Zahringer Meets Courville In Mid-Am FinalGreenwich, Conn. – In a match-up of well-known local players with a national title at stake, George Zahringer, 49, of New York, N.Y., will meet Jerry Courville, 43, of Milford, Conn., in Thursday’s 36-hole final of the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, being held at The Stanwich Club (par 72, 6,983 yards).
Both of the finalists reside approximately 35 miles from the club.
Zahringer, who is vying to become the oldest champion in the 22-year history of the championship, defeated Jeff Wilson, 39, of Suisun, Calif., 5 and 4, in the semifinals to earn his second straight berth in the finals.
Zahringer, a nine-time Metropolitan Golf Association Player of the Year, was the equivalent of 2 under par through 14 holes with birdies on the 6th, 11th and 12th holes.
“It’s something that’s been on my radar screen for a number of years,” said Zahringer, who holds a membership at Stanwich. “I’ve always dreamed of doing well here. It’s a tremendous sensation to have qualified and have gotten through five matches.”
Meanwhile, Courville, the 1995 Mid-Am champion and a four-time Met Player of the Year, will be making his third appearance in the final after dispatching defending champion Tim Jackson, 43, of Germantown, Tenn., 2 up, in the semifinals.
“Any time you get a chance to play for a national championship, it’s a great honor,” said Courville. “I’m going to go out and play my best and see what happens.”
Courville, who was the runner-up in the 1999 final, broke the mark for most match play wins during the week. His 33 victories surpassed 1992 champion Danny Yates’ mark of 31.
In his win over Jackson, Courville held a 3-up lead after 16 holes and then staved off a challenge by the 2001 champion. Jackson won the 16th with a par and then the par-5 17th with a dramatic pitch-in eagle from 31 yards to narrow Courville’s lead to 1 up. On 18, Courville found the green with a clutch recovery from under a tree 120 yards out. His shot stopped 38 feet from the hole and he won the match when Jackson three-putted for bogey from the fringe.
In the quarterfinals, Courville stopped John Pate, 42, of Santa Barbara, Calif., 3 and 2.
Courville, who has advanced to at last the semifinals five times, has now defeated Jackson in all three meetings at the Mid-Amateur, also winning 3 and 1 in the quarterfinals in 1995 and 2 and 1 in the first round in 1999.
“Jerry is a talented player but having home course advantage on this course is huge,” said Jackson in assessing the final. “Nothing would surprise me. Jerry and George have a history. It will be a good match. It will come down to the last hole. When you get to the finals in this tournament, 36 holes, as well as Jerry plays and as well as George putts, I’ll bet it will be very good.”
In the morning quarterfinals, co-medalist Zahringer notched a 3-and-1 win over fellow Metropolitan area player Austin Eaton, 33 of Stamford, Conn., who made the field as an alternate. Zahringer is ready for a difficult challenge.
“I expect against Jerry, who hits it so long and he’s so strong, it will probably not much different than what I saw against Jeff (Wilson),” said Zahringer. “I’ve played with Jerry on and off over the years. He’s a superb player. I’ll expect nothing more or nothing less than what I’ve expected in all the matches, which is for my opponent to hit good shots.”
All eight quarterfinalists are exempt from having to qualify for the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Greenville, Del., Oct. 11-16.
Thursday’s 36-hole final match begins at 8 a.m. Eastern.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur, for players 25 and older, is one of 13 national
championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10
of which are strictly for amateurs.
Results
Greenwich, Conn. -- Results from Wednesday’s quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play from the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at The Stanwich Club (6,983 yards, par 72).
Quarterfinal Round
Upper Bracket
Jerry Courville, Milford, Conn. (148) def. John Pate, Santa Barbara, Calif. (146), 3 and 2
Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn. (147) def. John Kemp, England (147), 1 up
Lower Bracket
Jeff Wilson, Suisun, Calif. (149) def. Terrence Miskell, New Braunfels, Texas (149), 19 holes
George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. (142) def. Austin Eaton, Stamford, Conn. (149), 3 and 1
Semifinal Round
Courville def. Jackson, 2 up
Zahringer def. Wilson, 5 and 4
Pairing
Pairing for 36-hole championship final (Eastern time)
8 a.m. – Jerry Courville, Milford, Conn. (148) vs. George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. (142)
