Meet the U.S. Mid-Am finalists

By Ron Balicki, Golfweek LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Meet the finalists, Nathan Smith and Garrett Rank, who will square off Thursday morning in the 36-hole title match at the 32nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club. Garrett Rank, 25, Canada Stroke Play Qualifying: 2-over-par 144, No. 6 seed. Match Play: Defeated Eric Williams, 4 and 3; defeated Scott Harvey, 8 and 6; defeated Matt Cohn, 5 and 3; (Quarterfinals) defeated Matthew Mattare, 3 and 2; (Semifinals) defeated Todd White, 1-up … competing in his first U.S. Mid-Amateur … also competed in the U.S. Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Amateur … A member of Golf Canada’s national team … 2012 Canadian University/College champion … 2011 Toronto Star Amateur champion … a 2012 graduate of the University of Waterloo … is a professional hockey referee in the Ontario Hockey League … son of Richard and Deby Rank … has one older brother, Kyle, and one younger sister, Caelen … born Sept. 5, 1987, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Nathan Smith, 34, Pittsburgh, Pa. Stroke Play Qualifying: 5-over-par 147, No. 28 seed. Match Play: Defeated Paul Simson, 2 and 1; defeated Jeff Murphy, 5 and 4; defeated Sean Knapp, 19 holes; (Quarterfinals) defeated Corby Segal, 1-up; (Semifinals) defeated Tim Jackson, 3 and 1 … the 2003, 2009 and 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion … competing in his 10th U.S. Mid-Amateur and currently owns a 31-4 match-play record … also has competed in the U.S. Amateur and USGA Men’s State Team … was a member of Pennsylvania’s winning team at the 2009 Men’s State Team … competing in next week’s Men’s State Team … represented the USA on the 2009 and 2011 Walker Cup Teams and at the 2010 Copa de las Americas … has won numerous championships in his home state, including the 2009 State Amateur and three Western Pennsylvania Amateurs … a 2001 graduate of Allegheny College … is an investment advisor … married to Dr. Nicole Bianco-Smith … born Aug. 6, 1978, in Pennsylvania.