Former Mid-Amateur Champ Thomas Dies
By David Shefter, USGA
Former U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Jeff Thomas, arguably one of the most successful amateur golfers to ever come out of New Jersey, was found dead in a Florida hotel room on July 30. An autopsy by the Treasure Coast Medical Examiner's Office is being performed to determine the cause of death of the 44 year old from South Plainfield.

This was the final year of Thomas' 10-year exemption to the Mid-Amateur for winning the championship in 1993. But even though Thomas had talked with friends about entering, he never sent in a registration form. The last time he competed at the Mid-Amateur was 2000 at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., where he failed to advance to match play after rounds of 75-74.

Ten years ago, Thomas defeated Joey Ferrari, of Lodi, Calif., 1 up, at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club to capture his only USGA championship. The title earned Thomas an invitation to the 1994 Masters and propelled him to win the 1996 Ike Championship, one of the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Association's premier amateur events, at Metedeconk National in Jackson, N.J.

Also in 1996, Thomas nearly won a second USGA title when he advanced to the championship match of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship against Californian Tim Hogarth at Wailua (Hawaii) Golf Club. The 36-hole final included an unusual incident at the par-4 16th hole during the morning 18. Thomas, who trailed 4 down at the time, asked Hogarth to move his ball mark prior to his putt. After Thomas missed the putt and Hogarth made his to apparently go 5 up, he inquired about Hogarth not returning his ball to its original position on the green. When Hogarth said he had not, his lead was trimmed to 3 up. A birdie by Thomas at the 17th hole trimmed that margin to 2.

A visibly upset Hogarth regrouped during the lunch break and eventually registered an 8-and-7 victory.

While Thomas, a four-time NCAA Division III All-American at Ramapo College in New Jersey, enjoyed success on the golf course, he battled personal problems off it. He left New Jersey three years ago and had not played competitive golf since. The same year he competed in his last Mid-Amateur, he nearly won the Ike at Hollywood Golf Club in Ocean (N.J.) Township. To earn money, Thomas had been working as a caddie and performing other jobs at McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound, which closes down during the summer months.