WHO’S HERE – Among the 264 golfers in the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur field, there are:
Oldest Competitors: Patrick Tallent (63, born 8-12-53), Chip Lutz (61, born 1-11-55), Randal Lewis (59, born 5-8-57), Jack Hall (59, born 7-2-57)
Youngest Competitors: Sean Keating (25, born 7-2-91), Brian Langley (25, born 5-14-91), Brett Cooper (25, born 4-22-91), Josh Nichols (25, born 4-15-91), Stewart Hagestad (25, born 4-10-91), Keith Jeske (25, born 4-9-91), Dan Bernard (25, born 4-3-91)
Average Age of Field: 36.61
U.S. States Represented – There are 42 states represented in the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur: California (33), Texas (19), Florida (18), Illinois (13), New York (13), Pennsylvania (13), Georgia (12), Ohio (10), Michigan (9), North Carolina (9), New Jersey (8), Minnesota (8), Massachusetts (7), Virginia (7), Washington (7), Oklahoma (6), Tennessee (6), Alabama (5), Colorado (5), South Carolina (5), Kentucky (4), Missouri (4), Arizona (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (3), Kansas (3), Louisiana (3), Maryland (3), Utah (3), Connecticut (2), Idaho (2), Mississippi (2), Oregon (2), Rhode Island (2), Wisconsin (2), Arkansas (1), Hawaii (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), Nevada (1), New Mexico (1) and West Virginia (1).
International – There are four countries represented in the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur: United States (261), England (1), Germany (1) and Norway (1).
USGA Champions (13): Doug Hanzel (2013 Senior Amateur), Scott Harvey (2014 Mid-Amateur), Tim Hogarth (1996 Amateur Public Links), Randal Lewis (2011 Mid-Amateur), Chip Lutz (2015 Senior Amateur), Kevin Marsh (2005 Mid-Amateur), Michael McCoy (2013 Mid-Amateur), Sammy Schmitz (2015 Mid-Amateur), Nathan Smith (2003, 2009, 2010, 2012 Mid-Amateur; 2015 Amateur Four-Ball), Patrick Tallent (2014 Senior Amateur), Todd White (2015 Amateur Four-Ball), Steve Wilson (2008 Mid-Amateur), Dave Womack (2006 Mid-Amateur)
USGA Runners-Up (9): Marc Dull (2015 Mid-Amateur), Robert Hamilton (2001 Amateur), Tim Hogarth (2010 Mid-Amateur), Randal Lewis (1996 Mid-Amateur), Todd Mitchell (2008 Mid-Amateur), Brad Nurski (2014 Mid-Amateur), Rick Stimmel (1997 Mid-Amateur), Patrick Tallent (2010 Senior Amateur), Bill Williamson (2013 Mid-Amateur)
Played in 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur (58): Joe Alfieri, Jason Anthony, David Bolen, Ryan Brimley, Jordan Burke, Chris Cassetta, Michael Christensen, Matthew Collins, Adam Condello, Jess Daley, Packard Dewitt, Marc Dull, Daniel Eggertsson, Gene Elliott, Aaron Gavin, Brad Gibson, David Gies II, Jaime Girardi, Darrin Goldstein, Justin Goodhue, Antonio Grillo, Scott Harvey, Reid Hatley, Nigel Hawryliw, Satch Herrmann, Bryan Hoops, Josh Irving, Joe Kastelic, John Kelly, Bryant Lach, Nick Lambos, Philip Lee, Randal Lewis, Kevin Marsh, David May, Michael McCoy, Michael McDermott, Nick Moore, Michael Muehr, David Noll Jr., Brad Nurski, Darrin Overson, Matt Parziale, Andrew Price, Joshua Rhodes, Jacob Rohde, Joseph Saladino, Sammy Schmitz, Nathan Smith, Charlie Stevens, Patrick Tallent, Tom Werkmeister, Todd White, Brad Wilder, Pete Williams, Bill Williamson, Steve Wilson, Dave Womack
Played in 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur (43): Kevin Beavers, John Brennan, Ryan Brimley, Jordan Burke, Derek Busby, Chris Cassetta, Doug Clapp, Matt Cohn, James Gallagher, Jaime Girardi, Matthew Gourgeot, Doug Hanzel, Scott Harvey, John Hunter, Josh Irving, John Kelly, Andy Latowski, Eric Lefante, Randal Lewis, Kevin Marsh, Michael Martin, Michael Mattare, Michael McCoy, Todd Mitchell, Michael Muehr, Brad Nurski, Trevor Randolph, Trent Roush, Joseph Saladino, James Scorse, Chadd Slutzky, Nathan Smith, Charlie Stevens, Dan Sullivan, Brad Valois, Brett Viboch, David Weisfeld, Tom Werkmeister, Todd White, Brad Wilder, Bill Williamson, Steve Wilson, Dave Womack
Played in 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur (38): Joe Alfieri, John Bearrie, Doug Clapp, Arnold Cutrell, Packard Dewitt, Andy Drohen, Raymond Floyd Jr., James Gallagher, Brad Gibson, Doug Hanzel, Scott Harvey, Tim Hogarth, Roger Hoit, Bryan Hoops, John Hunter, Troy Johnson, Michael Kelley, Philip Lee, Randal Lewis, Kevin Marsh, Matthew Mattare, Michael McCoy, Michael McDermott, Robby McWilliams, Todd Mitchell, Matt Parziale, Joseph Saladino, James Scorse, Ryan Sloane, Chadd Slutzky, Nathan Smith, Dan Sullivan, Brad Valois, David Weisfeld, Todd White, Bill Williamson, Steve Wilson, Dave Womack
Played in 2016 U.S. Open: (none)
Played in 2016 U.S. Senior Open (5): Arnold Cutrell, Gene Elliott, Chip Lutz, Michael McCoy, Patrick Tallent
Played in 2016 U.S. Amateur (11): Marc Dull, Darin Goldstein, Stewart Hagestad, David Hall, Scott Harvey, Scott Kegerreis, Michael McCoy, Andrew Sajevic, Sammy Schmitz, Nathan Smith, Todd White
Played in 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur (6): Jack Hall, Doug Hanzel, Nick Lambos, Randal Lewis, Chip Lutz, Patrick Tallent
Played in 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (20): Joe Alfieri, Jason Anthony, Brett Boner, Matt Cohn, Chris Coleman, Michael Fastert, Matthew Finger, Scott Harvey, Reid Hatley, John Kelly, Michael McDermott, Todd Mitchell, Nick Moore, Brad Nurski, Darrin Overson, Matt Parziale, Trent Roush, Nathan Smith, Brett Viboch, Todd White
Played in 2015 Walker Cup Match (2): Scott Harvey, Michael McCoy
Played in 2013 Walker Cup Match (2): Nathan Smith, Todd White
PLAYER NOTES:
Joe Alfieri, 47, of Lutz, Fla., is competing in his 12th USGA championship and reached the Round of 32 in last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur. Alfieri is a reinstated amateur who played on the Nationwide Tour from 2005 to 2007, notching six top-25 finishes. He has won the Florida State Match Play, Mid-Amateur and Four-Ball championships. He was named FSGA Player of the Year in 1999, 2001 and 2015.
Jason Aspelund, 29, of Federal Way, Wash., works as a grounds operations manager for Alaska Airlines. Aspelund, who is also a pilot and an aircraft dispatch license-holder, is competing in his first USGA championship. He plays just 30 rounds annually and with the same irons since age 16. A three-time all-state soccer standout, Aspelund scored 91 career goals. He played college soccer at Embry-Riddle, an NAIA program in Prescott, Ariz.
Christopher Ault, 30, of Yardley, Pa., won the 2013 Pennsylvania Amateur with a final-round 67 at Saucon Valley Country Club, the site of the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Ault, who played college golf at East Carolina, strung together birdies on four of the last six holes. Ault, who works as a finance director, is competing in his third USGA championship.
Sean Barrett, 31, of San Francisco, Calif., graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he twice earned All-Ivy League honors and placed second at the 2005 Ivy League Championships. A partner at HMI Capital, Barrett is a big-wave surfer. He has surfed Mavericks and Ocean Beach in San Francisco, the North Shore of Oahu and on beaches in southwest Mexico.
John Bearrie III, 47, of Arlington, Texas, is playing in his 10th USGA championship. Bearrie caddied on the PGA Tour for Joel Edwards in 1991 and 1992, and turned professional shortly after, but never played an event as a pro. He was reinstated as an amateur in 1994. He won the 2010 Texas Match Play and 2012 Texas Mid-Amateur titles, leading to being chosen 2012 Texas State Player of the Year.
Dan Bernard, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., comes from a family of college golfers. His father, Charles, was a member of the St. John’s University team, while his brother, Joe, played at Villanova University. Dan and his sister, Lauren, each played at Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, Pa. Dan, who works in commercial real estate, is competing in his first USGA championship.
David Bolen, 37, of Lubbock, Texas, advanced to the semifinals of last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur, his first USGA championship since the 2001 U.S. Amateur. Bolen, who works as a dental sales manager, spends time skiing and four-wheeling in the state of Colorado.
Brett Boner, 42, of Charlotte, N.C., has missed qualifying for a USGA championship by one stroke on five different occasions. In 1996, U.S. Amateur officials searched for him on-site to fill the last spot, but he was at the wrong course. In 2004, Boner made double bogey on the final hole of U.S. Open sectional qualifying to miss by two strokes. Finally, he broke through with his brother-in-law, Stephen Woodard, to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. He is playing in his second USGA championship.
John Brennan, 37, of Collegeville, Pa., is a social studies teacher and tennis and golf coach at Spring-Ford High School. He was an NCAA Division III All-American at Lebanon Valley College and was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in January 2016. Brennan, who is playing in his third U.S. Mid-Amateur, won the club championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in 2014 and 2015.
Ryan Brimley, 27, of Herriman, Utah, is playing in his third consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur, having reached the Round of 64 last year. He captured the 2015 Utah Mid-Amateur title and the Utah Governor’s Cup in 2015 and 2016. Brimley was first-team all-state in both golf and basketball in high school. He went on to play college basketball at Southern Utah University, where he averaged 9.4 points as a senior.
Chris Cassetta, 43, of Winston-Salem, N.C., survived a serious car accident in 2009 that resulted in a shattered left humerus, several cracked ribs and a fractured scapula. He won the Forsyth Country Amateur, in Winston-Salem, just 10 months after the accident. Cassetta, who works in regional sales for a packaging adhesives company and was an all-conference golfer at UNC-Greensboro, is playing in his fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Mike Christensen, 39, of Minneapolis, Minn., caddied for Kevin Streelman on the PGA Tour for five years. Christensen, who was Streelman’s college teammate at Duke University, now works in sales for an electrosurgical product company. He has played in five USGA championships and competed in his first U.S. Mid-Amateur last year.
Arnold Cutrell, 52, of Greensburg, Pa., was named after legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, who won the 1954 U.S. Amateur, 1960 U.S. Open and 1981 U.S. Senior Open. Cutrell, who has played in 12 USGA championships, including last month’s U.S. Senior Open, grew up 3 miles from Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe, Pa. He is the general manager for a local telephone company.
Jess Daley, 37, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur, his first USGA championship since the 2001 U.S. Open. Daley, who was reinstated as an amateur last year, saw his professional career curtailed due to a back injury. Daley, a college teammate of Luke Donald at Northwestern University, is a self-employed surgical sales representative.
Packard Dewitt, 51, of Germantown, Tenn., is a colon cancer survivor who was a college teammate of two-time major champion John Daly at the University of Arkansas. Dewitt, who works in promotional sales and food distribution, is competing in his 11th USGA championship and fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur. He played in the 1994 U.S. Open, contested at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
Marc Dull, 30, of Winter Haven, Fla., was the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up, losing to Sammy Schmitz in the 36-hole final. Dull is a caddie at Streamsong (FIa.) Resort, which hosted this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. He is also the great grandson of two-time U.S. Senior Amateur champion Dexter Daniels. Dull, who played in this year’s U.S. Amateur, is competing in his fourth USGA championship.
Daniel Eggertsson, 32, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., is playing in his third USGA championship and second U.S. Mid-Amateur. He earned the final spot in the North Palm Beach, Fla., qualifier with a birdie on the fifth playoff hole against Gary Nicklaus, son of eight-time USGA champion Jack Nicklaus. Eggertsson, who is a manager for a commercial painting contractor, was a consensus NCAA Division III All-America punter at Franklin & Marshall College, where he had a 40.8-yard average as a senior. He is among the program’s career leaders in PATs made (71).
Gene Elliott, 54, of West Des Moines, Iowa, is competing in his 26th USGA championship. Elliott, who has reached match play in 10 of 11 U.S. Mid-Amateurs played, helped Iowa to a third-place finish in the 2014 USGA Men’s State Team Championship. Elliott, who was a 2006 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist, owns a sanitation and street equipment company, and had open-heart surgery in 2000.
Raymond Floyd Jr., 41, of Old Greenwich, Conn., is the son of World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Raymond Floyd, who won the 1986 U.S. Open and three other major professional titles. Floyd Jr. is playing in his ninth USGA championship. He also was scheduled to complete in the 2012 USGA Men’s State Team but withdrew due to the death of his mother. He caddied for his father in his last Masters appearance. Floyd never had a hole-in-one until notching two in a span of 10 days last month.
Edward Fryatt, 45, of Las Vegas, Nev., won six professional events before he was reinstated as an amateur in 2013. He has played in three U.S. Opens, including a tie for 24th in 1997. In 2000, he set the record for most consecutive birdies on the PGA Tour, with eight at the Doral Ryder Open. His father, Jim, was a professional soccer player in England and once held the record for the fastest goal, scoring just 4 seconds into the game for Bradford Park Avenue in 1964. Fryatt is playing in his 10th USGA championship.
Matt Gendron, 26, of Lakeland, Fla., played baseball at the College of Central Florida, where he became the only pitcher at the school to throw a no-hitter. He took up golf at age 14 so he could get out of playing baseball year-round. He works as a caddie at Streamsong (Fla.) Resort, host site of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
David Hall, 45, of Birmingham, Mich., reached the Round of 16 in the 1996 U.S. Mid-Amateur and twice represented Michigan in the USGA Men’s State Team Championship. Hall was a medalist in the 1995 North & South Amateur and is a former Michigan Player of the Year. He works in his family’s financial services company.
Robert Hamilton, 39, of Gold River, Calif., was the runner-up to Ben “Bubba” Dickerson in the 2001 U.S. Amateur, held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga. Hamilton, who competed in the 2002 Masters and played a practice round with his father at Augusta National that spring, works as a packaging sales representative. He once carded a 60 at Del Paso Country Club, the site of the 2015 U.S. Senior Open.
Doug Hanzel, 59, of Savannah, Ga., is competing in his 29th USGA championship and sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur. A physician who specializes in pulmonary critical care at Southeast Medical Group, Hanzel won the 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur. In 2012, he made USGA history by becoming the first player to qualify for match play in the Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur in the same year. Hanzel, who wears an insulin pump to control diabetes, was low amateur in the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Senior Opens.
Scott Harvey, 38, of Greensboro, N.C., is competing in his 21st USGA championship, including his ninth U.S. Mid-Amateur. He won the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur, which earned him an invitation to the 2015 Masters. Harvey, a property manager, has reached match play in two U.S. Amateur Four-Balls with partner Todd Mitchell (2015, semifinals; 2016 Round of 16) and was a member of the 2015 USA Walker Cup Team.
John Hunter, 32, of Houston, Texas, is playing in his third U.S. Mid-Amateur. Hunter, who is a management consultant in the oil and gas industry, was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference first baseman and third baseman at Purdue University. He hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in nine runs in one game against Minnesota.
Matthew Jacobsen, 31, of Portland, Ore., is the nephew of Peter Jacobsen, who won the 2004 U.S. Senior Open and was a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour. Matthew’s father, David, is a USGA committee member who has played in more than 10 USGA events, including the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur in 1981. Matthew is a police officer in the Portland area. He played golf at the University of Oregon for coach Casey Martin.
Jonathan Jeter, 38, of New York, N.Y., is a self-employed innovation consultant who has been a guest faculty member at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Jeter, a former club champion at the Bethpage State Park Black Course, the site of two U.S. Opens, appeared in the movie, Remember the Titans. He has also visited the golf course at Camp Bonifas, nicknamed the “World’s Most Dangerous Golf Course.” The one-hole course sits in the demilitarized zone between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
Scott Kegerreis, 29, of Fayetteville, Pa., works for his family’s outdoor advertising business, which services six states. He shot 72 to share medalist honors in the Harrisburg, Pa., sectional qualifier. He qualified for the 2016 U.S. Amateur, his first USGA championship, by advancing in a 4-for-2 playoff. His brother, Kyle, was on the bag for that championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.
Andy Latowski, 37, of San Francisco, Calif., was chosen Penn State University’s top male student-athlete in 2002. Latowski, who ranks fourth in career scoring average, was a two-time NCAA all-region selection and twice was voted to the GCAA All-Scholar team. Latowski, who is competing in his third U.S. Mid-Amateur, advanced to the Round of 16 at Saucon Valley Country Club in 2014.
Eric LeFante, 29, of Florham Park, N.J., attended Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.’s shareholders’ meeting with his girlfriend (now wife Carrie) two years ago. He purchased his engagement ring from American business magnate Warren Buffett and proposed immediately in front of hundreds. LeFante, who also competed in the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur, has won two NJSGA Public Links Championships.
Randal Lewis, 59, of Alma, Mich., is competing in his 30th USGA championship and 14th U.S. Mid-Amateur. He became the oldest winner (age 54) in U.S. Mid-Amateur history by defeating Kenny Cook, 3 and 2, at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in 2011. Lewis, who has a 21-8 match-play record in Mid-Amateurs, was named the Michigan Golf Association’s Player of the Decade for the 1990s and was inducted in the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 2009. He advanced to the U.S. Senior Amateur semifinals last year.
Chip Lutz, 61, of Reading Pa., was the low amateur at this year’s U.S. Senior Open after having been awarded the silver medal as low amateur at The Senior Open Championship, conducted by The R&A, three times (2012, 2013, 2014). Lutz won the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. He is one of two players to have won the U.S. Senior Amateur, the Seniors Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, and the Canadian Senior Amateur championships. He won his third Seniors Amateur title on Aug. 5 at Formby Golf Club in England, with a 25-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole.
Kevin Marsh, 43, of Henderson, Nev., won the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. A commercial real estate developer, Marsh is playing in his 13th Mid-Amateur and owns a 24-10 match-play record in this championship. In addition to his 2005 title, he has advanced to the semifinals three times (2007, 2013, 2014) and the quarterfinals in 2004.
Matthew Mattare, 30, of Jersey City, N.J., is competing in his fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur, his first USGA championship, and was the stroke-play medalist the following year. In 2014, Mattare advanced to the Round of 16 at Saucon Valley Country Club, where his father, Gene, is the general manager and director of golf. Mattare, who works as a financial advisor, attended Allentown (Pa.) Central Catholic High School.
Michael McCoy, 53, of Des Moines, Iowa, was the low amateur in the 2014 and 2015 U.S. Senior Opens and won the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship as the second-oldest winner. McCoy, who was a member of the 2015 USA Walker Cup Team, has played in 48 USGA championships. McCoy works in the insurance business and is an Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member.
Brian McDermott, 34, of Media, Pa., is competing in second USGA championship and first since the 1999 U.S. Amateur. His older brother, Michael, also qualified for this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur. Brian, who is employed as an insurance broker, played at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia from 2001-04.
Michael McDermott, 41, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., is playing in his 16th USGA championship and eighth U.S. Mid-Amateur. He is a five-time Philadelphia Golfer of the Year, a three-time Philadelphia Amateur champion and four-time Philadelphia Mid-Amateur champion. He works as a wealth advisor for a capital management firm. His younger brother, Brian, is also in this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur field.
Terrence Miskell, 49, of New Braunfels, Texas, is competing in his 23rd USGA championship and seventh U.S. Mid-Amateur. He has advanced to match play in four U.S. Mid-Amateurs, including the quarterfinals in 2002. Miskell, who was an honorable mention All-American at USC in 1987, won the 1990 Pacific Coast Amateur and 1996 California State Amateur.
Todd Mitchell, 38, of Bloomington, Ill., reached the Round of 16 in last year’s U.S. Amateur and was the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up. He has competed in 22 USGA events. Mitchell, who did not play college golf, was a shortstop at Illinois State and was chosen in the 14th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees. He and his partner Scott Harvey advanced to the semifinals of the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and reached the Round of 16 at Winged Foot Golf Club this year.
Michael Muehr, 44, of Potomac Falls, Va., is competing in his sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur. He advanced to match play in four of his previous five appearances, including the quarterfinals in 2011. Muehr was diagnosed with melanoma in 2003 and is the founder of Golf Pros Beating Cancer, a charitable foundation in Virginia. He underwent successful treatment and surgery. He is playing in his 16th USGA championship.
Michael O’Neal, 30, of Jacksonville, Fla., was diagnosed with lymphoma in August 2015 and started the first of seven rounds of chemotherapy the following month. O’Neal, who works in real estate, is now in remission. He has twice qualified for the U.S. Amateur (2007, 2008), and went on to make the cut at the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic and McGladrey Classic in 2010. O’Neal, who was reinstated as an amateur this year, also notched two top-30 finishes on the Nationwide Tour in 2011.
Gregor Orlando, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., won the 2007 state high school championship and was the runner-up in 2008 as a member of the Erie Cathedral Prep team. Orlando, who works for an insurance agency, also won the 2008 Pennsylvania State Junior. He reached the quarterfinals of this year’s Philadelphia Amateur and has two top-15 finishes in the Philadelphia Open.
Brad Nurski, 37, of St. Joseph, Mo., was the runner-up to Scott Harvey and shared stroke-play medalist honors in the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur. He is playing in his 11th USGA championship and advanced to the Round of 32 in last year’s U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club. Nurski works as a conductor and switchman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway. He claimed the 2010 Missouri State Amateur title.
Matt Parziale, 29, of Brockton, Mass., is a firefighter with the Brockton Fire Department. Parziale, whose father, Vic, has worked for the same fire department for more than 30 years, is playing in his fifth USGA championship and third U.S. Mid-Amateur. He shared medalist honors with Scott Harvey in the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur with rounds of 70-69–139. Parziale was reinstated as an amateur two years ago after competing on the NGA Hooters and eGolf tours and making three trips to PGA Tour Qualifying School.
Brian Payne, 42, of Flossmoor, Ill., is playing in his fifth USGA championship and first since the 1997 U.S. Amateur. His wife, Elizabeth, qualified for this year’s U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Brian’s sister, Meg, competed with Elizabeth in the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championships last year. Brian and Elizabeth both played college golf at Northwestern University. He works in sales for an investment management firm while she is a business development executive.
David Poteet, 46, of New Orleans, La., received the Mary Bea Porter Award after saving a family of three from a car accident in which they flipped over into water. He broke a window with a Ping 1 iron in an effort to extricate them. A mini-tour player, Poteet was reinstated as an amateur in 2002. He is competing in his third USGA championship, which includes the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at The Olympic Club in 2015.
Brian Quackenbush, 45, of Aiken, S.C., is playing in his fifth USGA championship but first since the 2002 U.S. Amateur. Quackenbush, a data-integration specialist, won the 2002 Northeast Amateur and then played professionally for five years. His wife, Shawna Harding, is an international-level dressage rider and has represented the United States in two World Cup finals (2011, 2012) and is a U.S. Equestrian Federation national champion.
Sergio Reyes, 40, of Lakeside, Calif., is a tribal council member for Barona Band of Mission Indians. He was taught to swing a golf club at age 16 by his grandfather in the family cattle field where Barona Creek Golf Club sits today. Reyes, a four-time club champion, is playing in his second U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Carl Santos-Ocampo, 28, of Naples, Fla., was born in Providence, R.I., but lived on a military base in the Philippines from age 5 to 14. He learned golf from an Army sergeant before his family relocated to Florida. He won the 2002 FSGA Boys, played college golf at Notre Dame, advanced to match play in the 2008 U.S. Amateur and later tried the professional ranks. He played on several tours in Asia before attempting to qualify for the Web.com Tour. He earned conditional status for 2014 but was reinstated as an amateur the following year.
Sammy Schmitz, 36, of River Falls, Wis., won the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and earned an invitation to this year’s Masters. Schmitz recorded the second known ace on a par 4 in USGA championship history when he holed his tee shot on No. 15 at John’s Island Club’s West Course in the championship match. He competed in his first U.S. Amateur last month and failed to advance from a 23-for-8 playoff for the final match-play berths. He works for a healthcare services company.
Sean Seese, 33, of Rydal, Pa., is competing in his first USGA championship. Seese, a financial advisor, was an All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection at St. Joseph’s University. At LaSalle High School, he was chosen suburban golfer of the year by the Philadelphia Inquirer and won two Catholic League titles. He was a nationally-ranked squash player in college and now plays paddle tennis in the winters.
Nathan Smith, 38, of Pittsburgh, Pa., is a four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion (2003, 2009, 2010, 2012) and a member of three USA Walker Cup Teams (2009, 2011, 2013). He also won last year’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball title with partner Todd White. When he won the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur, he became the youngest champion. He also holds the record for the most Mid-Amateur match-play victories (34). Smith, who works as an investment advisor, has played in 37 USGA championships, including 16 U.S. Amateurs.
Charlie Stevens, 47, of Wichita, Kan., is a member of a golf family. His father, Johnny, won two Kansas State Amateur titles and played in 11 USGA championships. His son, Sam, is a junior on the Oklahoma State University team and advanced to match play in last year’s U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club. Charlie, who is playing in his sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur, won the 2010 Kansas State Amateur. He manages and develops real estate for an oil company.
Rick Stimmel, 49, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was the runner-up in the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur when champion Ken Bakst made a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 1-up victory. Stimmel has competed in eight USGA championships, including the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. Stimmel won the 1996 Pennsylvania Amateur and was the runner-up the following year.
Matt Sughrue, 57, of Arlington, Va., became a psychotherapist following 25 years working as an insurance professional. Sughrue earned a master’s degree in human development and marriage & family therapy from Virginia Tech in 2012. He is a therapist for SERVE, a 90-bed homeless shelter for families and also works with elite athletes to improve performance. He is competing in his 10th USGA championship and sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Nathan Sutherland, 27, of Wyomissing, Pa., shot 72 and shared medalist honors at the Harrisburg, Pa., sectional qualifier. Sutherland, who attended Holy Name High School, was third in both the 2006 state high school championship and 2007 Pennsylvania Amateur. He was twice an NCAA at-large selection and first-team All-MAC standout while playing for Miami (Ohio) University. Sutherland works as a sales representative for a chemical-based company.
Patrick Tallent, 63, of Vienna, Va., is the oldest player in this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur field. He is competing in his 33rd USGA championship. Tallent, who won the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur, has reached match play in four U.S. Mid-Amateurs. He also won the 2015 Seniors Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, at Royal County Down. Tallent, who has played in six U.S. Senior Opens, was selected in the 1976 NBA Draft’s sixth round by the Washington Bullets.
Brad Valois, 29, of Warwick, R.I., advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur and was the stroke-play medalist and reached the Round of 32 in 2012. Valois, a financial planner, has competed in 11 USGA championships. He has won four Rhode Island Amateur titles (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013) and the 2006 New England Amateur.
Tom Werkmeister, 48, of Kentwood, Mich., is competing in his seventh U.S. Mid-Amateur and advanced to the 2014 semifinals. Werkmeister, who is a four-time Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year, was inducted into the state’s golf hall of fame in 2013. Werkmeister, who works in internet sales, is an accomplished bowler who has recorded eight 300 games and carries a 225 average in three leagues. He is playing in his 13th USGA championship.
Todd White, 48, of Spartanburg, S.C., is playing in his sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur and has reached the semifinals once (2012) and quarterfinals twice (2014, 2015). White won the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with partner Nathan Smith. White, who is competing in his 21st USGA championship, is a high school history teacher. He helped the USA to a 17-9 victory in the 2013 Walker Cup Match, contested at The National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.
Brad Wilder, 47, of Fort Wright, Ky., has played in seven USGA championships, including four U.S. Mid-Amateurs. He advanced to last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinals, losing to eventual champion Sammy Schmitz, 1 up. Wilder, who works as a bank wealth advisor, won the 2011 Cincinnati Amateur and two Cincinnati Opens (2003, 2005).
Bill Williamson, 39, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is playing in his sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur and was the runner-up to Michael McCoy at Birmingham (Ala.) Country Club in 2013. Williamson, an attorney, is competing in his 13th USGA championship. Williamson, who is a three-time Greater Cincinnati Player of the Year, has advanced to match play in four of his previous five U.S. Mid-Amateurs.
Steve Wilson, 46, of Ocean Springs, Miss., won the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur by defeating Todd Mitchell, 5 and 4, in the final at Milwaukee Country Club in River Hills, Wis. He advanced to the Mid-Amateur quarterfinals the following year in defense of his title. Wilson, a gas station owner, is playing in his seventh U.S. Mid-Amateur and 12th USGA championship.
Dave Womack, 37, of McDonough, Ga., captured the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur title by defeating Ryan Hybl, 1 up, at Highlands Golf Club (Canyon Course) in Flagstaff, Ariz. Womack, an insurance agent, is competing in his 11th Mid-Amateur. He also played in three U.S. Amateurs and the 1995 U.S. Junior Amateur.
Compiled by Brian DePasquale, a manager of championship communications for the USGA. Email him at bdepasquale@usga.org.