Scott Hardy Returns To The U.S. Mid-Amateur Semifinals

Dan Whitaker of Cle Elum, Wash., is making a name for himself in his first Mid-Amateur. He reached the semifinals Wednesday with a win over Tim Mickelson. (Steve Gibbons/U.S. Golf Association).

Bandon, Ore. – For the second year in a row, Scott Hardy missed one of his golf team’s tournaments because he stayed too long at the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Hardy, 31, of Pleasant Hill, Calif., advanced to the semifinal round of the Mid-Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Wednesday morning while his St. Mary’s College golf team was trying to get home from a tournament in Ohio.

Hardy jumped out to a 4-up lead after nine holes on the par-72, 6,966-yard layout and coasted to a 4-and-2 win over Jordan Byrd in a match between two college golf coaches. Byrd is the assistant coach at Clemson University.

Other winners in the quarterfinal round were past champion Kevin Marsh, 34, of Las Vegas, Nev.; former U.S. Amateur runner-up Trip Kuehne of Irving, Texas; and Dan Whitaker, 26, of Cle Elum, Wash.

“I had a fast start but then starting hanging on instead of just playing golf,” said Hardy, who shared the win with his wife, Lori, as his caddie. “I was fortunate she snapped me out of it. I was thinking that I could blow this.”

In the end, the win was justification for Hardy’s trip to the semifinals last year, where he lost to eventual champion Dave Womack.

Marsh, the 2005 winner, played solid down the stretch and earned a win over Ty Cox of Ft. Worth, Texas, 2 up. Kuehne went two extra holes before he secured a narrow win over Stephen Sear of Washoe Valley, Nev. Whitaker won the last two holes against Tim Mickelson of San Diego and advanced, 2 up.

“I’m happy to have a chance this afternoon,” said Marsh.

Another who is happy to have a chance is Kuehne, who squandered his slim lead on the 18th hole before winning his match against Sear with a par 3 on the second extra hole. Kuehne two-putted from 50 feet while Sear failed to get up-and-down from a collection area in front of the green.

“I got out-played,” said Kuehne, a three-time USA Walker Cup selection who gets to chase his long-time dream of winning a USGA title for another match. “I think that was the first green he missed. I putted well, but overall, I was lucky to win.”

Anyone who has reached the semifinal round, can say that “Lady Luck” has been on their side too.

Story written by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations. Email him with questions and comments at csmith@usga.org.

Bandon, Ore. – Results of Wednesday’s quarterfinal round of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at the par-72, 6,966-yard Bandon Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort:

Quarterfinal Round

Dan Whitaker, Cle Elum, Wash., def. Tim Mickelson, San Diego, Calif., 2 up.

Kevin Marsh, Las Vegas, Nev. def. Ty Cox, Ft. Worth, Texas, 2 up.

Scott Hardy, Pleasant Hill, Calif., def. Jordan Byrd, Clemson, S.C., 4 and 3.

Trip Kuehne, Irving, Texas, def. Stephen Sear, Washoe Valley, Nev., 20 holes

Wednesday’s Semifinal Pairings

Whitaker vs. Marsh

Hardy vs. Kuehne