Schmitz Gets Another Crack at Match Play in U.S. Mid-Am

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- In tennis, they talk about "Lucky Losers," players who lose in the qualifying process for a tournament but get into the field anyway by virtue of someone's withdrawal. 

A year ago, in the U.S. Golf Association's Mid-Amateur Championship, Sammy Schmitz was what you could have called an "Unlucky Loser." He breezed through the 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying, then shot a 5-under-par 67 in his first match -- and lost. 

As it turned out, the guy who beat him, Mike Stramberger of Plainfield, N.J.,. was the only player out of the 64 that made it to match play who had a better score than the 67 by Schmitz in the opening round of matches. He shot 66 and defeated the 2011 MGA Player of the Year 1 up. Such is golf. 

But now Schmitz will get another crack at match play at the Mid-Am. He shot a pair of 2-over 73's this weekend at the Knollwood Club and at Conway Farms, and his stroke-play total of 146  left him in a tie for 16th. Cosequently, he will face the No. 43 seed, Andrew Chapman (72-76--148) of Traverse City, Mich., in his first-round match on Monday.

None of the other Minnesotans in the tournament made it to match play. It took 150 just to get into a 4-for-9 playoff for the last available spots.

Schmitz has won three state titles this year: the Minnesota Public Golf Association's State Publinx Mid-Amateur, the MGA Mid-Players' (Mid-Am Match Play) Championship and the State Publinx. Next week, he will be defending his MGA Mid-Amateur title at Midland Hills and Town & Country.

U.S. GOLF ASSOCIATION

U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

At Conway Farms (par 71, 7,078 yards)

& at Knollwood Club (Par 71, 7,148 yards)

Lake Forest, Ill. 

Stroke Play Qualifying (the top 64 will advance to match play, beginning Monday)

1. Brad Valois, Warwick, R.I.,               73-68--141

2. Todd White, Spartanburg, S.C.       70-72--142

3. Matthew Mattare, New York City      69-74--143

T16. Sammy Schmitz, Farmington    73-73--146

Did not qualify (150 played off, 9 for 4 spots)

T145. Jesse Polk, Hastings               76-80--156

T145. Jesse Bull, Minneapolis           78-78--156

T145. Mike Sauer, Albequerque        75-81--156

T145. Ryan Tjeerdsma, Slayton        79-77--156

T173. Jordan Hawkinson, Grant        76-82--158

T173. Dan Moline, Duluth                     79-78--158