Kent Brown of Colville, Wash. shot an even-par 71 today to earn Medalist honors in qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Jeff Sweat of Spokane, Wash. finished one stroke behind Brown to earn this qualifier's second available spot into the championship. The qualifier was held at Spokane Country Club.
Both players advance to the 33rd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be held Oct. 5-10 at the Country Club of Birmingham (Ala.).
Brown, 65, remains a consistent contender in regional championships, and despite being eligible for senior events is still able to compete against younger players. No players in today's qualifier broke par, and Brown birdied the last hole, a short par-4, to finish at even par and clear himself from the field to take Medalist honors.
Brown also qualified for the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur, and has been the recipient of multiple WSGA Senior Men's Player of the Year honors, most recently in 2008.
Sweat, 46, birdied his last two holes to make it into a three-way playoff for the second available spot, and he then birdied the first playoff hole to punch his ticket into the championship proper. He is a member at nearby Manito Golf and Country Club. Chris Bae of Issaquah, Wash. and Jared Taylor of Houston, Texas, were in the playoff with Sweat, and will be the first and second alternates, respectively.
This year marks the 33rd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Entries for the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur were open to players who have reached their 25 th birthday by Saturday, October 5, 2013, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4. The championship proper consists of 36 holes of stroke play qualifying, held on October 5-6, to determine the 64 players who will then compete in single elimination match play to determine the champion. Champions of this event earn an invitation to the Masters.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association (USGA), 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) is the local representative of the USGA and conducted this qualifier for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
