Bridgehampton, N.Y. – Tri-medalists Nathan Smith, Tim Hogarth and Scott Harvey were among eight winners in Wednesday morning’s third round at the 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Atlantic Golf Club.
After Tuesday’s lengthy weather delay, the third round resumed at 6:52 a.m. EDT.
Defending champion Smith, 32, of Pittsburgh, Pa., defeated Kevin Pomarleau of E. Wenatchee, Wash., 3 and 1.
He came out of the gate when we were playing yesterday evening, Smith said. For him to birdie No. 2 and No.3 in the dark is some spectacular golf.
Following those holes, Smith was 1 down but rebounded and squared the match at the seventh hole. Pomarleau, a reinstated amateur, then won the eighth before Smith won 10, 13 and 15 for a 2-up advantage.
A two-time champion as well as a member of the 2009 USA Walker Cup Team, Smith was steeled for a long day in which officials planned to maximize golf. Quarterfinal matches started at 10:40 a.m.
You have to go with the flow and it is what it is, Smith said of a possible marathon day. I’m sure everybody’s exhausted. You just keep playing. You close your eyes and try to the best of your ability.
In the quarterfinals, he faces Anthony Barrera, 26, of San Jose, Calf., who defeated Steve Harwell of Moorestown, N.C., in 19 holes.
Hogarth, 44, of Northridge, Calif., never trailed in his 6-and-4 victory over Patrick Duffy of Omaha, Neb. Hogarth advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 10 Mid-Amateur appearances.
You don’t get that many opportunities when you feel like your game is there, said Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion. Everything fits you and the course looks good to you. You have to take advantage when you feel good.
The health foods distributor is the only remaining player carrying this own golf bag. There’s a good reason, according to Hogarth.
I think that fitness-wise I am stronger than I have ever been in my life, he said. I tend to like doing it myself because a caddie can create doubt in my mind. I’m very fragile so I have to protect myself from getting in my own way so I just do it myself.
The possibility of playing as many as three matches in the day did not daunt him.
For about two years I’ve been involved in fitness but for the last six months I’ve been taking muay tai kickboxing and I think my cardio is beyond here it’s ever been, said Hogarth, who meets Robby McWilliams, 41, of Bossier City, La., in the quarterfinals. If they are going to play all day today, I think that’s an advantage for me.
A driving range operator from Greensboro, N.C., Harvey, 32, edged Rick Cloninger, of Fort Mill, S.C., 1 up. His quarterfinal opponent is Sean Knapp, 48, of Oakmont, Pa., who was a semifinalist in 2008 and helped Pennsylvania claim the 2009 USGA Men's State Team Championship.
The other quarterfinal match pits Tim Mickelson, 33, of San Diego, Calif., the younger brother of four-time major winner Phil, against Todd Burgan, 41, of Knoville, Tenn., a pharmacist who advanced to last year’s quarterfinals and defeated two-time champion Tim Jackson in the third round. Mickelson is currently the head men's golf coach at the University of San Diego.
If possible, the quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be played Wednesday. The 36-hole championship final is scheduled for Thursday.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur, which is open to golfers age 25 and older, is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Bridgehampton, N.Y. – Results following Wednesday’s third round of match play at the 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, being played at the 7,044-yard, par-72 Atlantic Golf Club.
Round of 16
Upper Bracket
Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa. (144) def. Kevin Pomarleau, E. Wenatchee, Wash. (152), 3 and 1
Anthony Barrera, San Jose, Calif. (147) def. Steve Harwell, Mooresville, N.C. (152), 19 holes
Todd Burgan, Knoxville, Tenn. (145) def. Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn. (152), 4 and 3
Tim Mickelson, San Diego, Calif. (153) def. Joseph Saladino, Huntington, N.Y. (149), 3 and 1
Lower Bracket
Tim Hogarth, Northridge, Calif. (144) def. Patrick Duffy, Omaha, Neb. (152), 6 and 4
Robby McWilliams, Bossier City, La. (149) def. Joey Gullion, Humble, Texas (152), 21 holes
Scott Harvey, Greensboro, N.C. (144) def. Rick Cloninger, Fort Mill, S.C. (149), 1 up
Sean Knapp, Oakmont, Pa. (145) def. Mike Calef, West Bridgewater, Mass. (152), 4 and 3
Bridgehampton, N.Y. – Pairings for Wednesday’s quarterfinal round of match play at the 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, being played at the 7,044-yard, par-72 Atlantic Golf Club.
Quarterfinals
Upper Bracket
Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa. (144) vs. Anthony Barrera, San Jose, Calif. (147)
Todd Burgan, Knoxville, Tenn. (145) vs. Tim Mickelson, San Diego, Calif. (153)
Lower Bracket
Tim Hogarth, Northridge, Calif. (144) vs. Robby McWilliams, Bossier City, La. (149)
Scott Harvey, Greensboro, N.C. (144) vs. Sean Knapp, Oakmont, Pa. (145)