Hagestad, McClean Among Quartet of First-Round Leaders in Arizona

Considering the success he enjoyed last week at Cypress Point Club in helping the USA claim a fifth consecutive Walker Cup, a hangover certainly was in the offing. Yes, Stewart Hagestad arrived in the Arizona desert for the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship a bit exhausted from the long week on California’s spectacular Monterey Peninsula, where the five-time competitor posted a 2-0 mark in singles in the 17-9 triumph over Great Britain & Ireland.

The Newport Beach, Calif., native and three-time Mid-Amateur champion did take a brief respite from golf, flying to Los Angeles after Sunday night’s post-Match celebration. By Thursday, the 34-year-old returned to competition mode, walking stroke-play co-host Troon North Golf Club and playing a Friday practice round at Troon Country Club.

Any lingering post-Walker Cup effects were not physically noticeable on Saturday morning, where the University of Southern California graduate and merchant banker with BDT & MSD Partners carded a 5-under-par 66 at Troon North to share the first-round lead with Patrick Dewey, who also played Troon North on Day 1. 2022 champion Matthew McClean and Chandler Mulkey, of Charleston, S.C., were on Troon C.C..

Wyatt Johnson, a 30-year-old lefty from Victor, Idaho, is one stroke back after an opening 67.

Eight additional players were two strokes back, including 2022 semifinalist Josh Persons and 2024 U.S. Open qualifier Colin Prater.

Evan Beck opened the defense of his title with an even-par 71 at Troon C.C.

In all, 36 competitors bettered par on a day when Troon North (76.1) played slightly more than a shot tougher than Troon C.C. (74.9)

Players enjoyed idyllic, mid-September conditions: bright sunshine with temperatures in the 90s and light winds.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful experience,” said Wade Boteler, who is competing in his second U.S. Mid-Amateur and was among the group to post 3-under 68. “This golf course (Troon C.C.) and [stroke-play co-host Troon North] are just immaculate. Both are as perfect as you could ask for. I couldn’t have anything better to say.”

Fatigue or not, Hagestad has enjoyed Mid-Amateur success in Walker Cup years. In 2021, four months removed from winning at Seminole Golf Club, Hagestad defeated Mark Costanza at Sankaty Head Golf Club for the second of his three titles. Two years ago, he triumphed over Evan Beck at Sleepy Hollow Country Club a week after returning from competing on the Old Course at St Andrews.

“Thank you for bringing that up,” said Hagestad, whose eight overall points ties him for 10th all-time with Charles Coe among USA Walker Cuppers. “I also lost in the semifinals [in 2019 at Colorado Golf Club to eventual winner Lukas Michel].

“I think the big thing I tried to tell myself both last night and this morning was, ‘Hey, you’re going to be a little tired. That’s okay. Forgive yourself a little bit. Give yourself a little bit of grace. From there, don’t change a thing. Go out, execute, try to play smart, disciplined [golf], which I did a nice job of today. But I’ll be the first one to admit, I’m a little tired.”

Hagestad made six birdies against one bogey, including a 7-footer on No. 8 (his 17th of the round) and a 15-footer to close the round.

Dewey, 33, of Jupiter, Fla., on the other hand, arrived in Arizona taking a completely different path. This is his first USGA event after attempting to qualify for this championship since becoming eligible eight years ago. He attended Palm Beach (Fla.) State College, earning an Associates of Arts degree, but that was the end of his collegiate experience. He regularly plays at Abacoa Golf Club, a daily-fee facility in Jupiter where he works in outside services.

But no matter transpires here this week, he’ll never forget his opening four holes on Saturday, one that included an eagle-birdie-hole-in-one stretch from No. 11 at Troon North.

“That was surreal,” said Dewey, who has his wife, Samantha, on the bag. “I’ve never done that, especially in a [competition]. I’m on cloud nine right now.”

Dewey’s 3-wood approach on the 549-yard, par-5 11th just missed the green to the left. He then holed out from 45 feet for a 3. A birdie on No. 12 followed before his 9-iron on the 167-yard 13th found the middle of the hole for the 28th ace in U.S. Mid-Amateur history. Only, nobody in the group actually saw it go in.

“It landed just on the front of the green,” said Dewey of his third career ace, but first in competition. “I guess like five feet short. The guy behind the green gave us the, ‘It’s in!’”

McClean, a 32-year-old optometrist from Northern Ireland who represented GB&I in the 2023 Walker Cup, got off to a sizzling start with birdies on his first four holes (10-13) before making a bogey on No. 14. He would later birdie Nos. 2-4 on his inward nin,e with his lone blemish on that side coming at the par-4 sixth.

“It’s very different to Northern Ireland,” said McClean of playing desert golf, featuring Saguaros and other native vegetation. “Nothing in common here to where I grew up, but it’s somewhat similar to some places in Spain and European countries with a bit more heat. It’s definitely a different style of golf course, but I don’t think it’s overly different in terms of how to play it.

“You have to hit it straight, it’s very intimidating off the tee. It’s pretty much every shot left or right is trouble, so it’s not easy off the tee. If you can get your ball in play off the tee, then it gives out birdies out there.”

Mulkey, 35, of Charleston, S.C., a full-time caddie at the Kiawah Island Resort’s Ocean Course, registered six birdies, an eagle, a bogey and a double bogey in his opening round.

What’s Next

The 263 remaining competitors will switch courses for Sunday’s second and final round of stroke play. Those who played Troon Country Club will switch to co-host Troon North Golf Club and vice versa. The low 64 scorers will advance to match play. Should a playoff be necessary for the final spots in the draw, it would take place on Monday morning at Troon C.C. Match play will continue through Thursday’s 36-hole championship match. Admission is free, and spectators are encouraged to attend.

Notable

A special ceremony to honor the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place on Thursday morning at Troon C.C. It included a flyover of a pair of F-35 fighter jets from nearby Luke Air Force Base.

Louis Brown, the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur champion who is the third-oldest competitor in the field at 62, posted a 1-under 70 at Troon Country Club.

Bryan Hoops, one of nine Arizonans in the field, withdrew prior to his tee time on Saturday. The 53-year-old from Scottsdale, finished competing in the Canadian Senior Amateur on Friday in Nova Scotia, where he finished third. He could not arrange a flight back to Arizona in time for his tee time. He was replaced in the field by Ben Mitchell, of New York, N.Y.

Sean Seese, of Rydal, Pa., withdrew after three holes at Troon North due to a kidney stone.

Arizonans hit all but one of the first shots from each of the two waves at the two venues. Nick Arman, of Cave Creek, played the opening tee shot off No. 1 at Troon Country Club, while 2024 semifinalist and three-time USGA runner-up Drew Kittleson (Scottsdale) was first off No. 10. At Troon North, Cory Bacon (Scottsdale) was first to play off No. 1, and Chris Kamin (Phoenix) hit the opening shot on No. 10. Kittleson and Cody Massa (Cave Creek) were the low Arizonans on Day 1 with 1-under 70s at Troon C.C. Massa’s brother, Bobby, was the runner-up last year.

A.J. Fitzgerald, a Cypress Point Club caddie who carried for reigning U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell at last week’s Walker Cup Match, celebrated his 25th birthday on Saturday, making him the youngest player in the field. The Salinas, Calif., native, who is competing in his fourth USGA championship, opened with a 1-over 72 at Troon North.

Fitzgerald isn’t the only caddie in the field. Adam Miller, of Nekoosa, Wis., carries clubs at Sand Valley Resort, site of next year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur. Miller opened with a 2-over 73 at Troon North.

Things were not looking balmy after six holes at Troon North Golf Club for 34-year-old Ryan O’Rear. A Georgetown, Texas, native who played at Baylor University, O’Rear was 4 over par and thinking he might be rebooking his flight reservations earlier than expected. But he finally saw a birdie putt drop on No. 17 (his eighth of the day) to kickstart an eight-hole stretch of 5-under golf, turning in a first-round 1-under 70.

Quotable

“We hit many provisionals. You know, it’s just because we don’t know the course that well. The adjustment is still a little bit of guess work, but it’s working out okay.” – Patrick Dewey on transitioning from playing in south Florida to the Arizona desert

“I’m still able to give a lot of time to golf and play in a lot of tournaments. I probably play a lot more tournaments than a lot of the guys out here. I do spend a lot of the year on the amateur circuit trying to get better, win events and do that sort of thing. It’s tough to play against some of the guys who are full-time throughout the year because you come out of the winter pretty rusty and it takes a bit of time to get going into the summer…I can manage with less practice than most guys, but thankfully I’m able to live a lifestyle at the moment with less work and more golf. That is going to change sooner rather than later probably.” – Matthew McClean on balancing his work as an optometrist and competing in high-level golf events  

“I’m going to go watch our football game, hopefully [USC] can take down Purdue. Go practice a little, but yeah, there might be a nap in my future.” – Stewart Hagestad on his post-round plans

“I’m hoping, above all else, to have a good time and just be a good representation of a competitor. I hope to keep it in between the desert and continue to play well. Those greens [at Troon North] are perfect also, so I look forward to putting there. I just hope to have a similar day with a lot of good greens hit and similar looks at birdie putts.” – Wade Boteler (68 at Troon C.C.) on his mindset for Round 2 at Troon North

“I just dig in and finally made a putt on 17 and started hitting some good shots on [my] back nine…Just staying patient. The greens are so good, you just have to give yourself some looks…Much better position [on the leader board]. Lunch will taste a little better, and hopefully make tomorrow [at Troon C.C.] a little easier.” – Ryan O’Rear after rallying from a 4-over start after six holes to post a 1-under 70

“One of the cool things the USGA does is that they always have a local person start the championship off, so very grateful for me to be one of those people. You play good sometimes and sometimes you don’t. Got off to a good start [with two birdies]. Wish I would have played better for a five- or six-hole window, but that’s cool.” – Arizonan Drew Kittleson, a semifinalist in 2024, on carding a 1-under 70 after hitting the opening tee shot on No. 10 at Troon C.C. on Saturday morning

David Shefter is a senior staff writer at the USGA. Email him at dshefter@usga.org.