Stonewall Links in Pa. to Host 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur


The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced Stonewall Links, in Elverson, Pa., will host the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur. This will be the first USGA championship at Stonewall Links. The dates of the championship are September 10-15.

"The USGA is pleased to bring the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship to Stonewall Links for the first time," said Thomas J. O'Toole Jr., USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. "Stonewall's two courses complement each other and will provide an exciting and competitive setting for stroke play and match play. Mid-amateur golfers are central to the USGA's mission and Stonewall Links will be a fine host for both the players and championship."

Stonewall Links is located in Chester County, 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia. It will hold the U.S. Mid-Amateur on its Tom Doak-designed Old and North Courses. The Old Course challenges players from tee to green and emphasizes accuracy and distance, while the North Course features more difficult green complexes and requires a more exacting short game.

The Old Course opened for play in 1993. It will be used for both stroke-play qualifying and the match-play portion of the championship. The course has hosted the 2003 Pennsylvania Open, the 1996 Philadelphia Open and two Philadelphia Amateurs. The North Course, which opened in 2003, will be the companion stroke-play course for the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

"The members and staff of Stonewall Links are pleased to host the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship," said Frank Foster, who serves as both championship chairman and club vice president. "Stonewall has two championship courses which are ready to test the players. The championship committee has already begun preparations for what promises to be an exciting event. We look forward to welcoming all the participants, officials and spectators."

The U.S. Mid-Amateur will be the 85th USGA championship held in Pennsylvania. In 2016, the state will host three USGA championships, including the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and the U.S. Women's Amateur at Rolling Green Golf Club, in Springfield.

The U.S. Mid-Amateur was first played in 1981. The championship is open to male amateurs age 25 and older with a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4. In 2013, the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be played at the Country Club of Birmingham (Ala.) from October 5-10. The 2014 championship will be played September 6-11 at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. John's Island Club, in Vero Beach, Fla., is the host site for the 2015 championship, scheduled for October 3-8.

Nathan Smith, of Pittsburgh, became the first four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion when he won at Conway Farms Golf Club, in Lake Forest, Ill., last year. He surpassed Jay Sigel, a southeastern Pennsylvania native who captured three Mid-Amateur titles in the 1980s.

The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.