Andrew Bailey Wins U.S. Mid-Amateur, Turns into First Ohioan to Declare the Title

Andrew Bailey of Cleveland received the forty fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship on Thursday, defeating Nate Smith of Tetonia, Idaho, 5 and 4 within the 36-hole remaining at Sand Valley Resort’s Lido course in Nekoosa, Wis., in line with the USGA’s official scoring web page.

Bailey, 34, is the primary Ohio participant to win the championship, the USGA reported. Ohio natives had gone 0-4 in finals because the occasion started in 1981, per the USGA. Smith is 43.

The remaining turned within the afternoon. USGA senior author David Shefter reported that Smith led by as many as 2 up within the morning spherical, performed in mild drizzle, and held a 2-up edge till the ultimate two holes, however Bailey made a 6-foot birdie on the par-5 seventeenth and a 4-foot par putt on 18 to achieve the lunch break tied. After the break, Shefter wrote, Bailey took three straight holes starting at No. 23, all with birdies, then added birdies on Nos. 28 and 30. Bailey closed out the match on the par-3 thirty second gap by sinking a 4-footer.

“I have no words,” Bailey mentioned, per the USGA, including that the outcome had not but sunk in. He additionally advised the USGA that his late push within the morning spherical, which erased his deficit, reset the match for him.

Bailey superior via the bracket with a 3-and-2 quarterfinal win over Grady Brame Jr. of Hammond, La., and a 4-and-2 semifinal win over Matt Vogt of Indianapolis, in line with the USGA scoring web page. Smith beat Parker Edens of Brookings, S.D., 6 and 5 within the quarterfinals and Mikel Martinson of Throckmorton, Texas, 2 and 1 within the semifinals. The USGA reported that Smith additionally beat three-time champion Stewart Hagestad, 5 and 4, within the Round of 32.

The USGA mentioned Bailey was a three-time Horizon League Player of the Year at Cleveland State and now works as a nationwide gross sales supervisor for a golf attire firm. The championship was his twelfth USGA begin, the USGA reported.

The title carries an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, spots within the subsequent two U.S. Amateur Championships, a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Mid-Amateur and a possible invitation to the 2027 Masters, per the USGA. Smith earned exemptions into the following three Mid-Amateurs, the 2027 U.S. Amateur and native qualifying for the 2027 U.S. Open, in line with the USGA.

Next yr’s U.S. Mid-Amateur shall be performed at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla., the USGA mentioned.