The Steam Room by MidamgolfHQ

August 2025

What we are steaming on this month:

July may have been a little quieter on the mid-am major front, but that didn’t stop some players from lighting it up in state amateur championships across the country.

Now, get ready, because August picks back up. The calendar is stacked with high-quality mid-am events, including the U.S. Amateur. Several mid-ams have punched their ticket, and we’re crossing our fingers for a deep run from one of our own. Olympic Club will be a worthy host and sets the stage for wisdom to prevail.

Meanwhile, the road to the U.S. Mid-Am is officially underway. Shoutout to the players who’ve already secured spots via WAGR or sailed through qualifiers.

And hey, the MidamgolfHQ crew is throwing a peg in the ground chasing that elusive U.S. Mid-Am spot. Hopefully we will be on site in September in Scottsdale!

As always, thanks for reading and lets dive in!

Up Next

US Mid-Amateur Qualifying

July 22 - August 28, 2025

It’s every mid-am’s favorite time of year. Qualifiers for the USGA Mid-Amateur have kicked off and you can track results from the 60+ sites below. Troon CC in Scottsdale, AZ will host the 44th edition of the event.

Qualifying results HERE

Up Next

The Picard Cup

August 13-15, 2025

Canterbury Golf Club

Defending Champions: Matt Vogt & Kevin O’Brien

2025 marks the 31st playing of The Picard Cup. A mid-am and senior am competition that recognizes the legendary golf professional who split time between Canterbury and Seminole. The event is played over 54 holes in two days. The format features best ball - alternate shot - best ball.

The 2024 edition of the Picard Cup delivered one of its most dramatic finishes yet. After 54 holes four teams were tied at 8-under, forcing a playoff to decide the mid-amateur champions.

The pairing of Matt Vogt and Kevin O'Brien held their nerve in a tense three-hole playoff. The turning point came on the first playoff hole, where Vogt faced a 20-foot birdie putt with elimination on the line. He rolled it with perfect touch, watching it drop in with near cinematic drama. Of course Matt would go on this year to qulaify and play in the U.S Open at Oakmont with Kevin on the bag!

MidamgolfHQ will be on site and look forward to providing an inside look at the event!

Up Next

The Valentine Invitational

August 22-24, 2025

Hermitage Country Club

Defending Champion: Christian Brand

This year will mark the 83rd playing of the Valentine Invitational. The event is a 54-hole stroke play competition across both courses at Hermitage.

Last years edition of The Valentine Invitational at Hermitage Country Club delivered one of its most thrilling finishes in recent memory, as Christian Brand of Hurricane, WV edged defending champion Sam Beach by a single shot to win at 18-under-par (198). The pair, co-leaders through 36 holes, engaged in a dramatic Sunday showdown that featured chip-in birdies on the par-3 15th and an electric eagle by Brand on the par-5 16th. Beach, who carded just one bogey all week, finished at 17-under (199) with rounds of 65-65-69, but couldn’t quite repeat as champion. Brand, riding momentum from a record-setting West Virginia Amateur win and a strong U.S. Amateur showing, sealed the deal with clutch pars on the final two holes.

Brand will look to defend his title and continue his remarkable run in amateur golf, while Beach, the 2023 champion, has proven he remains one of the toughest competitors at Hermitage especially with the home crowd behind him.

2025 “Major” Mid-Am Events

Gasparilla Invitational - February 2025 - Scott Turner

The Snedeker Memorial - March 2025 - Nate Smith

Champions Cup Four-Ball - April 2025 - Will Davenport and Nick Maccario

The Giles Invitational - May 2025 - Andrew Bailey

The Walter J. Travis Invitational - May 2025 - Chris DeJohn

John T. Lupton Memorial - May 2025 - Ben Reeves

The Huddleston Cup - May 2025 - Bobby Massa

The Sanger Invitational - June 2025 - Will Davenport

C.B Macdonald Invitational Tournament - June 2025 - Stew Hagestad

Anderson Memorial 4-ball - June 2025 - Jim Chestnut and Scott Strickland

Carlton Woods Invitational - June 2025 - Robert Gwin

George C Thomas Invitational - June 2025 - Drew Kittleson

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

The Stocker Cup - October 2025

John R. Williams 4-ball - October 2025

National Invitational Tournament - November 2025

Player Profile Corner

What is in the Bag?
Driver - Titleist GT3 9.25°
3 Wood - Titleist 915 13.5°
2 Hybrid - Titleist 915 17.5°
4i-9i - Titleist 150
Wedges - 46°, 50°, 54°, 58° Vokey SM10
Putter - TaylorMade Spider Tour V3

Favorite Course(s)?
Diamond Creek
Honors Course
Olde Farm
Shoal Creek

Biggest Strength?
Course Management & Accuracy

The Ice Bath

One of the most debated issues in the mid-amateur golf world today is the role of reinstated professionals…….players who once held full PGA Tour status and have now returned to compete in mid-amateur golf. The mid-am ranks now include a wide spectrum of competitors: from lifelong amateurs grinding out local events to former pros with years of high-level tour experience. It's a dynamic that has sparked serious discussion within the game. Players like John Peterson, who nearly won a U.S. Open and maintained full PGA Tour status for several seasons, now compete in the same events as career amateurs who never left the amateur ranks.

This is nothing personal against the players who are reinstated as many of them simply love the game and want to keep competing, and within the current USGA rules, they’re doing nothing wrong. But the system feels flawed. Once you’ve played professionally at the sport’s highest level for an extended period, especially with a full PGA Tour card, there should be no pathway back to amateur status. A "one-way street" rule specific to PGA Tour cards would help preserve the integrity and competitive balance of amateur events rewarding those who have stayed true to the amateur game throughout. Guys who played a year on the Gateway tour are a far different case than players who made millions on golf’s biggest stage: the PGA Tour.

This isn’t about drawing lines based on skill as many lifelong amateurs can hang with former tour players. The mid-amateur game was designed as a space for serious competition outside the professional grind, not as a second act for ex-tour pros. It's time for governing bodies to take a closer look at the reinstatement process.

What do you all think?

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Until next month…..