The Steam Room by MidamgolfHQ

March 2025

What we are steaming on this month:

The 2025 mid-am golf season is officially in full swing, launching in spectacular fashion with the prestigious Gasparilla Invitational in Tampa. True to its reputation, the event delivered an electrifying finish, set against a backdrop of pristine course conditions and picture-perfect weather—an early-season treat for players and spectators alike. Stay tuned for a full recap later in the newsletter.

As we turn our sights to March, anticipation builds for the Snedeker Memorial, set once again at the storied Lakewood Club in Point Clear, AL. The second edition of the event promises another stacked field.

Adding to the excitement, we’re thrilled to unveil a new addition to the calendar: the inaugural Giles Invitational at Kinloch, the esteemed host of last year’s U.S. Mid-Am. Slated for May 1-4, this event is poised to make an immediate impact, drawing one of the strongest fields of the season. We can’t wait to watch this tournament take flight and cement its place among the year’s must-see competitions.

2025 February Mid-Am Tournament Results

Gasparilla Invitational

February 13-15, 2025

Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club

Champion: Scott Turner

The Gasparilla Invitational once again showed why it’s considered many player’s favorite event of the year. The membership support behind the event and the incredible condition of the golf course make it the perfect mid-am major to start the year. This year the golf course featured a full rye grass overseed adding to the challenge and prestige of the first event of the year.

Scott Turner delivered a clutch final-round 69 to capture the Gasparilla Invitational, edging out Steele Dewald and Will Davenport by a single stroke in a thrilling finish.

Entering the final round just one shot behind 36-hole co-leaders Davenport and Nate Gahman, Turner wasted no time making his move. A front-nine 33, highlighted by birdies on the 3rd and 6th holes, flipped the script and gave him a one-shot advantage at the turn. While Davenport and Gahman each posted steady 35s, Turner seized control heading into the decisive back nine.

The battle tightened on the 12th when Turner stumbled with a bogey, momentarily dropping into a tie with Davenport, who strung together a series of steady pars. Meanwhile, Gahman faded from contention with bogeys on 10, 12, and 14, clearing the way for a new challenger—Steele Dewald.

Dewald, who had already shown flashes of brilliance with an opening 65 followed by a turbulent 74, reignited his charge with birdies on the first two holes. Despite his hot start, he could never quite crack the 4-under threshold, stringing together seven straight pars before offsetting a bogey on 10 with a birdie on 16. His closing 68 was the round of the day, matched only by Matthew Lowe and Ryan Terry.

As the field struggled to go low, Turner’s steadiness proved to be the difference. His birdie on 16 provided a crucial cushion, pushing him to 5-under—an elusive number no one else could reach. That extra stroke of insurance came in handy, as a bogey on 17 tightened the margin. Davenport nearly holed a bunker shot on 18 that could have blown the lid off the place but in the end, it was Turner’s day.

With a one-shot victory, Turner etched his name into Gasparilla history.

Leaderboard
-4 | Scott Turner | 68-69-69=206
-3 | Steele Dewald | 65-74-68=207
-3 | Will Davenport | 66-70-71=207

Full Results

Up next

Snedeker Memorial

March 7-9, 2025

The Lakewood Club

Defending Champion: Jordan Russell

The Snedeker Memorial is back for its second edition and the field is stacked. Set against the stunning backdrop of The Lakewood Club in Point Clear, Alabama, this storied course, originally crafted by legendary architect Perry Maxwell in 1947 and recently revitalized, has proudly hosted three USGA championships. With its rich history and challenging layout, it promises to be the perfect stage for yet another unforgettable competition.

The championship is a thrilling 54-hole individual stroke play event, with an added twist—a simultaneous team competition where scores are combined for a unique test of skill and camaraderie. Invited mid-amateurs have the chance to handpick their own partner (pending Committee approval), or they can be paired up by the Committee.

More than just a tournament, this event is a heartfelt tribute to Larry and Candice Snedeker, whose passion for the game helped shape the careers of their sons, Haymes and Brandt, both on and off the course.

The defending champion is Jordan Russell who ran away with last year’s victory. The field will hope to make it a closer race this year and we will have updates on site this year.

2025 “Major” Mid-Am Events

Gasparilla Invitational - February 2025 - Scott Turner

The Snedeker Memorial - March 2025

The Giles Invitational - May 2025

The Walter J. Travis Invitational - May 2025

John T. Lupton Memorial - May 2025

USGA 4-Ball - May 2025

The Huddleston Cup - May 2025

C.B Macdonald Invitational Tournament - June 2025

Anderson Memorial 4-ball - June 2025

Carlton Woods Invitational - June 2025

George C Thomas Invitational - June 2025

Mid-Am Team Championship - August 2025

The Picard Cup - August 2025

The Valentine Invitational - August 2025

USGA Men’s Mid-Am - September 2025

USGA Women’s Mid-Am - September 2025

Trans-Miss Mid-Master Championship - September 2025

The Crump Cup - September 2025

John R. Williams 4-ball - October 2025

Devils Elbow - November 2025

National Invitational Tournament - November 2025

The Ice Bath

We touched on this in last month’s newsletter, but it’s worth diving deeper into one of the standout features of the Gasparilla Invitational—the Monday qualifier. This element adds a unique and exciting dimension to the tournament, offering a rare pathway for mid-amateurs to play their way into one of the premier events on the circuit.

There’s no denying that mid-amateur golf has experienced a surge in popularity over the past decade. The success of players like Stew Hagestad and Scott Harvey has inspired countless competitive amateurs over 25 to keep chasing their golf aspirations. With this heightened interest comes an ever-increasing demand to secure spots in the most prestigious events, making access more competitive than ever.

That’s why the Gasparilla’s approach is so refreshing. By providing players not directly invited into the field the chance to qualify, it not only widens the field but also injects an extra layer of drama into the event before the tournament even begins. While it’s unlikely that ultra-exclusive events like the Coleman or Crump will adopt a similar format, it does raise an interesting question: Could other top-tier invitationals follow Gasparilla’s lead?

Expanding access while maintaining the prestige of elite mid-am competitions is a delicate balance, but the Monday qualifier offers a compelling way to achieve it. It’s an idea worth watching—and perhaps one we’ll see gain traction in the future.

We love to feature our passionate mid-am golf community. If you have a story, achievement, or event you'd like to share, send us a DM on our Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) @midamgolfHQ

Until next month…..