Tuesday, September 29, 2026

45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship: Meet the Quarterfinalists

The Quarterfinalists for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at The Lido at Sand Valley Resort are set.


Here's a closer look at the eight player field including local standouts, reinstated professionals, and top amateurs.


Andrew Bailey, 34, of Cleveland, Ohio 


  • WAGR: 180 

  • Playing in fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and 12th USGA championship 

  • Second U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinals appearance; first was in 2021 

  • Advanced to the Round of 32 at both the 2025 U.S. Amateur and Mid-Amateur 

  • 2024 and 2023 Ohio Amateur Champion 

  • Played collegiately at Cleveland State University where he was a Horizon League Player of the Year from 2012-14 

  • Inducted into the Cleveland State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022 

  • Sales Manager for the golf apparel brand Holderness & Bourne 


Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 70-67-137 to earn the No. 3 seed 
R64: Def. Mariano Malmierca, 2 and 1 
R32: Def. Matt Schall, 4 and 3 
R16: Def. John Eades, 4 and 3  

 

 

Grady Brame Jr., 34, of Hammond, La. 

  • WAGR: 4755 

  • Winner of the 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner Lawrence Allan 

  • Advanced to this year’s Four-Ball championship match with a semifinal win over this week’s medalist Bobby Massa and his brother, Cody 

  • Played collegiately at Southeastern Louisiana University from 2011-15  

  • Won the 2014 and 2015 Louisiana Amateur 

  • His father, Grady Brame Sr., played in 23 USGA events. 


Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 69-69-138 to earn the No. 6 seed 
R64: Def. Preston Dembowiak, 19 holes 
R32: Def. Peyton White, 3 and 2 
R16: Def. Ethan Hagood, 4 and 3 



Parker Edens, 36, Brookings, S.D.  


  • WAGR: 912  

  • Played two years of college golf at South Dakota State University before transferring to Colorado State University, where he captained the team 

  • Competed in the 2026, 2012 and 2010 U.S. Amateurs 

  • Has advanced to at least the Round of 16 in each of his last four U.S. Mid-Amateur appearances, reaching the quarterfinals in 2026, 2025 and 2023, and the Round of 16 in 2024 

  • Won the 2026 South Dakota Amateur Championship 

  • Won both the South Dakota Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship and Match Play Championship in 2023 

  • Currently the head men’s golf coach at South Dakota State University 
     

Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 74-66-140 to earn the No. 12 seed 
R64: Def. Mike Calef, 3 and 1 
R32: Def. Rhadames Pena, 5 and 4 
R16: Def. Sean O'Donnell, 23 holes 


Matt Hutchins, 29, of Naples, Fla. 


  • WAGR: NR 

  • Competing in his first USGA championship 

  • Works as a local caddie at Sand Valley 

  • Played college golf at Chico State and UCLA 

  • Qualified with a 1-under 71 at nearby Lake Arrowhead Golf Club 

  • Made 10 cuts in 21 starts in two years competing on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica 


Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 71-70 to earn the No. 16 seed 
R64: Def. Jack Biwer, 5 and 3 
R32: Def. Ben Greve, 2 and 1 
R16: Def. Jordan Russell, 1 up 

 

Drew Kittleson, 37, of Scottsdale, Ariz. 


  • WAGR: 2932 

  • Competing in his 19th USGA championship and fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur 

  • Advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur 

  • Finished runner-up alongside partner Drew Stoltz in both the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship 

  • All-American at Florida State 

  • Finished as the runner-up of the 2008 U.S. Amateur 

  • Competed in both the 2009 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters Tournament 
     

Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 71-71-142 to earn the No. 31 seed 
R64: Def. Stephen Behr Jr., 2 and 1 
R32: Def. Zach Foushee, 23 holes 
R16: Def. Jonathan Fricke, 3 and 1 



Mikel Martinson, 42, of Throckmorton, Texas 

  • WAGR: NR 

  • Competing in his first U.S. Mid-Amateur 

  • Played college golf at New Mexico Jr College and Wayland Baptist University where he was a two-time NAIA All-American 

  • Won the 2009 Texas State Open 

  • Shot 5-under 67 at Turtleback Mountain Golf Resort to qualify for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur 

  • Works in oilfield sales 


Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 69-70-139 to earn the No. 33 seed 
R64: Def. Nicklaus Harrington, 1 up 
R32: Def. David Shambley, 19 holes 
R16: Def. Christian Cavaliere, 2 up 

 

 

Nate Smith, 43, of Tetonia, Idaho 


  • WAGR: 268 

  • Competing in his eight USGA championship; fourth consecutive U.S. Mid-Amateur 

  • Advanced to the Round of 32 in last year’s championship 

  • Competed in the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club 

  • Won the 2026 Idaho Amateur 

  • Named the 2025 PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur of the Year 

  • Played college golf at Duke University where he was a two-time All-American 

  • Advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club 

  • Works as a homebuilder 


Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 74-69-143 to earn the No. 45 seed 
R64: Def. Christian Brand, 2 and 1 
R32: Def. Stewart Hagestad, 5 and 4 
R16: Def. Matthew Paradis, 3 and 1 

 

 

Matt Vogt, 35, of Indianapolis, Ind. 

  • WAGR: 259 

  • Competing in his ninth USGA championship and third U.S. Mid-Amateur 

  • Won the 2026 Indiana State Amateur with a 54-hole scoring record of 18-under 

  • Qualified for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club 

  • Was an Oakmont caddie for five years from 2008-2013 

  • Named the 2024 and 2025 Indiana Golf Association Player of the Year 

  • Full-time dentist who owns his practice in Indianapolis 

  • Die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan 


Road to the Quarterfinals  

Shot 69-70-139 to earn the No. 7 seed 
R64: Def. Will McCurdy, 19 holes 
R32: Def. Elijah Turner, 2 and 1 
R16: Def. Brandon Pluchinsky, 3 and 2 


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