The Steam Room by MidamgolfHQ

February 2024

What we are steaming on this month:

Goodbye, January! It's time to look forward to warmer weather and the 2024 golf season.

In the mid-am tournament realm, things are moving at a more leisurely pace this time of the year. We did have some action spread across the Jones Cup and the New Year’s Invitational – we'll spill the details in a bit.

We will use this issue to preview The Gasparilla Invitational and lay out the 2024 "major" mid-am tournament schedule. We've been getting DMs on social media from players seeking tournament intel so this issue is for you. Feel free to pass this along to your soon-to-be-25-year-old buddies who are eyeing our coveted invitationals!

As always we hope you enjoy.

2024 January Mid-Am Tournament Results

New Years Invitational

January 4-6, 2024

St. Petersburg Country Club

Mid-Am Division Champion: Devin Hernandez

Recap: The New Year’s Invitational, a tradition since 1927, showcases a lineup primarily composed of elite college players, with some mid-amateurs mixed in. Originating as a match-play competition, it transitioned to stroke play in the 1950s. In the latest edition, Devin Hernandez represented the mid-amateurs admirably, finished at -4, and earned the winners trophy for the mid-am division.

Finals

-4 | Devin Hernandez | 74-69-69=212
+1 | Michael Harrington | 71-72-74=217
+1 | Michael Anderson | 75-69-73=217

Full Results

Jones Cup

January 5-7, 2024

Ocean Forest Golf Club

Recap: The Jones Cup has solidified its status as a top event in all of amateur golf, drawing a field populated by the world's top amateurs, predominantly college players. A select few mid-amateurs earn invites, allowing us to witness the clash between experience and youth. Admittedly, this year didn't see the mid-amateurs making a strong impact on the leaderboard. Nonetheless, Ben from Backoftherange provided stellar coverage of the mid-ams, and you can catch all the details through the links below.

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Full Results

Up next

Gasparilla Invitational

February 22-25, 2024

Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club

Defending Champion: Brendon Wilson

Let’s talk Gasparilla, shall we? I think if you were to bring someone to one event who had never experienced mid-am golf then Gasparilla would be the one to check out. In 1956, the Gasparilla Invitational entered the scene as an amateur golf spectacle. Palma Ceia (the host club) member Maynard Ramsey clinched victory that first year with an even-par score of 140. Since then, the tournament has become a playground for top-notch amateurs, attracting U.S. Amateur and Mid-Amateur champions, as well as future Walker Cup players.

Gasparilla has been a proving ground for U.S. Mid-Amateur Champions like Tim Jackson and Spider Miller, preparing them for the challenges of The Masters. Palma Ceia’s quick putting surfaces and narrow fairways guard par fiercely year in and year out. We have also witnessed record-breaking performances from the likes of Bob Murphy, David Smith, and more recently, Marc Dull and Mike Finster.

Palma Ceia members, including the likes of Fred Ridley, have also left their imprint on the tournament's history. Beyond the serious golf, the Gasparilla offers a blend of serious competition paired with social festivities. Frankly, the social side of Gasparilla is flat-out elite. The final round each year draws large crowds to witness the battle for glory down the stretch.

Notables in the field this year include Matt Parziale, Marc Dull, Joe Deraney, Jero Esteve, and Kevin O’connell.

So who is going to win this year? Look, we here at MidamgolfHQ play no favorites. But if we were to lay a wager we might take the Florida boys vs the out-of-state players. Would that have worked out last year? Nope. Will we ride that bet again this year? Yes.

MidamgolfHQ will provide ongoing updates from our Instagram account of this year’s event and the associated results. Additionally, keep an eye out on Gasparilla’s social channels for some of the best coverage of a mid-am event all year. Congrats to all involved and good luck with the 2024 edition.

2024 “Major” Mid-Am Events

Gasparilla Invitational - February 2024

George Coleman Invitational - April 2024

Trans-Miss Mid-Master Championship - May 2024

The Walter J. Travis Invitational - May 2024

John T. Lupton Memorial - May 2024

The Huddleston Cup - June 2024

Anderson Memorial 4-ball - June 2024

Carlton Woods Invitational - June 2024

George C Thomas Invitational - June 2024

The Picard Cup - August 2024

The Valentine Invitational - August 2024

U.S Men’s and Women’s Mid-Ams - September 2024

The Crump Cup - September 2024

John R. Williams 4-ball - September 2024

The Berkeley Cup - October 2024

Stocker Cup - October 2024

Devils Elbow - November 2024

National Invitational Tournament - November 2024

East-West Cup Matches - November 2024

The Ice Bath

We are going to wade into the deep waters this week 💀 and talk about the current minimum age requirement to be a mid-am.

The current minimum age set at 25 establishes a clear distinction from traditional amateur events, which typically feature younger college players. This rule has allowed individuals who pursued alternative interests or careers post-college to continue competing at a high level in amateur golf. The 25-year-old age requirement acknowledges that it’s important to offer a competitive platform for those passionate about the game but also working to juggle work and family duties.

However, the landscape is evolving. College-aged players now tend to extend their time in school, often taking a 5 or sometimes 6-year path, especially with the option to receive compensation while on the roster of a prominent Division 1 program. Some college players may enter mid-amateur golf shortly after college, presenting a significant advantage. Firstly, World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points heavily favor college play, influencing qualifications for prestigious mid-am events like the U.S. Mid-Am. Secondly, players coming off intense college schedules possess a sharpness that surpasses older counterparts with family responsibilities and limited tournament participation.

Life isn't always fair, but there's a serious consideration here as to whether raising the age limit to 26 or 27 could mitigate the WAGR points advantage, ensuring that college competitors spend some time in the workforce before vying for mid-amateur trophies and cocktails.

What do you all think? Send us a DM on Instagram or Tweet at us on X.

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…..