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Berg, Mackenzie, Massey, McCoy Share First-Round Lead At 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur

Kiawah Island, S.C. – Four players shot 68 Saturday, in the nearly windless conditions of the morning, to share the lead after the first day of stroke play at the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at The Kiawah Island Club.

Mike McCoy, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Cameron Mackenzie, 27, of Canada, shot 4-under-par 68s at the 6,964-yard, par-72 Cassique. They were joined by Taylor Massey, 32, of Richmond, Va., and Derek Berg, 28, of Duvall, Wash., who shot 3-under 68s at The River Course (6,908 yards, par 71).

Two-time semifinalist Mike McCoy opened the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur with a 68 at Cassique. (USGA Museum)

“I started off well,” said McCoy, a Mid-Amateur semifinalist in 2005 and 2008. “I hit it close right out of the gate and made a couple of short birdie putts. When I hit it in the rough, I didn’t try to get too much out of it.”

An insurance professional who is playing in his 10th Mid-Amateur, McCoy posted seven birdies against three bogeys. He tempered his reaction and downplayed his expectations.

“I played a lot this summer,” McCoy said. “I am coming in here with my game in good shape. I just try and play. I purposely try not to make it too important. I try about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 and I play my best. When I try a little too hard, it’s hard to make it happen.”

Mackenzie, an accountant playing in the first group of the day, birdied four of his first five holes and finished with six birdies and two bogeys.

“I had a great pairing, the first group out,” said Mackenzie, a 2005 Oregon State University graduate. “I knew we could take advantage of perfect greens and no one in front of us. I hit a lot of close short-iron shots. I birdied all of the par 5s, and all of those were with wedges in my hand. So that was the key to the whole round.”

Massey, a golf clothing company executive who was born and raised in Richmond, Va., but now resides in Carlsbad, Calif., was three over par through five holes but managed to steady his game with four consecutive birdies (holes 17, 18, 1 and 2). He played 4-under golf over his last nine holes.

“Coming out today, I knew the scores would be low,” Massey said. “After a couple of bogeys early, I knew I had to get it together. I was in the fairway a lot. In fact, I didn’t miss a fairway, which helped a lot.”

A former University of Virginia student, Massey started playing golf with PGA Tour player James Driscoll when the two were classmates. Massey caddied for Driscoll for seven months in the early part of his professional career.

	Tim Mickelson, a quarterfinalist in 2007, shot a 3-under 69 at Cassique on Saturday. (USGA Museum)

Berg, a guest services manager at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, Wash., birdied seven holes, including 17 and 18, and made four bogeys.

“I hit the ball well all day and the putter got going,” said Berg, a 2003 graduate of the University of Washington. “Of the four bogeys, I hit good golf shots on three of those holes. I knew that as much as the wind was down, it was as good as it was going to get.”

Tim Mickelson, 32, of San Diego, Calif., brother of PGA Tour player Phil Mickelson, followed one stroke behind the leaders with a 3-under-par 69 at Cassique. Next were Pebble Beach Golf Links caddie Chris Marin, 31, of Monterey, Calif., who shot 1-under-par 70 on The River Course and Jerry Chang, 35, of Los Angeles, Calif., with two chip-in birdies, and Mike Damron, 47, of Pikesville, Ky., who of whom posted 2-under 70s at Cassique.

“I saw some good scores this morning and the wind on my back nine definitely picked up and made it more challenging,” said Chang, a college teammate of Tiger Woods at Stanford University. “I made some one-in-a-100-type shots today.”

The other members of Mackenzie’s group at Cassique – Mark Austry, 31, of Argyle, Texas and Patrick Carter, 41, of Huntington, W. Va., were among a group of 14 who shot 71. Twelve of those scores came at Cassique.

Also among those shooting 71 at Cassique were Robert Gerwin, 42, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and the field’s oldest player John Lindholm, 64, of Grand Blanc, Mich. Gerwin aced the par-3 fifth hole with a pitching wedge, his first in 27 USGA championships but the eighth of his career. His calculation of the distance was 138 yards.

The U.S. Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Pete Kowalski, manager of championship media relations for the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments at pkowalski@usga.org.

Kiawah Island, S.C. -- Results of Saturday’s first round of stroke play at the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, played at the 6,964-yard, par-72 Cassique and the 6,908-yard, par-71 The River Course at The Kiawah Island Club:

Cameron Mackenzie, Canada - 33-35--68casq

Derek Berg, Duvall, Wash. - 35-33--68trc

Michael McCoy, West Des Moines, Iowa - 34-34--68casq

Taylor Massey, Richmond, Va. - 32-36--68trc

Tim Mickelson, San Diego, Calif. - 35-34--69casq

Christopher Marin, Monterey, Calif. - 34-36--70trc

Jerry Chang, Los Angeles, Calif. - 34-36--70casq

Mike Damron, Pikeville, Ky. - 35-35--70casq

Chad Sawyer, West Linn, Ore. - 34-37--71trc

Curtis Skinner, Lake Bluff, Ill. - 34-37--71casq

Danny Germaine, Palm Beach Gdns, Fla. - 35-36--71casq

Dave Bunker, Canada - 34-37--71trc

Douglas Hanzel, Savannah, Ga. - 37-34--71casq

Herbie Aikens, Pembroke, Mass. - 34-37--71casq

Jeff Wilson, Fairfield, Calif. - 34-37--71casq

John Lindholm, Grand Blanc, Mich. - 36-35--71casq

Mark Austry, Argyle, Texas - 33-38--71casq

Nicholas Biesecker, Staunton, Va. - 32-39--71casq

Patrick Carter, Huntington, W.Va. - 38-33--71casq

Robert Gerwin, Cincinnati, Ohio - 36-35--71casq

Steven Irwin, Golden, Colo. - 35-36--71casq

Tripp Davis, Norman, Okla. - 36-35--71casq

Alan Stearns, Tustin, Calif. - 35-37--72trc

Kenny Cook, Noblesville, Ind. - 37-35--72trc

Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 35-37--72trc

Sean Knapp, Oakmont, Pa. - 37-35--72casq

Seth Kaplan, Dallas, Texas - 37-35--72casq

Tyler Shelton, Fairway, Kan. - 37-35--72casq

Uly Grisette, Clemmons, N.C. - 36-36--72casq

Aaron Grissom, Hot Springs, Ark. - 32-41--73casq

Andrew Price, Denver, N.C. - 37-36--73casq

Blair Scurlock, Greenville, S.C. - 39-34--73trc

Brian Csipkes, Omaha, Neb. - 36-37--73casq

David Brown, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 36-37--73trc

Dennis Postlewait, Orlando, Fla. - 39-34--73trc

Jon Lindstrom, Denver, Colo. - 36-37--73trc

Kory Bowman, Springfield, Mo. - 35-38--73casq

Robert Funk, Canyon Lake, Calif. - 33-40--73casq

Ronald Kilby, Mcallen, Texas - 36-37--73casq

Scott Hval, Portland, Ore. - 35-38--73casq

Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn. - 38-35--73trc

Tim Spitz, Rochester, N.Y. - 35-38--73trc

Todd Mitchell, Bloomington, Ill. - 35-38--73trc

Tony Behrstock, Los Angeles, Calif. - 36-37--73casq

Troy Logan, Chicago, Ill. - 39-34--73casq

Brandon Smith, West Palm Beach, Fla. - 37-37--74casq

Brooks Snyder, Catlin, Ill. - 38-36--74casq

Craig Cyr, Concord, N.H. - 40-34--74trc

Daniel Berger, New Orleans, La. - 35-39--74casq

Dave Womack, Mcdonough, Ga. - 37-37--74casq

George Marucci Jr, Villanova, Pa. - 37-37--74trc

George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. - 34-40--74casq

John Pitt, Atlanta, Ga. - 33-41--74trc

Jonny Doppelt, Great Neck, N.Y. - 37-37--74casq

Kevin Marsh, Henderson, Nev. - 37-37--74casq

Matt Mocniak, Cedar Park, Texas - 39-35--74casq

Michael Karger, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. - 36-38--74trc

Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va. - 37-37--74trc

Randal Lewis, Alma, Mich. - 35-39--74casq

Rob Couture, Dallas, Texas - 36-38--74casq

Robert Crockett II, Louisville, Ky. - 37-37--74casq

Robert Godfrey, Seneca, S.C. - 34-40--74casq

Tim Hamm, Chicago, Ill. - 36-38--74casq

Tre Sheppard, Mount Pleasant, S.C. - 36-38--74trc

Wallace Nelson IV, Alamogordo, N.M. - 37-37--74casq

Andrew Medley, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 36-39--75trc

Andrew Rice, Baltimore, Md. - 39-36--75trc

Bert Atkinson, Charleston, S.C. - 40-35--75trc

Chris Williams, Carmel, Ind. - 37-38--75casq

Cliff Benson III, Raleigh, N.C. - 38-37--75casq

Don Walsworth, Leawood, Kan. - 38-37--75trc

Erik Hanson, Kirkland, Wash. - 36-39--75casq

Freeman Fite, Anniston, Ala. - 39-36--75trc

Hunter Nelson, Houston, Texas - 37-38--75trc

J Kelly Hudelson, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 37-38--75casq

Jimmy Chestnut, Grand Blanc, Mich. - 37-38--75casq

Joe Sanders, Incline Village, Nev. - 38-37--75casq

Johnny Canova, Rockford, Ill. - 37-38--75trc

Lewis Stephenson, Mansfield, Texas - 36-39--75casq

Matthew Elliott, Columbus, Ohio - 37-38--75trc

Matthew Horwitch, Highland Park, Ill. - 38-37--75casq

Michael Holloway, Wichita, Kan. - 37-38--75trc

Michael Kelley, Westerville, Ohio - 37-38--75casq

Michael Slaven, Chicago, Ill. - 35-40--75casq

Mike Puls, Irving, Texas - 40-35--75trc

P Michael Natale, Indian Head Park, Ill. - 39-36--75casq

Packard Dewitt, Germantown, Tenn. - 36-39--75trc

R J Nakashian, Palm Beach Gdns, Fla. - 36-39--75casq

Ryan Jacobs, Nashville, Tenn. - 36-39--75casq

Scott Harvey, Greensboro, N.C. - 39-36--75trc

T J Brudzinski, Columbus, Ohio - 36-39--75casq

Todd Burgan, Knoxville, Tenn. - 39-36--75casq

Alan Clark, Kilgore, Texas - 38-38--76casq

Christopher Reeves, Jupiter, Fla. - 39-37--76trc

Coleman Tidwell Jr, Macon, Ga. - 38-38--76trc

Donnie Cooper, Knoxville, Tenn. - 39-37--76casq

Doug Manor, Dallas, Texas - 36-40--76trc

Garrett Morrison, Orlando, Fla. - 38-38--76casq

J J Wall, San Antonio, Texas - 36-40--76casq

Jack Ferraro, Manassas, Va. - 37-39--76casq

Jeff Frazier, Mechanicsburg, Pa. - 37-39--76casq

Jeffrey Bishop, Canada - 39-37--76casq

Joseph Saladino, New York, N.Y. - 38-38--76casq

Kris Mikkelsen, Atlanta, Ga. - 36-40--76casq

Lance Goodson, Birmingham, Ala. - 37-39--76trc

Lloyd Fisher, Grand Rapids, Mich. - 38-38--76trc

Michael Kovaleski, Winter Park, Fla. - 37-39--76casq

Michael Stamberger, Plainfield, N.J. - 36-40--76trc

Milas Russell, San Diego, Calif. - 34-42--76trc

Robert Jones, Centerville, Ohio - 37-39--76casq

Steve Johnson, Lookout Mountain, Tenn. - 38-38--76casq

T J Wilson, Fairfield, Ohio - 38-38--76trc

Terry Cook, Johnston, Iowa - 37-39--76casq

Tim Sheppard, East Peoria, Ill. - 39-37--76trc

Tommy Clement, Mobile, Ala. - 39-37--76casq

William Nisbet, Pawleys Island, S.C. - 38-38--76trc

Andrew Diramio, Duxbury, Mass. - 39-38--77trc

Arnold Cutrell, Greensburg, Pa. - 42-35--77casq

Ben Moody, Atlanta, Ga. - 37-40--77trc

Chris Igawa, Hilo, Hawaii - 38-39--77trc

Danny Green, Jackson, Tenn. - 38-39--77trc

Dudley Payne III, Warrenton, Va. - 39-38--77trc

Erin McDonald, Memphis, Tenn. - 37-40--77casq

Frank Babusik, Ft Lauderdale, Fla. - 37-40--77casq

Harold Wyatt, Atlanta, Ga. - 41-36--77trc

Jeffrey Hedden, Old Lyme, Conn. - 37-40--77casq

John Vaccaro, Menands, N.Y. - 37-40--77casq

Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo. - 37-40--77casq

Jordan Byrd, Clemson, S.C. - 41-36--77trc

Matthew Sughrue, Alexandria, Va. - 39-38--77trc

Michael Nowak, Charlotte, N.C. - 38-39--77casq

Michael Wog, Sumner, Wash. - 38-39--77trc

Nathan Wilson, Sheridan, Wyo. - 39-38--77casq

Parker Foster, Tulsa, Okla. - 39-38--77casq

Reed Kolquist, Duluth, Minn. - 35-42--77casq

Ron Killmer, Bakersfield, Calif. - 39-38--77trc

Steve Harwell, Mooresville, N.C. - 39-38--77trc

Steve Wilson, St Martin, Miss. - 39-38--77casq

Wes Leith, Davis, Calif. - 38-39--77trc

Andy Drohen, Granville, Mass. - 40-38--78casq

Ben Eisner, Nags Head, N.C. - 40-38--78casq

Bill Williamson, Cincinnati, Ohio - 36-42--78trc

Dan Sullivan, Pasadena, Calif. - 42-36--78trc

Derek Waddington, Hebron, Conn. - 36-42--78trc

Douglas Clapp, Walpole, Mass. - 36-42--78casq

Douglas Snoap, Apopka, Fla. - 39-39--78casq

John Bearrie, Arlington, Texas - 36-42--78casq

John Madden, Deer Park, Ill. - 39-39--78casq

Keith Decker, Martinsville, Va. - 41-37--78casq

Kelly Garland, North Plains, Ore. - 36-42--78trc

Mark C Miller, West Covina, Calif. - 39-39--78trc

Michael Brown, Cheltenham, Pa. - 42-36--78trc

Mike Cobb, Summerville, S.C. - 37-41--78casq

Ron Mangold, Pocahontas, Ark. - 39-39--78casq

Scott Hardy, Pleasant Hill, Calif. - 36-42--78trc

Shell Wheeler, North Oaks, Minn. - 40-38--78trc

Stephen Summers, Dallas, Texas - 40-38--78trc

William West, Burlingame, Calif. - 39-39--78casq

Bradley Shaw, Los Angeles, Calif. - 38-41--79trc

Brian Higgins, Bellingham, Mass. - 38-41--79casq

Brian Kennedy, Saint Louis, Mo. - 39-40--79trc

Clay Price, Frisco, Texas - 37-42--79trc

Craig Groenendaal, Centreville, Va. - 40-39--79casq

Edward Gibstein, Glen Head, N.Y. - 40-39--79casq

Harry Rudolph III, La Jolla, Calif. - 39-40--79trc

Jordan Mitchell, Atlanta, Ga. - 41-38--79trc

Keith Grant, Jersey City, N.J. - 39-40--79trc

Ken Stevenson, Tallahassee, Fla. - 37-42--79trc

Kevin Wentworth, Arnold, Calif. - 40-39--79trc

Mark Elgner, Canada - 41-38--79trc

Mark Knecht, Paducah, Ky. - 39-40--79trc

Matt Heestand, Cleveland, Ohio - 37-42--79casq

Paul Balatti, Santa Rosa, Calif. - 38-41--79casq

Paul Welle, Albany, Minn. - 41-38--79casq

Robert Godwin, Poplar Bluff, Mo. - 40-39--79trc

Roger Hoit, Summit, N.J. - 41-38--79casq

Ryan Chin, Canada - 39-40--79casq

Ryan Indovina, Chicago, Ill. - 39-40--79casq

Anthony Sorentino, Shelby Twsp, Mich. - 40-40--80trc

Bill Zylstra, Plymouth, Mich. - 41-39--80casq

Brett Egge, Sioux Falls, S.D. - 40-40--80casq

Endel Liias, Phoenixville, Pa. - 38-42--80trc

Eric Larson, Beaverton, Ore. - 37-43--80casq

Giles Kibbe, Beaumont, Texas - 42-38--80casq

Grady Brame, Hammond, La. - 40-40--80trc

Jeff Hoffman, Folsom, Calif. - 37-43--80trc

John Ply, Glen Ellyn, Ill. - 40-40--80trc

Jonathan Petke, Rcho Santa Margarita, Calif. - 43-37--80trc

Patrick Malone, Dallas, Texas - 42-38--80casq

R Michael McLoone, Chicago, Ill. - 40-40--80casq

Ryan Hulton, Cleveland, Tenn. - 42-38--80trc

Scott Stevens, Cardiff By the Sea, Calif. - 41-39--80trc

A J Balulis, Chicago, Ill. - 39-42--81casq

Bill Hodges, Thomasville, Ga. - 43-38--81casq

Bill Moore, Syracuse, N.Y. - 41-40--81trc

Brandon Sigmund, Mitchell, S.D. - 43-38--81trc

Chris Clarke, East Hampton, N.Y. - 42-39--81trc

Chris Lange, Bryn Mawr, Pa. - 39-42--81casq

Chris Sylvia, Atco, N.J. - 40-41--81casq

Chris Weyand, Boise, Idaho - 41-40--81trc

Christopher O'Keefe, Brooklyn, N.Y. - 38-43--81trc

Corey Ayers, Bellaire, Texas - 42-39--81trc

Cory Synnestvedt, Danville, Calif. - 41-40--81casq

David Reneker, Santa Monica, Calif. - 38-43--81casq

David West, Downingtown, Pa. - 42-39--81trc

Jeff Fowler, Chico, Calif. - 39-42--81trc

Keith Holmes, Macon, Ga. - 36-45--81casq

Matthew Williams, Albuquerque, N.M. - 42-39--81casq

Michael Kloenne, West Linn, Ore. - 39-42--81trc

Patrick Griffin, Unionville, Conn. - 40-41--81trc

Roy Hunter, Charlotte, N.C. - 42-39--81trc

Ted Grassi III, Erie, Pa. - 41-40--81casq

Titus Harris III, Houston, Texas - 40-41--81trc

Tom Nolan, Ridgewood, N.J. - 40-41--81casq

Tom Sullivan, Grosse Pointe, Mich. - 41-40--81trc

Chris Miller, New Philadelphia, Ohio - 39-43--82trc

Christopher Binder, Collingswood, N.J. - 37-45--82trc

David Holmes, Sutton, Mass. - 39-43--82trc

Michael Kennedy, Sammamish, Wash. - 42-40--82trc

Robbie Cotten, Brewton, Ala. - 40-42--82trc

Robert Morris, Great Falls, Va. - 38-44--82trc

Scott Linklater, Riverside, Calif. - 41-41--82casq

Ted Moloney, St Louis, Mo. - 40-42--82trc

Todd Westrich, Green Bay, Wis. - 40-42--82trc

Wes Martin, Denver, Colo. - 41-41--82casq

Austin Eaton III, North Sutton, N.H. - 38-45--83casq

Daniel Russo, Hagaman, N.Y. - 43-40--83trc

David Eaker, Forest City, N.C. - 40-43--83casq

Jack Kearney, Peachtree City, Ga. - 37-46--83trc

James Bachhuber, West Bend, Wis. - 38-45--83casq

Jared Overton, Provo, Utah - 42-41--83trc

John Capra, Bridgewater, N.J. - 40-43--83casq

Kevin Quinn, Needham, Mass. - 41-42--83trc

Peter Kozubal, Bridgewater, N.J. - 43-40--83trc

T J Shuart, Coral Springs, Fla. - 41-42--83trc

Adam Capasso, Orange, Calif. - 42-42--84casq

Brian Corbett, Clarks Summit, Pa. - 42-42--84trc

Burke Hayes, Chevy Chase, Md. - 42-42--84casq

Jason Novascone, Dallas, Texas - 39-45--84trc

Saumil Jhaveri, Westlake, Ohio - 43-41--84trc

Bill Boyle, Holmdel, N.J. - 42-43--85trc

Bill Tyner, Enterprise, Ala. - 42-43--85casq

Braxton McLennan, Charlotte, N.C. - 42-43--85trc

Christopher Housen, Brielle, N.J. - 40-45--85trc

David Waters, San Antonio, Texas - 42-43--85trc

Derek O'Neill, Parker, Colo. - 42-43--85trc

Jamie Slonis, Sewell, N.J. - 43-42--85trc

Jason Vedadi, Spokane, Wash. - 45-40--85trc

Joey Behrstock, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 44-41--85trc

Joshua Fosdick, Edmond, Okla. - 40-45--85trc

Nick Arata, Redwood City, Calif. - 45-40--85trc

Thomas Olson, Omaha, Neb. - 43-42--85casq

Tim Breland, Stockton, Calif. - 42-43--85trc

John Adams, San Clemente, Calif. - 44-42--86casq

Nash Elliott, Estill, S.C. - 45-41--86trc

David Sharp, Chicago, Ill. - 40-47--87trc

Dan Horner, Sandy, Utah - 45-43--88trc

Greg Wilson, Redlands, Calif. - 43-45--88casq

Kyle Milner, Spartanburg, S.C. - 44-44--88trc

Richard Van Matre, Carlsbad, Calif. - 47-41--88trc

Nathan Sugar, Rockville, Md. - 43-46--89casq

Kip Guidry, Missouri City, Texas - 46-44--90trc

Matt Amis, Stamford, Conn. - 44-46--90trc

Danny Hanson, Phoenix, Ariz. - 44-47--91trc