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Zahringer Defeats Courville, 3 and 2, To Win U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship
Greenwich, Conn. -- George Zahringer, 49, of New York, N.Y., became the oldest champion in the 22-year history of the U.S. Mid-Amateur when he defeated Jerry Courville, 43, of Milford, Conn., 3 and 2, Thursday in the 36-hole match play final at The Stanwich Club (par 72, 6,983 yards).Interview With Champion George Zahringer
GEORGE ZAHRINGER: Well, I am thrilled beyond words is really the best way to express it. I know that may not be copy, but it was just a great day. I worked hard to try and stay focused. It's easy playing a 36 hole match to let your mind race ahead. Someone once asked Ben Hogan what is the most important shot and his answer was: "The next shot."
Pairings and Tee Times for Saturday, 9/21 and Sunday, 9/22
2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Fact Sheet
Sept. 21-26
The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, Conn.PAR AND YARDAGE - The Stanwich Club will be set up at 6,983 yards (for match play) and 6,952 (for stroke play) and par is 36-36--72. Round Hill Club, which will be used for stroke play during the first two days of the championship, will play at 6,560 yards and par 35-36--71.
ARCHITECTS AT THE COURSES - The Stanwich Club, designed by William and David Gordon, opened in 1964. Revisions were made in 1985 by Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva. Round Hill, designed by three-time U.S. Amateur champion Walter J. Travis, opened in 1924. Revisions in 1965 and 1997 were supervised by Robert Trent Jones and Ken Dye, respectively. This is the first USGA championship for both courses.
ADMISSION - Admission is free. Tickets are not needed for this USGA championship, and spectators are encouraged to attend.
DEFENDING CHAMPION - Tim Jackson of Germantown, Tenn., became the fourth multiple winner of the championship with a 1-up victory in a well-played final over George Zahringer of New York, N.Y. Jackson, who won his first title in 1994, negotiated San Joaquin Country Club in Fresno, Calif., in the equivalent of 4 under par in one of the best 36-hole finals of the championship. Jackson joins Jay Sigel, Jim Stuart and John "Spider" Miller as a multiple Mid-Amateur winner.
MID-AM ON THE WEB - For scores, pairings, and the latest U.S. Mid-Amateur information, log on to the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org. Real-time scoring will be available via the championship web site at www.usmidam.org.
USGA TOLL-FREE INTERVIEW HOTLINE - An interview with the 2002 champion will be available after the final. Call toll free - (888) 321-USGA. The interviews are broadcast quality and are about three minutes in length.
SCHEDULE OF PLAY -
Saturday, Sept. 21 - Starting at 7:45 a.m., first round, stroke play (18 holes)
Sunday, Sept. 22 - Starting at 7:45 a.m., second round, stroke play (18 holes). After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers, who will advance to match play at The Stanwich Club.
Monday, Sept. 23 - Starting at 9 a.m., first round, match play (18 holes)
Tuesday, Sept. 24 - Starting at 7:45 a.m., second round, match play (18 holes); starting at 1 p.m., third round, match play (18 holes)
Wednesday, Sept. 25 - Starting at 8 a.m., quarterfinals, match play (18 holes); starting at 1 p.m., semifinals, match play (18 holes)
Thursday, Sept. 26 - Starting at 8 a.m., final, match play (36 holes)
USGA CHAMPIONS WHO ARE EXEMPT - A total of 16 players, including seven USGA champions, are exempt from qualifying into the championship. The list includes six past U.S. Mid-Amateur champions and one past USGA Senior Amateur winner. The seven exempt champions are:
Ken Bakst, New York, N.Y. - 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Jerry Courville, Milford, Conn. - 1995 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Danny Green, Jackson, Tenn. - 1999 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn. - 1994 and 2001 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Greg Puga, Los Angeles, Calif. - 2000 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Kemp Richardson, Laguna Niguel, Calif. - 2001 USGA Senior Amateur champion
Danny Yates, Atlanta, Ga. - 1992 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
QUARTERFINALISTS FROM 2001 - Quarterfinalists from last year's
Championship are also exempt into the starting field of 264 golfers. In addition to Jackson and George Zahringer of New York, N.Y., who is a member at The Stanwich Club, the other returning quarterfinalists are: Danny Green; Titus Harris of Houston, Texas; Ken Kellaney of Phoenix, Ariz.; Trey Lewis of Hendersonville, Tenn.; Jim Spagnolo of Fort Worth, Texas; and Jeff Wilson of Suisun, Calif., who has been the medalist or co-medalist in each of the last two Mid-Ams.
INTERNATIONAL EXEMPTS - Gary Wolstenholme, member of the Great Britain & Ireland's 2001 Walker Cup squad, and 2002 British Mid-Amateur champion John Kemp are also exempt.
SPECIAL EXEMPTION - Ken Eichele of Beechhurst, N.Y., is a New York City fireman who could not complete U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying because of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. In honor of his efforts on that fateful day, the USGA extended a special exemption into the field of the Mid-Amateur for either 2001 or 2002. Eichele chose to use his exemption in 2002.
ANOTHER USGA CHAMPION - Tim Hogarth of Northridge, Calif., the 1997 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, is in the field. He qualified by shooting 71 at the Southern California Golf Association Members' Club in Murrietta, on August 29.
QUALIFYING - Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur will be held from Aug. 19-Sept. 6 at 69 courses. The closest qualifying sites to Greenwich, Conn., were Richter Park Golf Club in Danbury on Aug. 26, Simsbury Farms Golf Club on Aug. 28, and Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. on Sept. 3.
THE USGA AND CONNECTICUT - The 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur will be the 11th USGA championship held in the state of Connecticut. Neither The Stanwich Club nor Round Hill Club have hosted a previous USGA championship. Round Hill was the home club of Prescott Bush (grandfather of President George W. Bush) in 1925, when he served as USGA President. The last time the USGA visited the Constitution State with a national championship was the 1996 Mid-Amateur, which was held at Hartford Country Club in West Hartford. In 2003, the Girls' Junior will be conducted at Brooklawn Country Club.
STANWICH & USGA CONNECTION - The club's first professional, Billy Farrell, served from 1964-2000. He is the honorary chairman of the Mid-Amateur. His father, Johnny, was the 1928 U.S. Open champion.
THE FIELD - The starting field will consist of 264 golfers. Each golfer will play a single round on each of the two golf courses before the field is trimmed to the low 64 scorers, who will advance to match play.
WHO CAN PLAY - Open to amateur golfers who will have reached their 25th birthday on or before Sept. 21, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4.
ENTRIES - The USGA accepted 4,549 entries for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, the third-highest count in the championship's 21-year history, shy of only the 5,271 entries received in 1997 and 4,667 in 2001.
FOR THE WINNER - The champion receives:
- A gold medal, and custody of the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy for the ensuing year.
- An exemption from local qualifying at the next U.S. Open, if still an amateur.
- An exemption from sectional qualifying at the next U.S. Amateur, if still an amateur.
- A 10-year exemption for the Mid-Amateur.
- A probable invitation to compete in the next Masters Tournament, if still an amateur.
- An exemption from sectional qualifying at the next U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, if eligible.
- An exemption from sectional qualifying at the next Senior Amateur, if eligible.
THE TROPHY - The Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Mid-Amateur Trophy was presented in 1981 by the Atlanta Athletic Club and the Georgia State Golf Association. The most famous of all amateurs, Jones won five U.S. Amateur and four U.S. Open titles for a total of nine USGA championships, more than any golfer.
COURSE SET UP -
The Stanwich Club - 6,983 yards (for match play) and 6,952 (stroke play), par 36-36--72
Hole
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Out
Par
4
4
4
3
5
4
4
3
5
36
Yards
373
397
375
210
529
430
400
195
576
3,485
Hole
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
In
Par
4
4
4
3
5
4
3
5
4
36
Yards
375
421
452
168
199
500
445
165
548
393
3,467
3,498
Round Hill Club - 6,560 yards, par 35-36--71
Hole
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Out
Par
4
5
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
35
Yards
349
519
215
431
408
175
335
430
419
3,281
Hole
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
In
Par
4
3
4
4
4
5
5
3
4
36
Yards
300
170
359
339
440
539
539
188
405
3,279
NATIONAL TV - ESPN and ESPN2 will provide television coverage of the semifinals:
ESPN2 from 2-4 p.m. on September 25
ESPN from 2-4 p.m. on September 26FUTURE U.S. MID-AMATEUR SITES - The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be played at the Wilmington Country Club in Greenville, Del., Oct. 11-16, 2003; and The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., Sept. 10-15, 2005.
MEDIA CENTER AT THE STANWICH CLUB - The media contacts at the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur at The Stanwich Club are Pete Kowalski and Beth Murrison and can be reached at (908) 234-2300. The Media Center phone number is (203) 861-0540 and the FAX number is (203) 861-0544.
