and 1, Beat Frank Alafoginis 4 and 3, Beat Andres Schonbaum 19 holes, Beat Kyler Sauer 19 holes, Beat Brett Boner 4 and 3
Lost in the Championship Match
71-69=140 (T5)
Brett Boner, Charlotte, N.C.
Beat David Jennings 4 and 2, Beat Claudio Consul 22 holes, Beat Kory Bowman 4 and 3, Beat Sam O'Dell 2 up, Beat Stewart Hagestad 1 up, Lost to Kevin O'Connell 4 and 3
Lost in the Match Play semifinals
67-74=141 (T7)
Stewart Hagestad, Newport Beach, Calif.
Beat Bradley Wohlers 8 and 6, Beat Jeff Wilson 3 and 2, Beat Matt Sughrue 3 and 2, Beat Rusty Mosley 3 and 2, Lost to Brett Boner 1 up
Lost in the Match Play quarterfinals
78-69=147 (T53)
Sam O'Dell*, Hurricane, W. Va.
Beat Todd Mitchell 4 and 2, Beat Jordan Sease 2 and 1, Beat Benjamin Hayes 6 and 5, Lost to Brett Boner 2 up
*advanced through 16-for-12 playoff
Lost in the Match Play round of 16
72-69=141 (T7)
Derek Busby, Ruston, La.
Beat Dan Sullivan 3 and 2, Beat Danny Simmerman 5 and 3, Lost to Kyler Sauer 1 up
Lost in the 2nd round of Match Play
71-73=144 (T26)
Claudio Consul, Germany
Beat Brett Viboch 5 and 4, Lost to Brett Boner 22 holes
71-74=145 (T35)
Jeff Wilson, Fairfield, Calif.
Beat Josh Clay 2 and 1, Lost to Stewart Hagestad 3 and 2
Lost in 1st round of Match Play
67-72=139 (T2)
Bradford Tilley, Easton, Conn.
Lost to Mattew Mattare 2 and 1
69-73=142 (T14)
Marc Dull, Winter Haven, Fla.
Lost to Grant Schroeder 3 and 1
76-68=144 (T26)
Matt Parziale, Brockton, Mass.
Lost to Andres Schonbaum 3 and 2
Missed the Cut for Match Play
74-74=148
Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa.
80-68=148
Reid Hatley, Hayden Lake, Idaho
78-71=149
Brad Nurski, St. Joseph, Mo.
76-74=150
Scott Harvey, Greensboro, N.C.
77-73=150
Joshua Irving, Dallas, Texas
82-69=151
Joe Alfieri, Lutz, Fla.
81-71=152
Gene Elliott, W. Des Moines, Iowa
79-77=156
Patrick Christovich, New Orleans, La.
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
qualifying held at two courses, after which the low
64
(with a playoff if necessary to get the exact number)
advance to single elimination match play.
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