U.S. Mid-Am semis set - could Marsh do it again?

BETHLEHEM, Penn. (Sept. 10, 2014) -- Getting down to the final eight players at the US Mid Amateur shows an interesting scenario unfolding. With co-medalists on either side of the bracket, it could mean they potentially play each other in the final, likely a first in US Mid-am history. (So much for the curse of being medalist) Winnowing the field down to four also means a number of early favorites are no longer contending for the title. Last year's champ, Mike McCoy, lost in the second round, while 4-time champ Nathan Smith -- who had to be the odds on pre-tournament favorite in his home state -- lost to Kevin Marsh in a battle of past champions in yesterday's round-of-16. This morning at Saucon Valley, it was another really tough opponent meeting Marsh, the 2005 champion from Henderson, NV on the first tee -- Patrick Christovich of Louisiana. He's won so many Lousiana Mid-Ams in a row we've lost count (we think it's 5) and he recently was selected to represent USA in the Concession Cup vs. Great Britain and Ireland. As expected, the match went down to the wire. Marsh was 1-up with four holes to play, but went bogey-double and gave the advantage to Christovich, who parred both holes. A Marsh birdie on 17 squared the match, and after both players tied the short par-4 18th it was on to sudden death. Marsh won on the 19th holes the match ending when he birdied the 558 yard, par-5 first hole on Saucon Valley's Old Course. Marsh will play co-medalist Scott Harvey of North Carolina in the first semi-final match at 12:30pm -- Harvey had a much easier morning in a 7 & 6 win over Denver Haddix. In another nail-biter, co-medalist Brad Nurski of Missouri took out 2013 Walker Cupper Todd White of South Carolina, 1-up. Nurski will play against Tom Werkmeister of Michigan, who recently won his state's Mid-Am title. Should be another great match. (Werkmeister, by the way beat a solid player from Colorado Springs - Michael Harrington) Stay tuned for breaking news as the afternoon matches start, and click on the link below for scoring from all matches and the qualifying rounds.