U.S. Mid-Amateur History
In 1981, the USGA inaugurated the U.S. Mid-Amateur, a national championship for golfers at least 25 years of age. Before the Mid-Amateur's arrival, the post-college player found himself at a disadvantage in the U.S. Amateur. Since 1980, only four mid-amateurs have won the U.S. Amateur, the last coming in 1993 by John Harris.
In 2017, the USGA announced that the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion would receive an exemption into the following year's U.S. Open Championship. Matt Parziale became the first to achieve that feat with his victory at Capital City Club's Crabapple Course in suburban Atlanta.
Since 1988, every champion has been invited to play in The Masters, and many champions have also been selected to represent the USA in the biennial Walker Cup Match.
Pennsylvanians Jay Sigel (three) and Nathan Smith (four) are the only two golfers to have won three or more U.S. Mid-Amateur titles. In 1983 Sigel became the first golfer in 53 years to win two USGA Championships in the same year when he added the Mid-Amateur Championship to the U.S. Amateur Championship he had won just 32 days earlier.
U.S. Mid-Amateur Champions (1981-Present)
1981: Jim Holtgrieve d. Bob Lewis Jr., 2 up; Bellerive C.C., St. Louis, Mo.; Medalists — 145, Jay Sigel, Jay Rustman; Entries: 1,638
1982: William Hoffer d. Jeffrey Ellis, 3 and 2; Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, Ill.; Medalist — 137, Jay Sigel; Entries: 1,779
1983: Jay Sigel d. Randy Sonnier, 1 up; Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo.; Medalists — 139, Lawrence Stubblefield, Randy Sonnier; Entries: 2,186
1984: Michael Podolak d. Bob Lewis Jr., 5 and 4; Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course), Duluth, Ga.; Medalists — 146, Bob Lewis Jr., Danny Yates; Entries: 2,243
1985: Jay Sigel d. O. Gordon Brewer Jr., 3 and 2; The Vintage Club (Mountain Course), Indian Wells, Calif.; Medalist — 137, Dennis Saunders; Entries: 2,577
1986: Bill Loeffler d. Charles Pinkard, 4 and 3; Annandale G.C., Madison, Miss.; Medalist — 140, Larry Clark; Entries: 2,511
1987: Jay Sigel d. David Lind, 20 holes; Brook Hollow G.C., Dallas, Texas; Medalist — 139, Randy Sonnier; Entries: 2,630
1988: David Eger d. Scott Mayne, 2 and 1; Prairie Dunes C.C., Hutchinson, Kan.; Medalists — 140, Jay Sigel, Randy Sonnier, John Harris; Entries: 2,492
1989: James Taylor d. Bill Hadden, 4 and 3; Crooked Stick G.C., Carmel, Ind.; Medalist — 135, Sean Knapp; Entries: 3,007
1990: Jim Stuart d. Mark Sollenberger, 1 up; Troon G. & C.C., Scottsdale, Ariz.; Medalist — 141, Mitch Voges; Entries: 3,397
1991: Jim Stuart d. Bert Atkinson, 1 up; Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Medalist — 138, William Hadden; Entries: 3,684
1992: Danny Yates d. David Lind, 1 up; Detroit (Mich.) G.C. (North Course); Medalist — 138, John Grace; Entries: 3,692
1993: Jeff Thomas d. Joey Ferrari, 1 up; Eugene (Ore.) C.C.; Medalist — 139, Jay Coatta; Entries: 3,600
1994: Tim Jackson d. Tommy Brennan, 1 up; Hazeltine National G.C., Chaska, Minn.; Medalist — 136, Tom Kroll; Entries: 3,720
1995: Jerry Courville Jr. d. Warren Sye, 1 up; Caves Valley G.C., Owings Mills, Md.; Medalist — 139, John Harris; Entries: 3,885
1996: John “Spider” Miller d. Randy Lewis, 3 and 2; Hartford G.C., West Hartford, Conn.; Medalist — 139, Jerry Courville Jr.; Entries: 4,102
1997: Ken Bakst d. Rick Stimmel, 1 up; Dallas Athletic Club (Blue Course), Mesquite, Texas; Medalist — 132, Bert Atkinson; Entries: 5,271
1998: John “Spider” Miller d. Chip Holcombe, 1 up; NCR C.C. (South Course), Dayton, Ohio; Medalist — 136, Steve Sheehan; Entries: 4,095
1999: Danny Green d. Jerry Courville Jr., 2 and 1; Old Warson C.C., St. Louis, Mo.; Medalist — 139, Ed Brooks; Entries: 4,267
2000: Greg Puga d. Wayne Raath, 3 and 1; The Homestead (Cascades Course), Hot Springs, Va.; Medalists — 138, Jim Wilson, Jeff Wilson, Darryl Donovan, Dale Fuller; Entries: 4,326
2001: Tim Jackson d. George Zahringer, 1 up; San Joaquin C.C., Fresno, Calif.; Medalist — •132, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 4,667
2002: George Zahringer d. Jerry Courville Jr., 3 and 2; The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, Conn.; Medalists — 142, George Zahringer, Pat Carter, Bill Sharpe; Entries: 4,549
2003: Nathan Smith d. Bryan Norton, match conceded due to injury; Wilmington (Del.) C.C. (South Course); Medalist — 137, Tripp Davis; Entries: 4,469
2004: Austin Eaton III d. Josh Dennis, 1 up; Sea Island G.C. (Seaside Course), St. Simons Island, Ga.; Medalists — 137, Paul Simson, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 4,371
2005: Kevin Marsh d. Carlton Forrester, 10 and 9; The Honors Course, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Medalist — 138, Darin Newhouse; Entries: 4,130
2006: Dave Womack d. Ryan Hybl, 1 up; Forest Highlands G.C. (Canyon Course), Flagstaff, Ariz.; Medalists — 139, Carlton Forrester, Ryan Hybl, Trip Kuehne; Entries: 4,052
2007: Trip Kuehne d. Dan Whitaker, 9 and 7, Bandon Dunes (Ore.) Resort (Bandon Dunes Course); Medalists — 144, Richard Berkmeyer, Tim Hogarth, Stephen Sear, George Zahringer, Trip Kuehne, Austin Eaton; Entries: 4,426
2008: Steve Wilson d. Todd Mitchell, 5 and 4; Milwaukee C.C., River Hills, Wis.; Medalist — 138, Skip Berkmeyer; Entries: 3,839
2009: Nathan Smith d. Tim Spitz, 7 and 6; The Kiawah Island (S.C.) Club (Cassique); Medalists — 140, Mike McCoy, Nathan Smith; Entries: 4,188
2010: Nathan Smith d. Tim Hogarth, 7 and 5; Atlantic Golf Club, Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Medalists – 144, Nathan Smith, Tim Hogarth, Scott Harvey; Entries: 3,860
2011: Randal Lewis d. Kenny Cook, 3 and 2; Shadow Hawk Golf Club, Richmond, Texas; Medalist – 139, John Engler; Entries: 3,743
2012: Nathan Smith d. Garrett Rank, 1 up; Conway Farms Golf Club, Lake Forest, Ill.; Medalist – 141, Brad Valois; Entries: 3,810
2013: Michael McCoy d. Bill Williamson, 8 and 6; Country Club of Birmingham (West Course), Birmingham, Ala.; Medalist – 136, Matthew Mattare; Entries: 4,238
2014: Scott Harvey d. Brad Nurski, 6 and 5; Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem, Pa.; Medalists – 141, Scott Harvey, Brad Nurski; Entries: 3,891
2015: Sammy Schmitz d. Marc Dull, 3 and 2; John's Island Club (West Course), Vero Beach, Fla.; Medalists – 139, Scott Harvey, Matt Parziale; Entries: 4,024
2016: Stewart Hagestad d. Scott Harvey, 37 holes; Stonewall (Old and North Courses), Elverson, Pa.; Medalists – 138, Michael Muehr, Thomas Werkmeister, Scott Harvey; Entries: 4,131
2017: Matt Parziale d. Josh Nichols, 8 and 6; Capital City Club (Crabapple Course), Atlanta, Ga.; Medalist – 136, Bradford Tilley; Entries: 4,386
2018: Kevin O'Connell d. Brett Boner, 4 and 3; Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club; Medalist – 137, Stephen Behr; Entries: 4,709
2019: Lukas Michel d. Joseph Deraney, 2 and 1; Colorado Golf Club, Parker, Colo.; Medalist – 136, Ben Warnquist; Entries: 4,751
2020: Championship canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Stewart Hagestad d. Mark Costanza, 2 and 1; Sankaty Head Golf Club, Siasconset, Mass.; Medalist – •131, Yaroslav Merkulov; Entries: 5,339
2022: Matthew McClean d. Hugh Foley, 3 and 1; Erin Hills, Erin, Wis.; Medalists – 134, Jake Shuman, Sam Jones; Entries: 5,708
2023: Stewart Hagestad d. Evan Beck, 3 and 2; Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Scarborough, N.Y.; Medalist – 135, Jeronimo Esteve; Entries: §6,060
• Record qualifying score (1997, 2001)
§ Record entry (2023)