MGA Mid-Amateur Championship

MGA Championship

Midland Hills Country Club | Roseville, MN
Town & Country Club | St. Paul, MN
September 17-19, 2012

Tournament Information

Entry Fees:

Entries Open - Exempt Players: Monday, April 2, 2012

Entries Open - Non-exempt players: Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Deadline: Tuesday, September 4, 2012.

Entry Fee: $150 per player

The field is limited to 240 players, including exempt players.

Players are encouraged to enter all MGA events online. Entry forms will not be accepted from non-exempt players prior to Wednesday, August 1, 2012, but must arrive by the deadline of Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at the office of the Minnesota Golf Association. Entry is on a first-come basis, and the full entry fee must accompany the entry form.

Late or incomplete entries are not acceptable and will be returned. Entries submitted by telephone, email or fax are not acceptable. Time limit for entries means time of receipt by the MGA.

Entries with insufficient funds will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn. The entrant is responsible for any fees incurred by the MGA for such payment and must pay such fees before entry into further MGA events is allowed.

Eligibility:

Entries are open to amateur golfers:

Who are currently Associate Members of the MGA at the club from which they are playing,
Whose club is a current Member Club of the MGA,
Whose USGA Handicap Index for 18 holes does not exceed 6.4 at the time of entry, and
Who must be at least 30 years of age as of September 17, 2012.

All entries are subject to rejection at any time by the MGA Tournament Committee.

Additional Information

In 1988, the MGA created the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship to meet the demands of the post-college, working golfers who want to stay competitive on a state-wide level. Patterned after the successful USGA Mid-Amateur, the MGA differs in that the minimum age is 30 as opposed to the USGA's 25. This distinct difference requires individuals to be away from the college golf scene longer.

The first Championship was held at Edina Country Club where ECC member John Harris won the first of his five titles on his way to the second of his nine consecutive MGA Player of the Year titles. The only other Mid-Amateur champions with multiple victories are John Spreiter (1996, 2002, 2004), Joe Stansberry (1993, 1995) and Adam Dooley (2007, 2008).

In 2005, the MGA expanded the Championship to a 54 hole, three day event over two golf courses. This has created excitement for those players who want to compete in an MGA Amateur-style event without the requirement of qualifying. The event is open to 240 players on a first-come, first-served entry basis, beginning August 1. However, priority registration beginning April 4 is given to players based on their standing on the Points List or success in other events.

The 2011 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship saw Sammy Schmitz (Valleywood Golf Club) cruise to a seven stroke victory with a 5-over par 220 total over the Dellwood HIlls Golf Club and Tanners Brook Golf Club courses. This victory proved to be the deciding factor in Schmitz winning the MGA Men's Player of the Year award.

Finishing a distant second at 227 was local Dellwood Hills favorite Steve Chesley and Blake Onkka (Bunker Hills Golf Club). Brian Moores (Monticello CC) and Greg Melhus (The Links at Northfork) tied for fourth another stroke back at 228.