McCoy & Bill Williamson Reach U.S. Mid-Amateur Final


Michael McCoy, 50, of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Bill Williamson, 36, of Cincinnati, each won two matches Wednesday to advance to Thursday's 36-hole final match in the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur. The championship is being held at the par-71, 7,173-yard Country Club of Birmingham's West Course in Alabama.

McCoy, the ninth seed in the match-play bracket following stroke-play qualifying, carded 10 birdies in 27 holes on Wednesday. He defeated 2005 Mid-Amateur champion Kevin Marsh, 40, of Henderson, Nev., 4 and 3, in the semifinal round after beating Bradley Bastion, 28, of Clinton Township, Mich., 7 and 6, in the quarterfinals earlier in the day.

"I love golf, I love to practice, I love to play competitive golf; it's truly my passion," said McCoy, who like Williamson will play in his first USGA championship final. "It's exciting to have something like this happen."

"Mike just played great," Marsh said about a player competing in his 38th USGA championship, including 14 Mid-Amateurs. "[He was] four under through six. I tried to battle my way back, but No. 11 has kind of been my nemesis hole all week. If I would have stepped up and hit a good shot there, who knows [what happens]."

Williamson, the third seed, held off Kenneth McCready, 25, of San Diego, 2 and 1, in the semifinals. He posted an 8-and-6 win over Matthew Schneider, 25, of Grand Rapids, Minn.

"It was hard-fought today," said Williamson, who has made 25 birdies in 96 holes played during the championship. "[It was] kind of the first time in match play that I made the mistakes. I tried to stay aggressive."

Williamson, who won the 16th hole with a bogey after carving a 195-yard hybrid from the left fairway rough to just over the green, would later two-putt from 35 feet for a par to close out his opponent on No. 17.

"This ranks as high," said Williamson, an attorney, referring to his previous best U.S. Mid-Amateur performance in 2006 when he advanced to the Round of 16. "I have a nice little picture in my basement [from 2006]. I list that as one of my best accomplishments."

The final is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. CDT on Thursday. 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.

Semifinalists receive a two-year exemption into the U.S. Mid-Amateur. The 2014 championship will be played at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.

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