40th Maryland Mid-Amateur Co-Champions Rij Patel (left) and Jay Mulieri (right)
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Bel Air, Md. – Jay Mulieri of Rolling Road Golf Club and Rij Patel of Hayfields Country Club were crowned co-champions of the 40th Maryland Mid-Amateur Championship at Maryland Golf and Country Clubs on Tuesday.
Neither eventual champion held the lead after the opening round, but both remained within striking distance heading into Tuesday. Mulieri methodically worked his way up the leaderboard, while Patel closed with the tournament’s only under-par final round to join him atop the standings.
Round One (July 27)
Round one began Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. with 130 competitors vying for one of 35 spots beyond the first-round cut.
By day’s end, four players shared the lead at four-under-par 68.
James Milam of Bethesda Country Club overcame a difficult start after recording three bogeys through his first eight holes. A birdie on the 9th sparked a remarkable turnaround, as Milam caught fire on the back nine with six birdies to give himself a share of the lead.
2010 champion Chris Baloga of the Country Club of Maryland also rallied after an early stumble. Following two bogeys and a birdie through his opening three holes, Baloga steadied himself with a birdie at the 9th before adding four more on the second nine to establish his position at the top of the leaderboard.
Jeff Lim-Sharpe of the MSGA eClub endured an up-and-down front nine that featured three bogeys and four birdies. After making the turn at one-under-par, he carried the momentum of his front nine to continue his strong play into the second nine, carding four birdies against a lone bogey to earn a share of the lead.
Sean Boyle of Rolling Road Golf Club took a different path to the top of the leaderboard, piecing together a bogey-free round. Birdies on the 2nd and 9th gave Boyle momentum on the front nine, and additional birdies on the 10th and 13th secured his four-under-par opening round.
Former champion Billy Wingerd of Sparrows Point Country Club positioned himself just two strokes back after an opening-round 70, while defending champion Kevin Grady of Rolling Road Golf Club carded a one-under-par 71 to sit three shots off the lead entering the second round.
Eventual co-champions Jay Mulieri and Rij Patel both positioned themselves for a Tuesday charge. Mulieri, the 2025 runner-up, carded a two-under-par 70 to sit two shots off the lead, while Patel, the 2023 runner-up, posted an even-par 72 to comfortably make the cut.
Round Two (July 28 – Morning)
Round two of the 40th Maryland Mid-Amateur brought significant movement atop the leaderboard, with only two of the five first-round leaders remaining among the top five entering the final round.
Milam continued to lead the field, though another slow start tested him early. After opening with a bogey and adding another on the 8th, Milam birdied the 9th before once again taking advantage of the back nine. Four birdies against one bogey over his final nine holes resulted in a two-under-par 70, giving him a tournament-leading six-under-par 138 entering the final round.
Mulieri climbed four spots into sole possession of second place after carding a one-under-par 71. Despite three bogeys through his first eight holes, the 2025 runner-up rallied with a birdie on the 9th before adding birdies on the 10th, 11th, and 13th to pull within three strokes of the lead entering the final round.
Jan Jedlicka of Pine Ridge Golf Course vaulted 24 spots into a share of third place after posting a four-under-par 68. Like many, Jedlicka struggled early with bogeys on the 1st and 3rd. He responded by carding birdies on the 4th and 6th to make the turn at even-par. After a birdie on the 10th was offset by a bogey on the 12th, Jedlicka caught fire, carding birdies on four of his final six holes to vault into a share of third.
Burt Gesner of Argyle Country Club also made a significant move up the leaderboard with a three-under-par 69. After an early bogey, he responded with four birdies to join the group tied for third.
Chris Wiedel of the host club, Maryland Golf and Country Clubs, climbed eight spots after posting a one-under-par 71. Two birdies against one bogey moved him into the five-way tie for third entering the final round.
Baloga and Boyle each slipped back with rounds of 2-over-par 74 but remained in the five-way tie for third. Patel quietly kept himself in the mix, posting a second consecutive even-par 72 to remain six strokes off the lead entering the final round.
Final Round (July 28 – Afternoon)
Darkening skies quickly became the story of the final round as storms moved into the area. Play was ultimately suspended before the field could complete all 54 scheduled holes, and with no opportunity to resume, the championship was officially shortened to 45 holes. For the first time in tournament history, co-champions were declared.
Patel made the most of the shortened final round with steady, mistake-free golf. Beginning the day six shots off the lead, Patel remained bogey-free over his final nine holes and birdied the 6th to post a one-under-par 35. His 45-hole total of one-under-par 179 vaulted him ten spots up the leaderboard and into a share of the championship. Patel was the only player to finish under par in the tournament’s final round.
Mulieri’s path to the title looked much different. After opening with a bogey and a double bogey, the 2025 runner-up steadied himself with a birdie on the 4th and played the remaining holes at even par. His two-over-par 38 gave him a matching 45-hole total of one-under-par 179, earning a share of his first Maryland Mid-Amateur Championship.
The Maryland State Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Maryland Golf and Country Clubs for their hospitality in hosting this MSGA championship.
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
