Schmitz Starts Mid-Am Match with 4 Straight 3's, Cruises to 7&6 Victory

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Sammy Schmitz started his Round of 64 match at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship with four consecutive 3's on Monday and went on from there to defeat Andrew Chapman of Traverse City, Mich., 7&6. 

Schmitz, who is scheduled to defend his Minnesota State Mid-Amateur title next week at Midland Hills and Town & Country, put together a pair of 2-over-par 73's in stroke-play qualifying over the weekend, but he was 3 under -- and 3 up -- by the time he reached the fifth tee of the Conway Farms course in his opening match.

The 2011 MGA Player of the Year, birdied the 385-yard, par-4 first hole, the 402-yard, par-4 third and the 483-yard, par-4 fourth (3's on 483-yard holes used to be called eagles). He also birdied the seventh and ninth holes, won the 10th with a bogey and the par-3 11th with a par to go 7 up.

After that, a par at the 417-yard, par-4 12th was all he needed to close Chapman out.

Schmitz, the only Minnesotan to qualify for match play at the Mid-Am, is seeded No. 21. He will play No. 12 Sean Knapp of Oakmont, Pa., on Tuesday morning in the Round of 32.  

Knapp, who shot 145 in qualifying, defeated Todd Werkmeister of Kentwood, Mich., 2 up in his first-round match.

The top four seeds all won Monday. Rhode Islander Brad Valois, the medalist (with a 73-68--141), won 2&1 over Kevin Wolf of Lodi, Calif., No. 2 seed Todd White of Spartanburg, S.C., had an easier time of it, winning 6&5 over Jon Lindstrom of Bloomfield, Colo.

That was one of three 6&5 victories that were produced on Monday, but Schmitz had the widest margin of victory out of all 32 matches.  

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 advanced to match play)

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