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MANAKIN-SABOT, VA. – A half dozen amateur golfers will represent the Empire State at the 43rd U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur at Kinloch Golf Club September 21-26. 

One of the New Yorkers in the field, Jamie Miller of Silver Creek, is a four-time NYS champion. Miller, 39, has twice won the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur (‘14 & ‘18) and also has a Men’s Four-Ball and State Mixed Team under his belt.

Joining Miller in Virginia will be Christian Cavaliere of Katonah, Shane Dobesh of Rochester, Tommy McDonagh of New York City, Aaron Montgomery of New York City and Andrew Watson of White Plains. 

Related: Pairings / Scoring / Championship Home / Qualifying Results

Competition will consist of two rounds of stroke play - split between primary host Kinloch Golf Club and Independence Golf Club - on Monday, September 21 and Tuesday, September 22. After the two rounds of stroke play are complete, the low 64 scorers will advance to match play. Six rounds of match play will follow, with the championship match scheduled to be played over 36 holes on Thursday. 

In addition to a gold medal and custody of the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy for a year, The victor will receive exemption into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, as well as exemption into the next 10 U.S. Mid-Amateurs and the next two U.S. Amateurs. So long as the champion retains their amateur status, the win also comes with a likely invitation to the 2025 Masters Tournament. 

Kinloch Golf Club, the primary host of this year’s tournament. was designed by Lester George and Marvin Giles and opened in 2001. This year’s Men’s Mid-Am will mark the second USGA tournament hosted by the club. The 2011 U.S. Senior Amateur was held at the club, as well as the 2003 Virginia State Amateur Championship. Kinloch will measure 7,291 yards and play to a par of 35-36-71. 

Independence Golf Club, the stroke play co-host, also opened in 2001. It was designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio and has hosted more than a dozen Virginia State championships. It will be set up at 7,190 yards and a par of 35-35-70.  

Jamie Miller of Silver Creek was the qualifying medalist at his home club of Crag Burn on August 5. The current NYSGA President fired a 70 (-2) to advance to his fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur and 12th USGA tournament overall. Miller, a four-time NYS champion, finished T8 at this year’s NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Wanakah Country Club. He won the 2014 Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Teugega Country Club and the 2018 Mid-Amateur at Wanakah. In 2017, he and Billy Hanes combined for the Men’s Amateur Four-Ball title. Miller and partner Chelsea Dantonio won the NYS Mixed Team Championship in 2022. 

Christian Cavaliere was one of three players to earn their spot in the field at the Mohawk Golf Club qualifier in Schenectady. Cavaliere turned in a two under 69 to punch his ticket to Kinloch. Cavaliere has cemented his status  as one of the top amateur players in the Metropolitan region, finishing Top 3 in both the Met Open and Met Amateur Championships earlier this year. He qualified for both the U.S. Mid-Am and Men’s Amateur Championships last year, as well as the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Previously, he won three consecutive Westchester Amateurs and took home the 99th Met Junior Championship in 2016. Cavaliere played collegiately at Boston College. 

Shane Dobesh finished one stroke behind Jamie Miller at the Crag Burn qualifier to secure a spot in the Mid-Amateur field. Dobesh carded a 71 (-1) to earn one of three qualifying spots. Dobesh previously represented New York State at the 2021 U.S. Four-Ball Championship along with Yaroslav Merkulov. 

Tommy McDonagh was one of five players to qualify at Old Westbury Golf & Country Club on August 13. McDonagh’s one under 71 was enough to allow the 35-year-old to qualify for the  USGA tournament. McDonagh and Penn State teammate Brendan Borst pulled off a big upset at the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, defeating the highly ranked Clark Engle and Will Grimmer. He has also competed in several U.S. Amateurs. McDonagh is a two-time Met Amateur Champion, winning first in 2006 at the age of 17, the youngest champion in tournament history. McDonagh also took home the 2011 Connecticut Amateur Championship and was a two-time all-region selection while at Penn State. 

Aaron Montgomery turned in a 70 (-2) at the Old Westbury qualifier to earn his position in the field. Montgomery successfully qualified for this year’s Met Open Championship and competed as an amateur. Back in 2015, Montgomery finished T3 at the Junior Connecticut PGA Championship. Montgomery played collegiate golf at Occidental College in Los Angeles. 

Andrew Watson earned co-medallist honors at the Ridgewood Country Club qualifier in Danbury, Connecticut. Watson, along with Richard Dowling, turned in a two under 69. Watson finished fifth at last year’s NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Watson played college golf at Hamilton College, where he was selected captain in his senior season. He will be competing in his first USGA event. 

Below are the pairings and starting times for the six New York State golfers in the field at the U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship (EDT): 

I = Indepndence Golf Club, K= Kinloch Golf Club