Sammy Schmitz of Valleywood GC successfully defended his title by winning the 25th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship at the Midland Hills Country Club. Schmitz fired a final round 73, 1-over par Wednesday, giving him a 54 hole total of 215, 1-under par. This was good for a two stroke margin over Wapicada GC's Daryl Schomer and three over Jesse Bull (Golden Valley G&CC) and John Anderson (Bunker Hills GC).
Schmitz got off to a shaky start when he double-bogeyed the third hole and bogeyed the short par 3 fourth. In fact, he found himself tied with Anderson when Anderson birdied the fourth. However, he got two of those back with an eagle on the fifth hole and finished the front nine at even par after he birdied the ninth. While he made three more bogeys on the back nine, he had two more birdies to earn the title.
Schomer, playing two groups ahead of Schmitz, played the most solid golf in the windy conditions. He made five birdies against only two bogeys for the day's low round of 69 and a 1-over par 217 total.
Anderson, playing with Schmitz in the final group, couldn't stay with him over the final fourteen holes and closed with a 1-over par 73 for a 218 total and the tie for third. Bull shot a 1-under par 71 with 17 pars and just one birdie to pull him into the tie for third at 218.
With the victory, Schmitz also claimed his second consecutive MGA Player of the Year title.
NEWS SERVICES