Mitchell Wins Mid-Amateur Medal with 4-under 66
Berkmeyer, Wassmer and Long also advance
to Oregon's Bandon Dunes Resort
St. Louis - Todd Mitchell of Bloomington, Ill., fired a 4-under 66 to win the medal at the 27th U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier at Norwood Hills Country Club.
Three others – Ballwin’s Skip Berkmeyer (35-33-68), Kevin Wassmer (33-35-68) of Poseyville, Ind., and Rob Long of Clarksville, Tenn., (38-32-70) – also advanced to the national tournament, scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 4 at Bandon Dunes Resort in Bandon, Ore.
Long advanced after making par at the first playoff hole against St. Charles’ Scott Fann (34-36-70) and Chesterfield’s Scott Thomas (34-36-70). 
27th USGA Mid-Amateur Championship
Sept. 29-Oct. 4, 2007
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Defending Champion: Dave Womack
The short-hitting Long, 52, bogeyed his first two holes of the day, but rallied with three back nine birdies to earn a spot in the Bandon Dunes field. What Long lacks in distance, he makes up with a deadly short-game. Despite being unable to reach several of Norwood Hills’ par-4s in regulation, Long matched par with a series of confident chips and putts.
Mitchell qualified for the Mid-Amateur in his first attempt. “I’ve never tried the Mid-Am before because I was focused on the U.S. Amateur qualifier. The Bloomington insurance agent has advanced to match play at America’s oldest championship three times.
Mitchell said this year’s championship site, Bandon Dunes, one of America’s most stunning seaside links, didn’t influence his decision to enter. “That’s certainly a plus, but I was intending to enter the Mid-Amateur this year regardless. It was time.
“I’ve been to Scotland before, so I have some links experience,” he added. “I’m certainly looking forward to it.”
Wassmer will be playing in his first Mid-Amateur championship too, but the 41-year-old Poseyville, Ind., golfer is no stranger to national competition either. Wassmer has made seven trips to the USGA’s Amateur Public Links, advancing twice to the round of 32. A U.S. Amateur qualifying is also on his resume.
Berkmeyer, the lone St. Louisan to advance, had mixed emotions about attempting to qualify on his home course. “It’s not fun,” he said with a sigh of relief. “Your expectations are higher, so you end up putting a lot of pressure on yourself. I was really grinding out there today. I’m worn out.”
Berkmeyer’s anxiety was heightened after making bogeys at the par-4 first and the par-3 tenth holes, but the 33-year-old Ballwin resident got his qualifying bid in order by driving the 300-yard 11th hole, then making his eagle putt. He added a two-putt birdie at the 526-yard 15th hole, then made pars at his final three holes to secure his qualifying position.
Six golfers – St. Louisans Chris Collins (35-36-71) and Joe Behl (38-33-71), St. Charles’ John Mikelonis (37-34-71), Chesterfield’s Brian Kennedy (36-35-71), Poplar Bluff’s Bobby Godwin (36-35-71), and Millstadt’s Tim Riley (35-36-71) – missed the playoff by shot after posting 1-over 71s on Norwood’s par-70, 6,788-yard West Course.
Skip Berkmeyer will be returning to the
Mid-Amateur Championship after posting
a 2-under 68 in qualifying Aug. 30 at Norwood.
Qualifying scores at Norwood Hills
66 - Todd Mitchell, Bloomington, IL
68 - Skip Berkmeyer, Ballwin
68 - Kevin Wassmer, Poseyville, IN
68 - Rob Long, Clarksville, TN