The United States Golf Association yesterday held a Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifier at Dataw Island, just outside historic Beaufort, South Carolina. A field of 75 players teed off on the Tom Fazio “Cotton Dike” course on a beautiful summer day, with the sun in full force and a light breeze blowing in from Jenkins Creek and the Morgan River.
Three qualifiers and two alternates who lead this event, conducted by the South Carolina Golf Association on behalf of the Carolinas Golf Association, will advance to the USGA Mid-Am at Erin Hills, in Erin, Wis.
And the winners are…
With 6 birdies, Weston Bell of Piedmont, SC, finished at -6, one stroke ahead of Jon Weiss, Jr., of Florence, SC, who also had 6 birdies but took a bogey on the par 3 Hole 16. Osborn Theam, Jacksonville, FL, secured third place shooting -4.
A five-way tie for third brought on a tie-breaker on the scenic and challenging 18th hole. After two goes at a shootout at the 558-yard par 5, Cole Isban earned a spot as the first alternate. After a neck-in-neck battle on 17 and again on 18, Patrick Beste emerged from the 4-hole tiebreaker as the second alternate.
Tournament Director Kyle Maloney says, “We love the welcome we receive coming down to the Lowcountry to compete. To host a USGA national championship, there is a high standard of quality, and Dataw always exceeds that in every aspect. In 2018 we held the state junior and the state amateur here, which had never been done before, but Dataw always exceeds our expectations.” Maloney also noted how appreciative that they are of the support here on Dataw Island, saying “The membership has always been supportive of the SCGA and all our endeavors.”
“This championship event is a big deal,” he continues. “To put your name on that trophy really means something. Winning this opens a lot of doors for our nation’s 25+ year old mid-amateur players.”
Congratulations to all the players for an excellent competition!