Two competitors who qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur on Monday were playing at their home course, CommonGround. Another two were at least in their home state.
But the final qualifier came to Colorado from his home in Alabama to earn a spot in a USGA championship that will be played in … Alabama.
If that doesn’t seem odd enough, just check out how Haymes Snedeker, an older brother of six-time PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker, earned one of the national berths on Monday:
The 37-year-old from Fairhope, Ala., spun his final shot of the day, on No. 18 at CommonGround, back into the hole for an eagle — from 90 yards out.
“Sometimes it’s supposed to be,” said the reinstated amateur. “Sometimes it’s meant to be and sometimes it certainly isn’t. I’ve been on both sides of it.”
With his spectacular finish, Snedeker vaulted from outside of the qualifying line to inside of it, ending up with a 3-under-par 68. He was joined in qualifying for the national championship — one restricted to players 25 and older — by medalist Alex Kephart (pictured) of Colorado Springs (67), CommonGround regulars Tristan Sanders and Brodie Hullinger, both of Denver (68 each), and Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle, winner of the last three CGA Mid-Amateur Championships (69).
Humerickhouse birdied his final hole of regulation (No. 9), then did likewise on the first playoff hole to overcome Jeff Chapman of Englewood, who qualified for both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2012. Chapman double-bogeyed his final hole of regulation (No. 9) to post his 69.
Five players out of a field that originally numbered 79 landed spots in the national Mid-Amateur, which will be played Oct. 5-10 in Birmingham, Ala.
Despite the Mid-Amateur being set for his home state, and a qualifying tournament also scheduled for Alabama, why did Snedeker try to qualify in Colorado, a state in which he had never played golf?
“I saw that the local qualifier was pretty crowded and I had a business meeting I had to do out here anyway, so I planned the perfect trip,” said Snedeker, a real-estate developer.
Snedeker, who won “Big Break X: Michigan” on the Golf Channel in 2008, was once a pro who hoped to join his brother on the PGA Tour. But he’s long since gotten his amateur status back, and on Monday he qualified for his fifth USGA championship, including his second Mid-Amateur. He’s made it to match play in both the Mid-Am and the U.S. Amateur Public Links.
“I played as good as I can play for the first time playing at altitude,” the former Ole Miss golfer said. “I’ve never played in Colorado before so it was a big adjustment. … But I might move out here. I love it.”
Being an Alabama resident, qualifying for a U.S. Mid-Am being held in his home state was a high priority.
“It’s a big deal for me playing in my home state,” he said. “I’m at the age where if I can catch lightning in a bottle maybe I could make some noise. That’s why it’s special. It’s (for) people like me who don’t play golf every day — the weekend warrior — so you have a chance. The U.S. Amateur, biologically I don’t have a chance. The Mid-Am, you always have a chance. Getting there is half the battle, so I’m very fortunate.”
Earning U.S. Mid-Am berths was likewise special for the Coloradans who advanced Monday from CommonGround.
Medalist Kephart qualified for his second USGA championship of 2013, having competed earlier this month in the U.S. Amateur. The 26-year-old made an eagle and four birdies, offset by two bogeys, both on par-5s. He finished with one 2 and eight 3s on his card.
“I feel like I left a little unfinished business out there (at the U.S. Amateur) and wanted to get back as soon as possible,” said Kephart, who hadn’t competed in a USGA event before this year. “So it feels pretty good.”
Even though he didn’t qualify for match play at the U.S. Amateur, the experience at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., certainly whet Kephart’s appetite for more USGA championships.
“They treat you like professionals when you’re out there. It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “The experience taught me a lot.”
Sanders, whose only previous USGA championship experience was a 2011 U.S. Mid-Am, was likewise determined to be more than a one-hit wonder on the USGA qualification stage.
“I was talking to some of the guys at the national championship and they told me this statistic and it’s been in my mind ever since: thousands of amateurs make it to USGA national championships, but only 17 percent make it to two,” said Sanders, 29. “I always wanted to make it to another one to validate that I can play” on that high level.
On Monday, Sanders eagled No. 7 and birdied the final hole. Like Hullinger, who moved to Colorado from South Dakota last year, Sanders used his home-course knowledge at CommonGround to his advantage in the qualifier. Sanders has shot as low as 64 at the course in tournament play, and Hullinger even worked at CommonGround for a while.
“I certainly feel more comfortable out here than someone who has played it two or three times, I would think,” said the 28-year-old Hullinger, who has played in the U.S. Publinks. “When I saw (the tournament) was at CommonGround I certainly thought I’d better do the qualifier here.”
Like Sanders and Snedeker, Humerickhouse has qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur before. In fact, the left-handed former professional made it to the round of 32 at the national tournament in 2010.
U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 CommonGround GC in Aurora
QUALIFIED
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 33-34–67
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 33-35–68
Brodie Hullinger, Denver, Colo., 33-35–68
Haymes Snedeker, Fairhope, Ala., 35-33–68
Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle, Colo., 35-34–69
ALTERNATES (in order)
Jeff Chapman, Englewood, Colo., 37-32–69
Pete Mangold, Denver, Colo., 37-33–70
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-33–70
Wes Martin, Denver, Colo., 37-33–70
Justin Kruger, Centennial, Colo., 35-35–70
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., 36-35–71
James Kurtenbach, Denver, Colo., 34-37–71
Jim Doidge, Pueblo, Colo., 37-34–71
Alan Boyko, Canada, 37-34–71
Bryan Cannon, Columbine Valley, Colo., 34-37–71
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 34-38–72
Andrew Tapia, Raton, N.M., 36-36–72
Greg Carlin, Denver, Colo., 37-35–72
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 39-34–73
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 37-36–73
Thomas Balderston, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Damon Dageenakis, Erie, Colo., 37-36–73
Charles Santaularia, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 38-35–73
Chris Tenan, Windsor, Colo., 39-34–73
James Kackley, Dallas, Texas, 36-37–73
Michael Love, Magnolia, Ark., 37-37–74
David Lindquist, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-36–74
Eric Hoos, Denver, Colo., 37-37–74
Christopher Thayer, Aurora, Colo., 36-38–74
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-39–75
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 37-38–75
Greg Michaels, Westminster, Colo., 35-40–75
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 38-37–75
Nicholas Nosewicz, Aurora, Colo., 39-36–75
Thomas Roos, Elizabeth, Colo., 39-37–76
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver, Colo., 36-40–76
Arnold Hoy, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-38–76
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 40-36–76
Jay Orris, Boulder, Colo., 37-39–76
Jeffrey Gravina, Littleton, Colo., 38-38–76
Steve Duran, Lakewood, Colo., 37-39–76
Jim Kirk, Sylvania, Ohio, 38-38–76
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo., 37-40–77
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 36-41–77
Chris Longfellow, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-40–77
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 37-40–77
Ted Jorgensen, Mequon, Wis., 40-37–77
James Banyas, Denver, Colo., 37-40–77
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 36-42–78
Tony Komatz, Eagle, Colo., 41-37–78
Kristofer Anderson, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 38-40–78
Jason Poppenhagen, Aurora, Colo., 42-36–78
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo., 40-39–79
Chad Gonzalez, Denver, Colo., 41-38–79
Michael Slutzky, Glenview, Ill., 40-39–79
Reginald Kellum, Windsor, Colo., 42-37–79
Owen Ellis, Boulder, Colo., 39-41–80
Sean Griswold, Durango, Colo., 43-37–80
Shawn Mercer, Denver, Colo., 38-42–80
Trent Isgrig, Denver, Colo., 38-42–80
Mark Flisek, Denver, Colo., 40-40–80
Douglas Manske, Littleton, Colo., 40-40–80
Davin Sjoberg, Crested Butte, Colo., 41-40–81
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 39-42–81
Webb Henderson, Denver, Colo., 40-41–81
John Luoma, Parker, Colo., 42-40–82
Eric Butler, Denver, Colo., 39-44–83
Zachary Coe, Gypsum, Colo., 41-42–83
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-43–84
Richard Bradsby, Denver, Colo., 46-39–85
Spenser Howell, Denver, Colo., 49-40–89
Thomas Grawe, Conifer, Colo., 46-47–93
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo., WD
Mark Zbrzeznj, Avon, Colo., WD
Adam Goldie, Westminister, Colo., NS
Matt Call, Castle Rock, Colo., WD
Jed Fritz, Denver, Colo., NC
Patrick Ahlering, St Louis, Mo., WD
