Jamie Miller Leads 43rd U.S. Mid-Am Qualifying at Crag Burn

August 06, 2024

EAST AURORA, N.Y. -- The NYSGA conducted a sectional qualifier Monday at Crag Burn Golf Club for the 43rd U.S. Mid Amateur Championship. Multiple weather delays forced play to carry over into Tuesday morning in order for each competitor to complete 18 holes. 

Related: Final Results / Championship Home

Two New Yorkers and one Canadian grabbed qualifying spots and will head to Kinloch Golf Club outside of Richmond, Virginia in late September. 

Jamie Miller of Silver Creek fired a 70 (-2) to earn qualifying medalist at his home club of Crag Burn. Miller turned in four birdies despite the challenging weather conditions to qualify for his fifth U.S. Mid-Am and twelfth overall USGA championship appearance. At the state level, Miller has won two NYS Mid-Amateurs (2014 & 2018) and took home the 2017 Men's Four-Ball with Billy Hanes and the 2022 Mixed-Team with Chelsea Dantonio. 

Rochester's Shane Dobesh carded a one under 71 to grab the second qualifying spot. Dobesh made only one bogey and rolled in a crucial birdie on the Par 3 17th to move to solo second and avoid a playoff. Dobesh represented New York State alongside four-time NYS champion Yaroslav Merkulov at the U.S. Men's Four-Ball at Chambers Bay in 2021. 

The final qualifying spot was decided in a two-man playoff between Canadians Brett Walker and Simon Mcinnis who each finished at even par.

Walker chipped in for birdie to punch his ticket to Kinloch on the first playoff hole (No. 10 at Crag Burn). Walker was three over for thru his first five holes of play but managed to turn his day around with three birdies. His back-nine 34 (-2) brought him back to even par and forced a playoff with Mcinnis who made an untimely bogey on the 18th. 

Mcinnis will serve as the first alternate, while Alex Weir of Erie, Pennslyvania will be the second alternate after finishing at one over par. 

Crag Burn GC played at 7,148 yards and a Par of 72.