U.S. Mid-Amateur starts Saturday at Stonewall Links

ELVERSON, PA (September 8, 2016) -- For the second time in U.S. Mid-Amateur history the event is heading to Pennsylvania, this time to Stonewall Links. The USGA previously came to the Keystone state in 2014 when Scott Harvey won at Saucon Valley Country Club.

The 2016 edition will feature 264 players with two courses set to be used. The two rounds of stroke- play qualifying will be split between the Old and North Course while match play will be contested only on the Old Course.

Both courses were designed by Tom Doak; the Old Course opened in 1993 and is a par-70 (35-35) track that plays at 6,387 yards while the North Course is another par-70 (35-35) that is a bit longer at 6,735 yards.

Over the years Stonewall Links has hosted many major events within the state of Philadelphia including two Open's, a pair of Amateurs and two Mid-Amateurs.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY

Day	Format
Saturday	Round One Stroke-Play
Sunday	Round Two Stroke-Play
Monday	Round of 64
Tuesday	Round of 32/Round of 16
Wednesday	Quarterfinals/Semifinals
Thursday	Championship

*Viewers Note: Television coverage will be available on Wednesday and Thursday on Fox Sports 1 from 3:00- 5:00 p.m. EST

Last year Sammy Schmitz won the U.S. Mid-Amateur title 3&2 over Marc Dull. The highlight of the match came on the par-4 33rd hole when Schmitz registered only the second known hole-in-one in the long history of USGA championship play on a four par.

Joining the defending champion in the field are many of the best mid-amateurs in the country. Here is a look at a few players to keep an eye on:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Player	Accomplishments
David Bolen	Made it to the semifinals last year.
Marc Dull	A caddie at Streamsong, Dull reached the finals at the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur before falling to Sammy Schmitz.
Gene Elliot	One of the hottest players coming in, Elliot has won the Iowa Senior Amateur and Briarwood Amateur within the last month. He also won the Iowa Senior Match Play this year.
Edward Fryatt	A former PGA Tour player, Fryatt recently captured his second consecutive Nevada Mid-Amateur title. He also won the Nevada Match Play in 2015 and finished tied for second at the Carlton Woods Invitational.
Doug Hanzel	The 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur winner is putting together another impressive season. Hanzel has claimed five victories in AmatuerGolf.com ranking events and finished in the top-10 in two others.
Scott Harvey	The U.S. Mid-Amateur champion in 2014 and medalist winner last year, Harvey is currently ranked second in the AmateurGolf.com Mid-Amateur rankings. Harvey has played in eight AmateurGolf.com ranking events this year, finishing in the top-5 five times, including winning once at the George C. Thomas Invitational. Last month Harvey made it to the Round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur and nearly upset medalist winner Alex Smalley.
Randal Lewis	Lewis took home the U.S. Mid-Amateur title in 2011 and usually finds his way into the field of 64. Last year Lewis earned medalist honors at the U.S. Senior Amateur.
Chip Lutz	Lutz was the lone amateur to make the cut at the U.S. Senior Open this year and he also claimed his third British Senior Amateur. In 2015 Lutz broke through and won his first U.S. Senior Amateur. Lutz has also won at Stonewall Links, claiming the 2007 Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur.
Brad Nurski	Two years ago Nurski finished as the U.S. Mid- Amateur runner-up.
Nathan Smith	Nobody has had more success in this event then Smith who has hoisted the trophy four times. Smith teamed with Todd White to win the Inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in 2015. Smith captured the Western Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur on Tuesday.
Patrick Tallent	Tallent won the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur and then went across the pond a year later and claimed the British Senior Amateur. In his title defense this year Tallent finished tied for eighth.
Brad Valois	One of the top players in New England, Valois has twice won the Rhode Island Stroke Play and usually finds his name at the top of regional leaderboards.
Todd White	A quarterfinalist each of the last two years, White will be looking to go further in 2016. White made his deepest run in 2012 when he reached the semifinals. In 2015 White teamed with Nathan Smith to win the Inaugural U.S. Amateur Four- Ball.
Brad Wilder	Wilder finished runner-up at this years Walter J. Travis Invitational and is coming off a semifinal appearance in the 2015 U.S. Mid- Amateur.
Steve Wilson	Wilson won the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2008 and made a run to the quarterfinals in his title defense year.
Dave Womack	In 2006 Womack captured the U.S. Mid-Amateur championship.

-The USGA contributed to this story