45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship: Inside The Field

The 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be held at Sand Valley Resort's Lido Course.

There are 264 players in the field.  Here's a closer look at the competitors.

 

Oldest Competitors: Michael McCoy (63), Brigham Gibbs (62), Todd White (58), Bryan Hoops (57), Mike Sposa (57)

 

Youngest Competitors: Austin Liu (25, youngest), Trevor Elliott (25), Luke Wells (25), Steen Zeman (25)

 

Average Age of Field: 35.8

 

Field breakdown by age:

25-29: 63 competitors
30-34: 73 competitors
35-39: 51 competitors
40-49: 63 competitors
50-59: 12 competitors
60-plus: 2 competitors

U.S. States Represented (46): California (25), Texas (20), Ohio (13), Illinois (13), Florida (12), North Carolina (11), Alabama (11), Georgia (10), South Carolina (9), New York (8), Pennsylvania (8), Connecticut (7), Colorado (7), Arizona (6), Indiana (6), Massachusetts (6), Michigan (6), Iowa (5), Minnesota (5), Utah (4), Tennessee (4), Oklahoma (4), Virginia (3), Arkansas (3), Kentucky (3), Oregon (3), Wisconsin (3), Maryland (3), Missouri (3), Louisiana (2), West Virginia (2), South Dakota (2), Kansas (2), Nevada (2), Washington (2), Mississippi (1), Idaho (1), Nebraska (1), Maine (1), New Hampshire (1), District of Columbia (1), Delaware (1), Wyoming (1), Hawaii (1), New Jersey (1) and Rhode Island (1)

International (15): United States (243), Canada (5), Argentina (2), England (2), Australia (1), Belgium (1), Bolivia (1), Dominican Republic (1), Ecuador (1), France (1), Ireland (1), Japan (1), Mexico (1), Northern Ireland (1) and UAE (1)

USGA Champions (12): Grady Brame Jr. (2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Sam Engel (2024 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Stewart Hagestad (2016, 2021 and 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Brandon Holtz (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur) Matthew McClean (2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Michael McCoy (2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur), Lukas Michel (2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Kevin O’Connell (2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Matt Parziale (2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Sammy Schmitz (2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Mike Sposa (2026 U.S. Senior Amateur), Todd White (2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur)

 

USGA Runners-Up (5): Jeg Coughlin III (2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Drew Kittleson (2008 U.S. Amateur, 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Bobby Massa (2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Cody Paladino (2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links), Garrett Rank (2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Todd White (2026 U.S. Senior Amateur)

 

Players in Field with Most U.S. Mid-Amateur Appearances (2026 included): Michael McCoy (26), Bryan Hoops (12), Matt Parziale (11), Sammy Schmitz (10), Stewart Hagestad (10)

 

Played in 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur (44): Harrison Arnold, Andrew Bailey, Stephen Behr Jr., Will Block, Christian Brand, Kent Bulle, Christian Cavaliere, Jeg Coughlin III, Ian Davis, Preston Dembowiak, Nicholas Dentino, Connor Doyal, Sam Echikson, Parker Edens, Jonathan Fricke, Josh Gliege, Stewart Hagestad, Brandon Holtz, Bryan Hoops, Justin Hueber, Chris Kamin, Drew Kittleson, Bobby Massa, Matthew McClean, Michael McCoy, Lukas Michel, Adam Miller, Kevin O'Connell, Sean O'Donnell, Cole Ogden, Ryan O'Rear, Michael Padilla, Cody Paladino, Matthew Paradis, Matt Parziale, Brett Patterson, William Peel IV, Ben Phipps, Casey Schrader, Benjamin Spitz, Scott Strickland, Troy Vannucci, Matt Vogt

 

Played in 2026 U.S. Open (1): Brandon Holtz

 

Played in 2026 U.S. Amateur (19): Stephen Behr Jr., Christian Brand, Grady Brame Jr., Christian Cavaliere, Jeg Coughlin III, Robert Dofflemyer, Parker Edens, Stewart Hagestad, Brandon Holtz, Justin Hueber, Bobby Massa, Matthew McClean, Michael McCoy, Sean O'Donnell, Brett Patterson, Haymes Snedeker, Nate Smith, Matt Vogt

 

Played in 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur (4): Bryan Hoops, Michael McCoy, Mike Sposa, Todd White

 

Played in 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (30): John Hillard Catanzaro, Christian Chapman, Jeremy Defalco, Preston Dembowiak, Connor Doyal, Josh Dupont, John Eades, Parker Edens, Torey Edwards, Conner Elder, Sam Engel, Josh Fickes, Zach Foushee, Bryan Hoops, Joey Jordan, Grady Brame Jr., Jack Larkin Jr., Drew Kittleson, Tongun Lako Losarah, Bobby Massa, Jason Millard, Ian Nelson, Bret Parker, Logan Rawson, Matt Schall, Nate Smith, Benjamin Spitz, Matt Vogt, Todd White, Ryan Wilkins

 

Walker Cup Team Members:

United States (3): Stewart Hagestad (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025, 2026), Michael McCoy (2015, Captain - 2023), Todd White (2013)

 

Great Britain & Ireland (1): Matthew McClean (2023)

 

PLAYER NOTES:

Stephen Behr Jr., 33, of Atlanta, Ga., works in global sales for a multinational software company and is competing in his sixth U.S. Mid-Amateur. In last year's championship, Behr advanced to the Round of 32, falling to South Dakota State Men’s Golf Coach Parker Edens, 3 and 2. He advanced to the semifinals in 2024, falling to eventual champion Evan Beck, and was a quarterfinalist in 2023. He also reached the Round of 16 in the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur, where he lost to eventual champion Stewart Hagestad in 23 holes. Behr earned medalist honors in the 2018 championship at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club, where he advanced to the Round of 16. He won the 2022 Crump Cup at Pine Valley and was runner-up the following year. Behr, who earned a degree in accounting from Clemson University, was a second-team All-American for the Tigers in 2016. His father, Steve, served as the head golf professional at Florence (S.C.) Country Club for nearly 30 years before announcing his retirement in 2025. Behr currently works for SAP.

Graham Boatwright, 32, of Highland Park, Ill., will compete in his first U.S. Mid-Amateur after earning the final qualifying spot at the Tamarack Country Club qualifier by surviving a five-hole, 5-for-1 playoff. Boatwright is the grandson of former USGA executive P.J. Boatwright Jr. The USGA’s Boatwright Internship Program, which assists Allied Golf Associations, is named in his honor. Graham attended Clemson, where he played on the club golf team and earned a degree in materials science and engineering. It wasn't until after college that he began taking his game seriously, and in 2024, he and his younger brother, Jack, qualified for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Philadelphia Cricket Club. Jack will caddie for Graham at this year's U.S. Mid-Amateur. Outside of golf, the older Boatwright sibling is a senior process engineer for Tetra Pak.

Anthony Brodeur, 31, of Boynton Beach, Fla., is a former professional hockey player making his first appearance in the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Brodeur is the son of New Jersey Devils legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur. Anthony played in the Devils' system for three years as a minor leaguer following a college hockey career at the University of Ottawa. After a short professional career, Brodeur turned his sights to golf, playing for two years on PGA Tour Canada. Now reinstated as an amateur, Brodeur works full-time as a wealth management relationship manager at Paradigm Wealth. He punched his ticket to the U.S. Mid-Amateur through the Laurel Links Country Club qualifier, where he survived a 3-for-1 playoff, birdieing the 17th hole to claim the final qualifying spot. Now retired from both professional golf and hockey, Anthony, his father and siblings run the Brodeur Hockey School, which provides training to goalies and other hockey players in New Jersey and South Florida.

Christian Cavaliere, 28, of Katonah, N.Y., is competing in his fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur after earning an exemption with his semifinal appearance in last year’s championship. As the No. 21 seed at Troon Country Club, Cavaliere won four matches before falling to eventual champion Brandon Holtz, 3 and 2, in the semifinals. In addition to his U.S. Mid-Amateur success, Cavaliere recently advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion before falling to eventual champion Jack Whaley, 4 and 3. He qualified for the 2023 U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Country Club and has competed in six total U.S. Amateurs. In the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, Cavaliere shot 6-under 135 in stroke play, finishing two shots behind the medalists before falling in the Round of 32. Cavaliere recently won the New York State Open, advanced to the semifinals of this year’s Metropolitan Golf Association Amateur and tied for seventh in the Met Open. A winner of the 2016 Metropolitan Golf Association Junior title, he was also an All-Northeast Region and All-New England selection at Boston College. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded Tremont Sporting Company, which manufactures golf accessories.

Jeg Coughlin III, 29, of Dublin, Ohio, returns to the U.S. Mid-Amateur after finishing as the runner-up in last year's championship. Coughlin, the No. 43 seed, fell to Brandon Holtz, 3 and 2, in the final after pulling off upsets in nearly every round leading up to the championship match. A former collegiate golfer at The Ohio State University, he is the son of NHRA racing legend Jeg Coughlin Jr., a six-time drag-racing world champion. Coughlin won the Ohio Mid-Amateur Championship in 2025 and recently finished second in the 2026 edition behind Peyton White, who fired a record-breaking 17-under 199. White is also competing in this year's U.S. Mid-Amateur after advancing through qualifying. Outside of competing and working with his father and uncles in the racing industry, Coughlin is a founding member of The Lads, the YouTube golf group launched by Jason Day in January 2025. Last year, PGA Tour veteran Kevin Streelman was on his bag for the Mid-Am.

Garrett Cox, 32, of Charlotte, N.C., is set to make his USGA championship debut at the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Cox played collegiately at Bradley University after growing up playing junior golf with the Illinois Junior Golf Association. Cox qualified for this year's championship with his lowest-ever competitive round, a 5-under 66 at Edgewood Country Club. It was his first successful attempt at qualifying for a USGA championship in six tries; three for the U.S. Mid-Amateur and three for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. Originally from Illinois, Cox now lives in Charlotte and works as a sales representative for TaylorMade. A new father, Cox and his wife welcomed a baby girl in August, just months after he lost his own father to early-onset Alzheimer's. Cox noted that playing in the U.S. Mid-Amateur amid these major life events makes the experience even more special.

Stewart Hagestad, 35, of Newport Beach, Calif., comes to Sand Valley fresh off a 2026 Crump Cup title at Pine Valley, holding off Andrew Price in the final, 3 and 2. This victory is on the heels of his sixth Walker Cup appearance, but his first defeat. The USA fell short at Lahinch with Hagestad losing a singles match for just the second time in 10 matches. This summer, the University of Southern California graduate also advanced to the Round of 32 in the 2026 U.S. Amateur after taking down Ryan Downes, 5 and 3, in his opening match. Hagestad is one of three players, along with Jay Sigel and Nathan Smith, to win at least three U.S. Mid-Amateurs (2016, 2021, 2023). He is currently tied with Danny Yates for the third-most match-play victories in U.S. Mid-Amateur history with a 31-6 record. In addition to playing in more than 30 USGA championships, Hagestad represented the USA on victorious Walker Cup teams in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025 and won a gold medal in the mixed team competition at the 2019 Pan American Games. He was the low amateur in the 2017 Masters Tournament, becoming the first invited U.S. Mid-Amateur champion to achieve the feat. He has also played in five U.S. Opens and works as a broker for BDT & MSD Partners in the firm’s West Palm Beach, Fla., office. 

Drew Kittleson, 37, of Scottsdale, Ariz., will play in his third consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur and fifth overall after advancing to the Round of 32 in last year’s championship. The Arizona native was also a semifinalist in the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur and a finalist in both the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championships at the Country Club of Birmingham and Kiawah Island Club, respectively, alongside playing partner Drew Stoltz, who co-hosts the popular Subpar podcast with two-time USGA champion Colt Knost. Kittleson reached the Round of 16 in the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur and was the runner-up in the 2008 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2. He also competed in the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club. Kittleson, an All-American at Florida State University, owns a kitchen and bathroom remodeling company started by his father. He has competed in 18 USGA championships and played in both the Masters and U.S. Open in 2009.

Bobby Massa, 38, of Dallas, Texas, the runner-up in 2024, is competing in his fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur. He lost to Evan Beck, 9 and 8, in the 36-hole final at Kinloch Golf Club outside of Richmond, Va. In last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur at Troon Country Club, in Scottsdale, Ariz., Massa advanced to the quarterfinals before falling, 2 and 1, to Christian Cavaliere. Massa and his brother, Cody, advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, where they took eventual champions Lawrence Allan and Grady Brame Jr. to 22 holes. In 2024, Massa also advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine, losing to eventual champion Jose Luis Ballester, 3 and 1. He also reached the quarterfinal round while playing in his second U.S. Mid-Amateur at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in 2023. Massa is a personal trainer who helps clients improve golf speed and stability, from weekend players to professional athletes, including current former USGA president Fred Perpall and NFL running back Derrick Henry. He earned all-region and all-conference recognition while playing at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Michael McCoy, 63, of Des Moines, Iowa, became the first player in USGA history to win both the U.S. Mid-Amateur (2013) and U.S. Senior Amateur (2025). In 2026, the legendary Iowa golfer has won the Jupiter Invitational, Jones Cup Senior Invitational and Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions as well as finished fourth at the R&A Senior Amateur Championship. This will be McCoy’s 26th U.S. Mid-Amateur appearance, more than double the combined total of the next two most tenured players in the field. A member of the 2015 USA Walker Cup Team, McCoy also served as captain of the victorious 2023 Walker Cup Team at St Andrews (Old Course) in Scotland. He has been named Iowa Golf Association Player of the Year 11 times and is competing in his 72nd USGA championship.

Blake Moore, 42, of Conroe, Texas, returns to USGA championship golf for the first time in 20 years after last appearing in the 2006 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club. He qualified for this year's U.S. Mid-Amateur by earning co-medalist honors with a 6-under 66 at the Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club qualifier. Following a college career at the University of Colorado, Moore appeared on two seasons of the Golf Channel reality series The Big Break, competing in Seasons 12 and 14 in an effort to earn the opportunity to play professional golf. Soon after, Moore stepped away from competitive golf to pursue a full-time non-playing career and now works in advertising and partnerships for DoorDash. This will be Moore's first USGA championship since being reinstated as an amateur in 2023. In addition to his 2006 U.S. Amateur appearance, he advanced to the Round of 64 of the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links at Rush Creek, in Aurora, Colo.

Matt Parziale, 39, of Brockton, Mass., won the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Capital City Club’s Crabapple Course and became the first Mid-Amateur champion to earn a full exemption into the following year’s U.S. Open. A former firefighter who now works for an insurance brokerage firm, Parziale shared low-amateur honors in the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills with Luis Gagne. He has reached match play six times in 11 U.S. Mid-Amateurs. Parziale, who has competed in 23 USGA championships, reached the Round of 32 at the 2025 Massachusetts Amateur, was the runner-up at the 2025 New England Amateur and reached the semifinals of the 2024 Massachusetts State Amateur.

Garrett Rank, 39, of Canada, is set to compete in his fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur and first since 2021. Rank, who finished as the runner-up in his U.S. Mid-Amateur debut in 2012 to Nathan Smith, has competed in more than 20 USGA championships. Rank recently won his fourth Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur Championship, breaking a last-hole tie with a par putt at Brantford Golf & Country Club. The win, which came after he won three consecutive titles from 2014-16, earned Rank an exemption into this year's U.S. Mid-Amateur at Sand Valley. He also competed in the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills after earning co-medalist honors in final qualifying but missed the 36-hole cut. Outside of golf, Rank is a full-time NHL referee. After becoming the youngest referee in NHL history in 2015 at age 27, the Canadian officiated his first Stanley Cup final earlier this year. Rank, the 2019 Western Amateur champion, has represented Canada at the World Amateur Golf Team Championship in 2016, 2018 and 2022. He is also a cancer survivor, having overcome a 2011 testicular cancer diagnosis at age 22.

Keven Slyne, 29, of Granby, Conn., is making his USGA championship debut. Slyne recently started his own welding business and has worked in the welding and fabrication industry since graduating high school. He qualified for his first USGA championship in dramatic fashion, chipping in for birdie on the second playoff hole to earn the final automatic spot at the Springfield Country Club qualifier. Slyne is known for his unique on-course style, opting not to wear the standard glove, golf shoes or hat. He recently finished T-15 in the Connecticut Amateur.

Haymes Snedeker, 50, of Point Clear, Ala., returns to the U.S. Mid-Amateur for the first time in more than a decade after earning an exemption for capturing low-amateur honors at the 2026 U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club. Snedeker, who played at the University of Mississippi, last appeared in the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2013, when he advanced to the Round of 64. In July, he shot 4-over 284 over four days of competition in his U.S. Senior Open debut to tie for 36th. With the honor, Snedeker earned exemptions into the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur, the former of which he missed the match-play cut at Merion Golf Club and stroke-play co-host Philadelphia C.C. He also hosts a mid-amateur championship in his home state of Alabama, The Snedeker Memorial, which promotes mid-amateur golf and honors his parents, Larry and Candice Snedeker, while supporting initiatives along the Gulf Coast that promote youth development. Snedeker is the older brother of 10-time PGA Tour winner/2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Brandt Snedeker, who is serving as the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup that is taking place at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club during the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

Nathaniel Spencer, 41, of Lawrence, Kan., is a United States Air Force veteran who returned to golf later in life after taking 15 years away from the competitive game beginning in 2008. As a junior, Spencer was a touted player who played alongside future PGA Tour pros such as Brian Harman and Patton Kizzire. After serving in the military, Spencer appeared on one of the first seasons of American Ninja Warrior in 2012. He was the first competitor in ANW history to hit a buzzer in the show's Las Vegas finale. In addition to competing on American Ninja Warrior, Spencer is a competitive rock climber who has represented the United States in multiple International Federation of Sport Climbing World Cups. In 2023, he was named the Kansas Golf Mid-Am of the Year and is playing in his first ever USGA championship.

Park Ulrich, 36, of Overland Park, Kan., will compete in his first U.S. Mid-Amateur after earning one of three qualifying spots at the Wichita Country Club qualifier. Ulrich, who was born in the Republic of Korea, began playing golf at age 14 but was forced to put his golf dreams on hold after being diagnosed with cancer at 18. Despite debilitating chemotherapy that caused hand tremors and other issues, Ulrich eventually returned to golf and played for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Four years after graduating, he returned to competitive golf in 2017 and promptly won the Kansas Mid-Amateur. He won the championship again in 2019 before adding a Kansas Amateur title in 2020. Outside of golf, Ulrich is the father of two kids and currently works as a financial advisor for Ameriprise.

Tracy Vallandingham, 44, of California, Md., is a Navy civilian who works full-time in financial management for Naval Air Systems Command, which supports airborne weapon systems for the U.S. Navy. He didn't start playing golf competitively until after his college baseball career at St. Mary's University in Maryland ended. Vallandingham has been trying to qualify for USGA championships since 2006, coming painfully close in 2009 when he narrowly missed out after a seven-hole playoff for the final spot in the U.S. Amateur. After two decades of attempts, he earned one of three spots at the Bretton Woods Recreation Center qualifier in August. Vallandingham matched fellow Maryland native Rij Patel with a low round of 3-under 67 to share medalist honors.