Top Seeds in Mid-Am Are Impressive; So Are Persons (in Victory) and Tylke (in Loss)

MANKIN-SABOT, Va. -- Segundo Oliva Pinto, who was a co-medalist and is the No. 1 seed in this year's U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, went out first on Monday in his Round of 64 match against the No. 64 seed, Justin Kaplan. They put on a spectacular show, and that seemed to set the tone for the day.

Oliva Pinto was 1 up through six holes at Kinloch Golf Club, but Kaplan reversed that by winning the 467-yard, par-4 seventh with a birdie and the 198-yard, par-3 eighth with a par. Oliva Pinto pulled even with a birdie at the ninth, a 462-yard par 4, and things stayed that way for a couple of holes. Then Kaplan eagled the 606-yard, par-5 12th, and he went 2 up by winning the 13th with a par. Oliva Pinto got one back with par at the par-3 14th. He was still 1 down after 16 holes, but the 25-year-old Argentine pulled out a 1-up victory by making a birdie at the 455-yard, par-4 17th and an eagle at the 581-yard 18th.

Evan Beck, the other co-medalist (with a 36-hole total of 133 at Kinloch and Independence Golf Club), didn't need any last-minute heroics in his 5&3 victory over No. 63 seed Cody Paladino. In fact, Beck didn't lose a hole. He grabbed an early 3-up lead by playing the third through sixth holes in 3 under par, and he closed Paladino out by winning the par-3 14th with a par and the par-4 15th with a birdie.

There's an old saying that suggests: "Those who can't do teach." But apparently, Parker Edens can do both. The 33-year-old South Dakota State University coach tied for third in qualifying with a 65 at Indepencence and a 69 at Kinloch. The resulting 36-hole aggregate of 134 earned him the No. 3 seed, and on Monday he dispatched Andrew Price (No. 62) 3&2. Edens' birdie at the 456-yard, par-4 10th gave him a 3-up lead. (Old sports writers fondly remember the days when holes 450 yards and longerr were all par 5s.) Price responded with a birdie at the par-5 12th. Edens countered with a birdie at the 13th, but Price won the 14th with another birdie. Edens won the 15th with a par to go 3 up, and he closed out Price by matching his birdie at the formidable, 239-yard, par-3 16th.

Josh Persons, 40, is a former North Dakota state high school champion, Pine to Palm medalist and University of Minnesota star from Fargo, who turned professional and won on the Canadian Tour, but eventually got his amateur status back, and he was also a winner on Monday. The 2024 North Dakota Stroke Play champ -- and No. 16 seed this week -- birdied the ninth and 11th holes to go 4 up on No. 49 Chad Wilfong. But Wilfong fought back with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th holes, cutting the deficit to 1 down. Persons finally put him away, 2&1, by winning the 17th with a par.

This has undoubtedly been a year of mixed emotions on the golf course for Max Tylke. The 31-year-old three-time State Publinx champion from Rosemount has played nothing but first-rate golf, but he keeps finishing second, a streak that actually started with a runner-up finish at the 2023 State Publinx. At last count, the streak was at six consecutive second-place finishes in state championships, but no firsts. Monday was a kind of continuation of his solid play -- and frustration. As the No. 55 seed (70-71--141 in qualifying), he drew the No. 15 seed, Michael Buttacavoli, in his first match.

Tylke was 2 down at the turn, but he won the 10th with a par, and birdied the 13th, So did Buttacavoli, who won the 15th with a birdie to go 2 up. Tylke birdied the 16th, but it was the same problem. Buttacavoli birdied it, too. And Buttacavoli just kept his foot on the gas. He won the 17th with yet another birdie (he played the 13th through 17th holes in 4 under) and closed Tylke out 3&1.

On Tuesday morning, the Round of 32 will be played (the Round of 16 will follow in the afternoon), and Persons will take on Adam Barkow. He's the No. 48 seed, and he stayed alive by virtue of a 1-up victory over No. 17 Julien Paltrimiere.


U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

At Kinloch Golf Club -- par 71, 7,250 yards

Manakin-Sabot, Va.

& Independence Golf Club -- par 70, 7,216 yards

Midlothian, Va.

Stroke-play qualifying

T1. Segundo Oliva Pinto, Argentiina 68K-65I--133

T1. Evan Beck, Virginia Beach, Va. 68I-65K--133

T3. Parker Edens, Brookings, S.D. 69I-65K--134

T3. Andy Butler, Philadelphia 66I-68K--134

T3. Scott Harvey, Greensboro, N.C. 64K-70I--134

T12. Josh Persons, Fargo 70K-68I--138

T38. Max Tylke, Rosemount 70K-71I--141
?
Missed cut -- 142 (14 for 12 playoff Monday morning)

Joel B. Johnson, Hugo 73K-71I--144

Bryce Hanstad, Edina 72K-73I--145

George Ordway, Charlottesville, Va. 73I-74K--147

Trent Peterson, St. Paul 74I-75K--149

Nick Jarrett, Rochester 79K-76I--155


Match play

Round of 64

(1) Oliva Pinto def. (64) Justin Kaplan 1 up

(2) Beck def. (63) Cody Paladino 5&4

(3) Edens def. (62) Andrew Price 3&2

(61)Markus Habelar def. (4) Andy Butlerr 1 up

(16) Josh Persons def. (49) Chad Wilfong 2&1

(15) Michael Butttacavoli def. (50) Max Tylke 3&1