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UPDATE 9/19 -- Ina Kim-Schaad wrapped up her impressive Mid-Am performance as the top New York finisher. The 2019 Champion progressed to the round of 16 before falling to Sherry Zhong of the People's Republic of China. 

Kim-Schaad took her first two matches 3 & 2 and 1 up respectivley in the Rounds of 64 and 32. Kim-Schaad and Zhong engaged in a tight, back-and-forth match with each player gaining and surrendering momentum. Kim-Schaad won the first hole and led after four holes, before Zhong went on a run around the turn. Zhong won three straight - 8, 9 and 10 - to go up by four. Kim-Schaad immediately battled back, winning four straight and tying the match on the 14th hole. Kim-Schaad made back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 which ended up proving fatal. Zhong took the match 2 & 1, advancing to the Quarterfinals where she would lose 5 & 4 to eventual champion Hana Ryskova of the Czech Republic. 

Mimi McAndrew's tournament concluded in the Round of 32. McAndrew prevailed over Jessica Magrobang in 21 holes in her Round of 64 match. The New York City native faced off with Lindsay Gahm of Louisville, Kentucky in the next round. Gahm took the match 4 & 2 before progressing all the way to the final match, where she lost 5 & 4 to Hana Ryskova. 

Talia Campbell also made it to the Round of 32. Campbell defeated Megan Komenda 3 & 1 in the Round of 64, much in part to a late run that saw her win three of the last four holes. Campbell lost to Sherry Zhong, the same player who would later defeat Kim-Schaad, in the Round of 32. Despite being 2 up through five holes, Zhong won five of the next six and wrapped up the match with a Par on the 15th hole. 

After finishing on the cut line, neither Hannah Ku or Lauren Smykle was able to grab the final spot in the four for one playoff. 

UPDATE 9/9 -- Three of the eight New Yorkers in the field made the stroke play cut and progressed to the Round of 64 at the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship Brae Ben Country Club. 

Ina Kim-Schaad led the way, turning in a pair of 77s to finish T18 in stroke play. The reigning NYS Women's Amateur Champion who won the 2019 U.S. Women's Mid-Am takes the 19th seed into an opening match with Tracy Martin of Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Talia Campbell posted rounds of 80 and 76 in stroke play to secure a match play berth. The former Notre Dame golfer from New York City is set to square off with Megan Komenda of Carrollton, Texas. 

Mimi McAndrew was the final member of the Empire State contingent to finish on the right side of the stroke play cut. McAndrew went 82-77 and will face off against Jessica Mangrobang of Portland, Oregon in the Round of 64. 

Two New Yorkers - Hana Ku and Lauren Smykle - finished right on the cut line (+19) and have an opportunity to reach match play via a four for one playoff on Monday morning. The prevailing player will have another tough test awaiting them in the form of No. 1 seed Jacqueline Setas of East Lansing, Michigan. 

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WEST NEWTON, MASS -- Eight New York State golfers have cracked the field for the 37th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Brae Ben Country Club, September 7-12. 

Three of the participants from the Empire State - Samantha Schuffenecker of Troy, Ina Kim-Schaad of Rhinebeck and Natalie Grainger of Grenwich, CT - are past NYS Champions. Schuffenecker won the 2023 Women’s Mid-Amateur championship at Corning Country Club, while Kim-Schaad took the Women’s Amateur and Grainger the Women's Mid-Amateur earlier this season at Skaneateles Country Club. 

Joining the trio of past champions in the Boston suburbs are Lauren Smykle of Briarcliff Manor as well as New York City’s Hana Ku, Talia Campbell, Bethany Burns and Mimi McAndrew. 

Related: Pairings / Scoring / Championship Home

The 37th playing of the tournament will consist of 36 holes of stroke playing taking place on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8. Following the two rounds of stroke play, the field will be cut with the top 64 moving onward to match play. Five rounds of match play will take place between Monday and Wednesday, with the two finalists squaring off for an 18 hole championship match on Thursday. 

In addition to a gold medal and custody of the Mildred Gardinor Prunaret Trophy for a year, the champion receives exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Erin Hills. The winner will also be exempt into the next 10 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs and two U.S. Women’s Amateurs. Should the winner be age-eligible, they will also automatically qualify for the next two U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships.

Brae Burn Country Club, a Donald Ross design circa 1897, will play at 6,135 yards to a par of 37-35-72. The club is no stranger to hosting major competitions, including the 1919 U.S. Open and 1928 U.S. Amateur. Brae Burn has hosted three U.S. Women’s Amateurs and is scheduled to host the tournament again in 2028. The timeless course is also a two-time host of the Curtis Cup. 

Of the eight New Yorkers at Brae Burn, only Ina Kim-Schaad was exempt for this year’s Women’s Mid-Amateur. Kim-Schaad won the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, granting her entry into each tournament until 2030. Kim-Schaad defeated fellow New Yorker Talia Campbell in 3 & 2 in the final match to claim the title. Back in 2000, Kim-Schaad finished as the runner up in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. In addition to securing this year’s NYS Women’s Amateur, Kim-Schaad has won three Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Championships.

Samantha Schuffenecker turned in a two over 74 to earn qualifying co-medallist at Laconia Country Club in New Hampshire. Schuffenecker won the 2023 Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Corning Country Club and also took the inaugural Capital Region Women’s Amatuer Championship earlier this season at McGregor Links. Schuffenecker’s first appearance at a USGA Championship came at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the Berkeley Hall Club. 

Natalie Grainger fired a 69 (-3) to earn qualifying medalist at Naga-Waukee Golf Course in Wisconsin, reaching her first USGA Championship in the process. With rounds of 74 and 75 Grainger took the 2024 NYS Women's Mid-Amateur Championship by five strokes at Skaneateles Country Club. The former No. 1 ranked Squash player in the world presently resides in Grenwich, Conneticut, but plays her golf at the Apawamis Club in Rye. 

Lauren Smykle qualified for the USGA Championship thanks to a 77 (+6) at Green Brook Country Club in New Jersey. Smykle finished Top 10 at the 2022 WMGA/MGA Women’s Amateur Championship at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club. 

Hana Ku was co-medalist alongside Schuffenecker at the Laconia Country Club qualifier in New Hampshire where two other New Yorkers qualified for the USGA Championship as well. Ku turned in a two over 74 at the qualifier held by the New Hampshire Golf Association. Ku played her college golf at Princeton, where she was named first team All-Ivy League in her senior season and finished T3 at the Ivy League Championships. Ku participated in the 2013 U.S. Girls’ Junior at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Indiana, where she made the stroke play cut and progressed to the Round of 32. She also competed in the 2016 U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Championship alongside Princeton teammate Jordan Lippetz. 

Talia Campbell was one of two players to qualify at Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta. Campbell turned in a four over 76 to earn a spot in her sixth USGA championship. Campbell finished runner-up to Ina Kim-Schaad at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Forest Highlands Golf Club. Campbell made the stroke play cut at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and cracked the Round of 32 at both the 2021 and 2022 Women’s Mid-Amateurs. Originally from Texas, Campbell played her college golf at Notre Dame, where she won the Big East Championship in 2012 and finished second in program history with a 74.46 career stroke average. 

Bethany Burns was the third New Yorker to qualify for the Women’s Mid-Amateur at New Hampshire’s Laconia Country Club. Burns’ five over 77 allowed her to enter a USGA field for the first time. Hailing from Signal Mountain, Tennessee and presently residing in New York City, Burns played college golf at Dartmouth College. 

Mimi McAndrew earned qualifying medalist at The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club in Rockford, Illinois. Mcandrew’s 75 (+4) was the top score at the qualifier by three strokes. McAndrew is coming off an August victory at the Long Island Women’s Amateur Championship at Bethpage Red. McAndrew won the low net prize at the same event in 2019. The player out of the Piping Rock Club grabbed the first alternate spot at the Blue Hill Country Club Mid-Amateur qualifier in 2019. 

Below are the pairings and starting times for the seven New Yorkers at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship (EDT).