45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship: Fact Sheet

The 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be played at the Lido Course Sand Valley Course at Sand Valley Resort.

The Lido is an exacting re-creation, by Renaissance Golf’s Tom Doak and Brian Schneider, of the legendary links originally designed by inaugural U.S. Amateur champion Charles B. Macdonald on Long Island. The original course opened in 1914 and featured classic templates including the Alps, Redan and Eden before it was repurposed by the U.S. Navy during World War II and closed in 1942. Using historical surveys, engineering records and photographs, Doak and Schneider, alongside golf historian Peter Flory, brought the course back to life adjacent to Sand Valley in Wisconsin, where it opened for play in 2023. Its deep hazards, greens averaging more than 12,000 square feet and classic template holes make it a strategic marvel and one of the premier courses in the nation.

 

Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the Sand Valley Course was created with the dream of bringing incredible, public golf to the prehistoric sand dunes of central Wisconsin. Coore & Crenshaw began designing the routing in 2014 and opened Sand Valley, the resort’s first course and namesake, in 2017. The Sand Valley Course boasts massive, exposed sand dunes, firm and fast fairways and a multitude of strategic playing options that pose a challenge to all levels of golfer.

COURSE SETUP

The Lido at Sand Valley Resort will be set up at 7,219 yards and will play to a par of 36-35—71. The Sand Valley Course will measure 7,122 yards and will play to a par of 35-36—71. 

THE LIDO

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total
Par	4	4	3	5	4	4	5	3	4	36
Yardage	412	454	165	558	365	490	530	250	368	3,592

 

Hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Total
Par	4	4	4	4	3	4	3	5	4	35
Yardage	442	477	469	351	148	430	235	615	460	3,462

 

SAND VALLEY COURSE

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total
Par	4	4	3	5	3	4	5	3	4	35
Yardage	375	431	224	615	164	505	578	136	305	3,333

 

Hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Total
Par	5	4	4	4	3	4	4	3	5	36
Yardage	580	415	474	443	200	420	455	236	566	3,789

 

COURSE RATING AND SLOPE                                                          

Based on the course setup for the championship, the Course Rating™ for The Lido Course is 76.3 and its Slope Rating® is 152. The Course Rating for the Sand Valley Course is 75.4, and its Slope Rating is 143.

 

WHO CAN ENTER      

The championship is open to any amateur golfer who is 25 years old by Sept. 26 with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4.

 

ENTRIES

The USGA accepted 6,124 entries for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur. The mark established a new record for the championship beating the previous record of 6,060 entries in 2023. The 2024 total is now the third-highest amount at 6,054. The 5,000 mark has now been surpassed seven times.

 

QUALIFYING  

Qualifying, conducted over 18 holes, was held between July 27-Sept. 9. There were 69 sites across dozens of U.S. states and one in Mexico. California had the most, with seven qualifying sites, while Texas hosted four qualifiers.

 

SCHEDULE OF PLAY 

Practice rounds will take place Sept. 24-25. The starting field of 264 players will play two rounds of stroke play (one round on each course), with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play. The schedule is as follows:

Sept. 26 (Saturday): Round 1, Stroke Play
Sept. 27 (Sunday): Round 2, Stroke Play

Sept. 28 (Monday): Round of 64, Match Play
Sept. 29 (Tuesday): Round of 32 and Round of 16, Match Play
Sept. 30 (Wednesday): Quarterfinal and Semifinal, Match Play

Oct. 1 (Thursday): Championship Match, 36 Holes Match Play

ADMISSION   

Admission is free, and spectators are encouraged to attend.

 

2025 CHAMPION

Brandon Holtz, 38, of Bloomington, Ill., a former reserve shooting guard for Illinois State University, outdueled Jeg Coughlin III, of Dublin, Ohio, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole final at Troon Country Club, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Holtz, a reinstated amateur, was competing in his first USGA championship. The realtor drove the par-4 34th green and drained an 8-foot eagle putt to close out Coughlin, the son and grandson of legendary drag racers. To read more, click here.

 

U.S. MID-AMATEUR NOTES

• The 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur is the first USGA championship to be conducted at Sand Valley Resort
• Sand Valley Resort is owned and operated by Mike and Chris Keiser, the sons of Bandon Dunes founder and 2025 USGA Bob Jones Award recipient Mike Keiser.
• This is the 19th USGA championship and third U.S. Mid-Amateur to be held in Wisconsin
• 17 U.S. Mid-Amateur champions have been members of the USA Walker Cup Team
• At the 2025 Walker Cup Match, Nathan Smith became the sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur champion to serve as captain of the USA Walker Cup Team. Smith captained for a second consecutive year in in 2026.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SAND VALLEY RESORT

This year's U.S. Mid-Amateur will be the USGA's first championship at Sand Valley Resort. In 2023, the USGA announced that Sand Valley was chosen as the host site for four future USGA Championships beginning with the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur. The 2029 U.S. Junior Amateur, 2030 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2034 U.S. Girls’ Junior will also be conducted at the resort.

 

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED BY SAND VALLEY RESORT

2022 Wisconsin State Amateur

 

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN WISCONSIN (18)

1951, U.S. Amateur Public Links, Brown Deer Park G.C., Milwaukee
1966, U.S. Amateur Public Links, Brown Deer Park G.C., Milwaukee
1969, Walker Cup, Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
1977, U.S. Amateur Public Links, Brown Deer Park G.C., Milwaukee
1977, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, Yahara Hills G.C., Madison
1986, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, SentryWorld G.C., Stevens Point
1988, U.S. Senior Amateur, Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
1998, U.S. Women’s Open, Blackwolf Run, Kohler
2007, U.S. Senior Open, Whistling Straits, Kohler
2008, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, Erin Hills, Erin
2008, U.S. Mid-Amateur, Milwaukee C.C., River Hills
2011, U.S. Amateur, Erin Hills, Erin
2012, U.S. Women’s Open, Blackwolf Run, Kohler
2017, U.S. Open, Erin Hills, Erin
2019, U.S. Girls’ Junior, SentryWorld G.C., Stevens Point
2022, U.S. Mid-Amateur, Erin Hills, Erin
2023, U.S. Senior Open, SentryWorld G.C., Stevens Point
2025, U.S. Women’s Open, Erin Hills, Erin

 

EXEMPT PLAYERS: A total of 41 players are exempt into the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur:

Lawrence Allan (2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball champion)
Andrew Bailey (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Matheus Balestrin (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Blake Barens (Deferred exemption under USGA Family Policy)
Sebastian Barnoya (Top 15 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 22, Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Evan Beck (2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion; 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist; Top 15 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 22; Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Stephen Behr Jr. (2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist)
Arkesh Bhatia (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Grady Brame Jr. (2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball champion)
Christian Brand (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist)
Christian Cavaliere (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist, Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Jeg Coughlin III (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist)
Connor Doyal (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Parker Edens (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist)
Nate Gahman (Top 40 ag(e-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Stewart Hagestad (2016, 2021, 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion; Playing member of 2023 and 2025 USA Walker Cup Team; Top 15 age-eligible point leader in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 22; Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Brandon Holtz (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist)
Bryan Hoops (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Justin Hueber (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist)
Drew Kittleson (2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist)
Mariano Malmierca (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Bobby Massa (2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up; 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur semifinalist; 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist; Top 15 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 22; Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Matthew McClean (2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion; Playing member of 2023 GB&I Walker Cup Team)
Michael McCoy (2025 U.S. Senior Amateur champion)
Lukas Michel (2019 U.S. MId-Amateur champion)
Jose Luis Montano (Top 15 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Kevin O'Connell (2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion)
Matt Parziale (2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion)
Brett Patterson (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Rhadames Pena (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Santiago Rivas Llano (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Sammy Schmitz (2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion)
Andres Schonbaum (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Nate Smith (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Haymes Snedeker (Low amateur in 2026 U.S. Senior Open)
Omar Tejeira (Top 15 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 22; Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)(
Pierre Tiellement (2026 European Mid-Amateur champion)
Brett Viboch (Deferred exemption under USGA Family Policy)
Alejandro Villavicencio (Top 15 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 22; Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Matt Vogt (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)
Steen Zeman (Top 40 age-eligible point leaders in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 15)  
 

WHAT THE CHAMPION RECEIVES   

Among the benefits received by the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion are:

• A gold medal and custody of the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy for the ensuing yearAn exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach (Calif.) (must remain an amateur)
• An exemption from qualifying for the 2027 and 2028 U.S. Amateur Championships at Oak Hill Country Club and Whistling Straits, respectively
• An exemption into the next 10 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships
• A likely invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament (must remain an amateur)
• Name engraved on 2026 USGA Champions' plaque that will reside in the Hall of Champions inside the USGA Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.
  
  

CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY    

When the USGA announced its intention to hold a U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1981, the Atlanta Athletic Club graciously donated a decorative, sterling silver trophy from its most famous member – Bob Jones. The ornate, three-handled cup, originally named the Davis & Freeman Golf Trophy, was first used as the prize for a junior tournament at Atlanta Athletic Club. The trophy was awarded beginning in 1909 and ending with three consecutive victories by Bob Jones in 1917, 1919, and 1920. The Freeman trophy was formally donated by the Atlanta Athletic Club and Georgia State Golf Association and officially named the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy. With his 1981 Mid-Amateur victory at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Jim Holtgrieve became the first to receive the Jones Memorial Trophy. The original U.S. Mid-Amateur Trophy is on display at the USGA Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY   

This is the 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The U.S. Mid-Amateur, for amateur golfers of at least 25 years of age, provides a formal national championship for the post-college amateur, for whom the game is truly an avocation.

 

Played at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., in 1981, the first U.S. Mid-Amateur drew 1,638 entries. The field included three U.S. Amateur champions: Gary Cowan (1966, 1971), Marvin “Vinny” Giles III (1972) and Fred Ridley (1975). Jim Holtgrieve, 33, of Des Peres, Mo., defeated fellow 1981 USA Walker Cup Team member Bob Lewis Jr., 37, of Warren, Ohio, in the final, 2 up.

 

In 2017, the USGA began awarding a full exemption into the following year’s U.S. Open Championship to the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion.

 

FUTURE U.S. MID-AMATEUR HOST SITES                

Sept. 18-23, 2027: Jupiter Hills Club (Hills & Village Courses), Tequesta, Fla.

Sept. 23-28, 2028: Country Club of Charleston, Charleston S.C.

TBD, 2029: The Golf Club of Tennessee, Kingston Springs, Tenn.

Sept. 6-11, 2030: Bel-Air Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.

TBD, 2031: Sunriver Resort (Crosswater Course), Sunriver, Ore.

TBD, 2033: Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.

TBD, 2034: Champions Golf Club, Houston Texas