Brandon Holtz, of Bloomington, Ill., and Jeg Coughlin III, of Dublin, Ohio, each secured semifinal victories on Wednesday at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., to advance to Thursday’s 36-hole championship match of the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
Holtz, 38, is a former Illinois State University basketball player competing in his first USGA championship. He defeated Christian Cavaliere, of Katonah, N.Y., 3 and 2 in Wednesday’s afternoon match after rallying from 3 down with five holes to play in his quarterfinal match against Justin Hueber, winning in 19 holes.
Holtz has produced 24 birdies across his last four matches, highlighted by playing 5-under-par golf on the outward nine against Cavaliere in the afternoon.
“I just started hitting it close and got confident with it,” said Holtz of his putter. “That’s all you need is some confidence and a good stroke and usually it turns out well.”
Coughlin, 28, an Ohio State graduate, eliminated defending champion Evan Beck, of Virginia Beach, Va., 1 up, in a tightly contested semifinal. With PGA Tour professional Kevin Streelman serving as his caddie, Coughlin held off Beck in a match that featured 15 combined birdies. A precise 9-iron approach from a fairway bunker to 6 feet on the final hole secured his place in the final. Earlier on Wednesday, he posted a 3-and-2 victory over South Dakota State men's golf head coach Parker Edens, of Brookings, S.D.
“I love match play. I’m a competitor through and through,” Coughlin said. “So to have the opportunity to play somebody heads up is a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
What's Next
The 36-hole championship match is set to begin at 7 a.m. MSTand continue after the lunch break. The afternoon starting time will be determined when the first 18 is completed. Admission is free, and spectators are encouraged to attend.
Notable
Semifinalists Christian Cavaliere and Evan Beck received bronze medals as well as exemptions into the next two U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, scheduled for Sand Valley Resort, in Nekoosa, Wis., and Jupiter Hills Club, in Tequesta, Fla.
Each of the finalists are now exempt into the 126th U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa.
A total of 10 extra-hole matches have been played this week. The record is 14 at Sea Island Golf Club (2004) and The Vintage Club (1985).
Evan Beck saw his streak of leading or being tied end at 52 holes when he lost the third hole to Christian Brand in the quarterfinals. His deficit lasted only three holes, and he never trailed again after making a birdie at the par-4 eighth.
Brandon Holtz has his father, Jeff Holtz, on his bag this week.
Christian Cavaliere will continue to compete into the fall and will then represent the Metropolitan Golf Association in the Carey Cup at Portmarnock Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland.
Holtz, a reinstated amateur who works as a real estate agent, joins fellow Bloomington resident Todd Mitchell(2008 Mid-Am runner-up) as Illinois State alumni to reach a U.S. Mid-Amateur final. Coughlin, who is making his first match-play appearance in a USGA championship, is the son of six-time drag racing world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and would add to a storied family legacy rooted in motorsport.
Quotable
“Listen, I’m human. How do you block it out, right? You’ve got a chance to win the U.S. mid-Amateur.” – Coughlin on his mentality surrounding the major championship implications of a victory in Thursday’s final
“I’ll reach out to him tonight to see if he has any advice for me. We play a lot of golf together.” – Holtz on fellow Bloomington, Ill., resident and 2008 Mid-Am runner-up Todd Mitchell
“What does he bring? He brings 20 years of PGA Tour experience. He's just such a calming presence.” – Coughlin on the influence of PGA Tour winner Kevin Streelman on his bag
“Really tough format. Jeg played really well. [I] made a bunch of birdies coming in, and he made birdies, too. Just part of the deal. A lot of luck involved in the format. I was lucky last year and not this year. That's the way it goes.” – Evan Beck
“It was definitely not an ideal start. I had been playing the front nine really well, and this is probably the worst I've played the front nine all week. And combined with him shooting 5 under, it just was not a good matchup, so I was in a pretty big hole. Tried not to lose any confidence or any hope and tried to grind it out and put some pressure on him, but there just weren't enough holes left.” – Christian Cavaliere
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