Left: William Peel IV Right: Sarah Spicer
Lothian, Md. – On Wednesday, August 13, the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur and the 38th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur qualifying rounds were held at The Cannon Club. For the U.S. Mid-Amateur, there were three qualifying spots and two alternate spots available. In the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, one qualifying spot and two alternate spots were up for grabs.
Jeremy Wall from Birelle, N.J., and William Peel IV from Kensington, Md., delivered outstanding performances, each recording a score of 3-under-par 68 to share the medalist position. The two co-medalists played similar rounds to secure their qualifying spots. Both players made three birdies on the front nine and followed that up with one bogey and another birdie on the back nine.
The third and final qualifying spot for the U.S. Mid-Amateur was decided in a playoff between James Milam from Bethesda, Md., and Brendan Peel from Potomac, Md., who both finished their rounds with a score of 2-under-par 69. The playoff lasted for two holes, starting on hole 15, a short par 4. Both players made par on this hole, which sent the playoff to the long par 3, hole 14.
On hole 14, both players left their tee shots short of the green, requiring them to chip onto the green for their second shots. B. Peel had a long putt after his chip but missed the par save. Milam was able to chip his ball to within a couple of feet of the hole and successfully converted his par save, securing the final qualifying spot in the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur.
B. Peel was awarded the first alternate position as a result of the playoff. The second alternate spot was decided through a playoff involving three players: Kyle Gebhart from Rockville, Md., Ryan Schlueter from Alexandria, Va., and Tracy Vallandingham from California, Md. Each of them shot a score of 1-under-par 70. The playoff lasted only one hole, during which Gebhart secured the second alternate position by making a birdie. Vallandingham made par, while Schlueter ended with a bogey.
The three qualifiers advance to play in the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur, which will be held at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., from September 13-18. To learn more about the U.S. Mid-Amateur, please visit the U.S. Mid-Amateur web page.
In the qualifying round for the 38th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, five women competed for a single qualifying spot. Sarah Spicer from Silver Spring, Md., secured the qualifying position with a score of 1-over-par 71, which included two birdies. Following her, Jacqueline Pearce from Greenbelt, Md., claimed the first alternate spot with a score of 11-over-par 81. Katie Zefran from Browndale, Pa., earned the second alternate position with a score of 14-over-par 84.
Sarah Spicer will move on to the 38th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, which will be held at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, Calif., from October 4-9. To learn more about the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, please visit the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur web page.
The Maryland State Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership at The Cannon Club for their hospitality and for hosting us for this USGA qualifier.
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
