Official Website Of The 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship

Nathan Smith (left) receives congratulations from his father/caddie Larry after winning the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur on Friday, 7 and 6, over Tim Spitz. (John Mummert/USGA)

Smith Wins Second U.S. Mid-Amateur Title

With 7-and-6 Victory Over Spitz

Kiawah Island, S.C.– Nathan Smith, 31, of Pittsburgh, Pa., won his second U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Friday by defeating Tim Spitz, 33, of Rochester, N.Y., 7 and 6, in the scheduled 36-hole final match at the 6,964-yard, par-72 Cassique at The Kiawah Island Club.

Interview With 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion Nathan Smith

Meet The 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Quarterfinalists

Follow The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Blog

View The U.S. Mid-Amateur Photo Galleries

Notebook: Smith Claims Second U.S. Mid-Amateur

Title The Old-Fashioned Way

Kiawah Island, S.C. – This time, there won’t be an asterisk. Nobody needed to call the paramedics after nine holes, but considering the stifling heat on Friday, it wouldn’t have been shocking if the two U.S. Mid-Amateur finalists collapsed from heat exhaustion.

The only thing hotter than the rising mercury was the play of Nathan Smith, a 31-year-old investment advisor from Pittsburgh, who has enjoyed a dream season.

Kiawah Offers Southern Hospitality To

Mid-Amateurs ... And 'Young-Ams'

When the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship gets under way at The Kiawah Island Club in early October, 264 of the finest amateur golfers from across the country and beyond will vie for the U.S. Mid-Amateur title at Cassique and The River Course. Also that week, on the other side of the island at The Kiawah Island Resort’s Oak Point Course, a group of younger, less experienced but no less excited golfers will get their first taste of the game, courtesy of Kiawah and The First Tee of Greater Charleston.

2009 Storylines

The players in the field of 264 are from 44 states and two countries (USA and Canada). The following list of interesting stories shows how diverse a group they are.

Cassique Preview

For stroke play, hole Nos. 4-6 will play at 370, 148 and 525 yards, respectively, but once the second round of match play begins, competitors will utilize alternate teeing grounds (360, 155 and 565 yards) on what members call the “pulpit” and “nip-tuck” holes.

2009 U.S. Mid Amateur Fact Sheet

Championship Facts

U.S. Mid-Amateur

ARCHITECTS – The Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique was designed by Tom Watson and opened in 2000. The River Course was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1995.

COURSE SETUP – There are two setups at Cassique – Pulpit and Nip Tuck. During stroke play, the Pulpit setup will be used with holes 4, 5 and 6 playing at 370, 148 and 525 yards, respectively. With the beginning of the second round of match play, the Nip Tuck setup will be used and holes 4, 5 and 6 will play at 360, 155 and 565 yards, respectively. The Pulpit and Nip Tuck setups may rotate during the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds.

The USGA Course Rating® and USGA Slope Rating® for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at The Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique are 75.2 and 146 for the Pulpit setup and 74.5 and 145 for the Nip Tuck setup. The USGA Course Rating® and USGA Slope Rating® for The River Course are 74.7 and 147. The grass heights in the various areas of the course for the championship should be as follows:

Cassique
Putting Greens – Prepared firm and fast to measure approximately 12 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter
Approaches collars around greens – .400 inches (30 inches in width, or one mower width, on collars)
Fairways, teeing grounds – .450 inches Intermediate Rough – 1 inch (6 feet in width)
Primary Rough – 2.5 to 3 inches Practice Tee – .450 inches

The River Course
Putting Greens – Prepared firm and fast to measure approximately 12 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter
Fairways, approaches, collars around greens – .350 inches (30 inches in width, or one mower width, on collars)
Teeing Grounds – .250 inches
Intermediate Rough – 1 inch (6 feet in width)
Primary Rough – 2.5 to 3 inches
Practice Tee – .450 inches

USGA AND SOUTH CAROLINA – The 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur will be the 14th USGA championship conducted in the state of South Carolina. The last USGA championships in the state were the 2005 Men’s and Women’s State Team Championships, held concurrently at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton.

It is the first USGA championship for The Kiawah Island Club. The U.S. Mid-Amateur is making its second appearance in the state; the 1991 U.S. Mid-Amateur was held at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island.

CHAMPIONSHIP WEB SITE – Visit www.usmidam.org or www.usga.org for the latest news and scores during the championship.

ADMISSION – Admission is free. Tickets are not needed for this USGA championship, and spectators are encouraged to attend.