DuPont, Wash.– U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying took place today, as 44 players competed at The Home Course for three coveted spots into the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be held at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill. from September 8-13, 2012. After playing 18 holes in near perfect conditions, Dan Whitaker of Ellensburg, Wash., Mike Swingle of Bellevue, Wash. and Luke Bakke of Seattle, Wash. each earned spots into the championship proper.
Whitaker won medalist honors at the qualifier, firing a 3-under par 69. Previously, Whitaker was the runner-up in the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur, held that year at Bandon (Ore.) Dunes Golf Resort. Swingle and Bakke each shot even-par 72 for the other two spots. Michael Wog II of Phoenix, Ariz. shot a 1-under par 71, but declined his spot into the championship proper because he will be turning professional next week.
The first alternate from today’s qualifier is Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Wash. Hanson has previously qualified for and competed in seven USGA championships. The second alternate from today’s play is Ben Garrett of Seattle, Wash. Hanson and Garrett both shot a 1-over par 73, and Hanson won the playoff to claim the first alternate spot.
Opened in 2007, The Home Course was immediately ranked the No. 2 public golf course in the state by
Golfweek magazine. It served as the assisting course in the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship, and will host the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. The Home Course is the home for the Washington State Golf Association and Pacific Northwest Golf Association.
This year marks the 32
nd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The championship proper consists of 36 holes of stroke play qualifying, held on September 8-9, to determine the 64 players who will then compete in single elimination match play to determine the champion. Last year, Randal Lewis of Alma, Mich. became the oldest champion in the event’s 31-year history when he defeated Kenny Cook of Noblesville, Ind. 3&2 in the championship match. Lewis was 54 years old at the time, and will be back to defend his title in this year’s championship.
Entries for the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship were open to players who have reached their 25
th birthday by Saturday, September 8, 2012, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4. Entries into this championship closed on July 18. Champions of this event earn an invitation to the Masters.
For final results, please visit
www.thewsga.org.
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 conducts this qualifier for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
Since 1922, the WSGA has been conducting the state’s amateur golf championships. Today, it is one of the largest amateur golf associations in the United States. Serving over 80,000 members, 600 member golf clubs and 270 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, the WSGA works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds.
The WSGA is a 501c4 non-profit amateur golf association governed by volunteers. The 25-person WSGA board of directors employs a full-time staff of 14 individuals. The WSGA serves as a statewide representative of the USGA and works closely with other allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.
For more information about the 14 amateur championships conducted by the WSGA each year, visit
www.thewsga.org.
