One of Seattle’s best amateur golfers suffered a crushing defeat after a hard-fought Round of 64 match at this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur. 

Paul Mitzel, taking on Ryan O’Rear at Troon Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., was working on a back-and-forth match that went extra holes after being tied through 18. On the way to the tee of the 20th hole after each parring the 19th, Mitzel’s caddie was asked and accepted a ride from a shuttle driver volunteer, a move that violated Model Local Rule G-6, which states, “During a round, a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized or later approved by the committee.” 

Mitzel’s penalty was an immediate loss of the 20th hole, and thus, the match. O’Rear, in a good sportsmanship move, offered to veto the penalty for the match to continue, but his request was denied. 

Understandably, the incident was difficult for Paul to swallow. 

“Too bad it had to end that way,” he said via Golf Channel, calling the match he shared with O’Rear “incredible” and like nothing he’d experienced before. 

Paul was also quick to not assign any blame on his offending caddie, saying he’d do the same if he were in such a position. 

“He’s ‘the man’ and an awesome friend,” Paul continued to Golf Channel. “We were having so much fun, it’s too bad.”  

Paul’s name has long been known across the state’s golfing bubble. A 2011 graduate of the Washington State University men’s golf program, he has WA Golf titles in the 2021 Mixed Chapman and 2022 Men’s Four Ball, the latter held at Palouse Ridge in Pullman, his former college home course.  

He also won the 2022 PNGA Men’s Amateur and 2024 Trans-Mississippi Mid-Amateur. This year marks the third straight in which Paul had qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, as well as consecutive selections to WA Golf’s Lamey Cup team.