Trans-Miss Mid-Am & Senior: Bartman, Maletis win Titles

Hutchinson, Kansas (July 24, 2005) -- David Bartman of Los Angeles defeated Mark Lindberg of Coppell, TX, 3 & 2, in the 18-hole final match today to win the 102nd Trans-Mississippi Mid-Amateur Championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. The 34-year-old Bartman, a former member of the Nike (now Nationwide) Tour who subsequently regained his amateur status and belongs to Brentwood CC, won six matches in four days to become the second consecutive Southern Californian to win the prestigious title (Scott McGihon of Bermuda Dunes won the Trans-Miss last year). Bartman, who finished third in last year's SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship, was impressive throughout the week at Prairie Dunes, one of the finest "unknown" courses in the country (Golfweek rates it as No. 13 on its Top 100 Classic Courses, i.e., those built before 1960). After shooting 76-74 = 150 to qualify as the 10th seed in the 64-man match play field, Bartman defeated James Reid of Edmond, OK, 6 & 4; took out Chris Brauner of Austin, TX, 5 & 3; and hammered Jon Valuck of Edmond, 7 & 5 to reach the quarterfinals, where he edged Jim Ream of Cerritos, 1 up. In the semifinals, Bartman defeated Joe Sanders of La Quinta, 3 & 2, before defeating Lindberg by the same score in the final match. Chris Maletis of Portland defeated Chip Stewart of Dallas, 1 up, to win the senior title.