FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 20, 2019
SOUTH HADLEY, Massachusetts- For the second time in less than ten years, USGA qualifying returns to the Orchards Golf Club for the remaining 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier hosted by the Bay State. Designed by legendary golf architect Donald Ross in 1922, the Western Mass hidden gem is located just north of Springfield.
The 6,575 layout is no stranger to hosting big name events, as the Orchards Golf Club has served as the Championship Proper to: 1987 U.S. Women’s Junior Championship, 2001 Massachusetts State Men’s Amateur Championship, 2002 NCAA Women’s Division III Finals, 2004 U.S. Women’s Open, and the 2010 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship.
ONLINE: U.S. MID-AMATEUR QUALIFYING RESULTS | U.S. MID-AMATEUR
Zelmati is Awarded Medalist U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier
By day’s end, only one man remained on top of the leaderboard, Arthur Zelmati (Boston, MA). After the 18-hole qualifier, Zelmati post a 2-under par 68 which was good enough to earn him the medalist honor on the day.
Coming into today’s qualifier, Zelmati had a simple game plan, make as many birdies as possible on the par five’s and four’s. “The game plan was to try to birdie the par five’s and maybe get a couple birdies on the par four’s to outweigh any bogeys,” said Zelmati. “I almost managed to do that. I think I had one birdie and two pars on the par five’s.”
Zelmati is no stranger to USGA Championships, as he previously has played in two U.S. Amateur Championships. “The first was the U.S. Amateur in 2009 at Southern Hills Country Club in Oklahoma, where I qualified in Virginia,” said Zelmati. “Then in 2013 at The Country Club in Massachusetts and I qualified in Long Island.”
For the France native who moved to Boston just one year ago, qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur is truly a dream come true. “This is like my major,” said Zelmati. “This is the thing that I look forward to at the beginning of every season and to be able to kind of accomplish that goal is huge.”
Along with Zelmati, three other Massachusetts golfers punched their tickets to the 39th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, resulting in all four qualifying spots going to Bay State golfers. Cam Moniz (Seekonk, MA) finished with an even par round of 70, while Peter Anderson (Wellesley, MA), and Michael Beaty (Needham, MA) both shot a 1-over par 71. Along with all four qualifying spots going to Massachusetts golfers, both alternate positions were earned by Massachusetts golfers. Haverhill’s Nick Maccario earned first alternate status while Milton’s Benjamin Spitz earned second alternate status.
Zelmati, Moniz, Anderson, and Beaty will join the lone Bay State exempt player for the 2019 U.S. Mid- Amateur Championship, Matt Parziale (Brockton, MA). Parziale earned an exemption by winning the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship hosted at the Capital City Club (Crabapple Course) in Atlanta, Georgia.
About the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
The 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship contested on September 14-19, will make its way out west to Colorado for the 39th hosting of the Championship Proper. Rounds one and two of the tournament will alternate between two different courses: the Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado and the CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. For round two of stroke play, competitors will play on the other course that they did not play on during round one. After round two has been completed, a cut will be implemented, and the top 64 players will head to match play. More information on the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship can be found above.
2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Heads to the Bay State
Fast forward two years and the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will head to the famous Sankaty Head Golf Course in Nantucket on September 25-30. Originally established in 1923, Sankaty Head is currently slated as the 10th best golf course in Massachusetts right behind Taconic GC (Williamstown MA) according to Golf Digest. Being a top-rated golf course in Massachusetts is not the only thing Sankaty Head is known for, as they operate one of the last caddie camps left in the world. Each summer, 60 caddies and staff members head to the Sankaty Head Caddie Camp. Sustained by the Sankaty Head Foundation, campers are able to live in a structed, disciplined camp environment, and spent part of each day caddying for members of the club.
Sankaty Head’s neighboring course Miacomet Golf Course will serve as the stroke-play co-host course. More information on the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and the two Nantucket host courses can be found HERE.
STAY INFORMED
Mass Golf will provide coverage of its Massachusetts competitors competing in the 39th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado from September 14-19. Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest information. To join the conversation, use the hashtags #MassGolf , & #USMidAm.
