News

Alton, IL - On the first day to feel like fall has finally arrived, players gathered at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course for the 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. 120 golfers forming 60 sides signed up to play in the hopes of claiming one of the three spots in the championship field. The day saw cooler temperatures, a light breeze, and cloudy skies throughout the day, making for a comfortable day for golf. The course played to 6,960 yards and a par 71. 
 

As players made the turn, scores were collected and entered into the online system. It quickly became clear that the competition was tight. Even with the low scores on the front nine, it was the back nine where some teams began to separate themselves and fight for the top. For a while, seven-under (-7) par was looking like a comfortable place to be in the clubhouse. Three sides ended the day at seven-under, including the side of Steven Hyten and Matthew Lewis of Edwardsville, IL, the side of Brinson Paolini of Charlotte, NC and Nathan Stamey of Biltmore Lake, NC, and the side of Kevin Gillick of Scottsdale, AZ and Adam Kmak of Bulverde, TX.  

Paolini and Stamey were the only team that came out of the first half of the field at seven-under or better. The rest of the low score action came from the second half of the field. The first team to come in with a better score than Paolini and Stamey was the side of Tanner Haeberle of Salix, IA and Corey Matthey of Sergeant Bluff, IA. This duo was just two-under at the turn before lighting it up on the back nine. Together, Haeberle and Matthey fired seven birdies on the back nine to enter the clubhouse with a total score of nine-under (-9) par. Six of the seven birdies came from Matthey. The pair took the lead in the clubhouse, but still had some time to wait before their spot was sealed.  

Just behind them was the side of Hyten and Lewis with their seven-under score. Things were looking good for those three groups until Keenan Flemming and Joseph Williams of St. Louis, MO finished their round. Flemming and Williams were four-under through the first nine holes. They started the back with two birdies before hitting a short lull in the round before another birdie on 15. They made their way up the last and Williams sunk a putt for birdie on 18 to jump into the conversation. With a score of eight-under (-8) par, Flemming and Williams pushed the seven-under teams into playoff territory while taking a place directly behind the leaders.  

A few groups later, the side of Sam Migdal of St. Louis, MO and Joe Migdal of Chesterfield, MO came flying into the clubhouse. This pair of brothers are finding a knack for four-ball play, qualifying for the national championship twice in previous years. Making the turn, they were sitting comfortably at four-under par. The momentum got hot on the back nine with Sam firing five birdies on Holes 12-13. Joe’s contributed birdie on Hole 11 pushed the pair to the top of the leaderboard. The Migdals concluded the day at ten-under (-10) par to surpass the competition.  

Things were starting to close in with just five tee times left on the course as the side of Trenton Mierl of Austin, TX and Reese Roberts of Dallas, TX walked into the scoring area. The Mizzou golf teammates just needed to keep the momentum going after making the turn at five-under par. Three birdies and an eagle by Mierl made that possible. On the back nine, the duo carded three more birdies. They came into the clubhouse at eight-under (-8) par and threw the side of Flemming and Williams into a potential playoff.  

In the second to last group of the day, the side of Kevin Gillick and Adam Kmak made a last minute effort to get their name in the mix. After making the turn at three-under, the pair made four birdies on the back. Unable to get one final birdie on 18, the side finished the day seven-under (-7) par. This would put them in a tie with the two other teams at seven-under and an alternate place on the line.  

With scores finalized, two teams were in, two teams were on the cusp, and three teams were eyeing an alternate place. The side of Sam Migdal and Joe Migdal were officially in, earning the qualifying medalist honors. Joining them in the field are the side of Tanner Haeberle and Corey Matthey.  

Then came time for the playoffs. The three sides tied at seven-under made their way to nine tee to begin their playoff for the second alternate place. One hole was all it took for this group. After making their way up the hole, the side of Hyten and Lewis bettered the score of their opposition to take a claim of the second alternate place.  

Simultaneously, the two sides tied at eight-under went to the tenth tee to decide their fate. On the green of Hole 10, Flemming and Williams finished the hole first with a birdie to put the pressure on. Mierl and Roberts were not ready to give up just yet, though, and also sunk a birdie putt to keep the playoff alive. Then they turned to Hole 10. The approach shots from the fairway would prove to be the crucial piece of this hole. Roberts would send his second shot to land in tight to the flag. Williams would be off the front side of the green, Flemming on the far left of the green, and Mierl on the front fringe. All three would make an attempt to get in the hole in 3, but would be unsuccessful. Roberts calmly stepped up to tap his short putt into the hole and claim the qualifying spot for his team.  

Making the trip to Erin Hills next spring for the 12th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be the sides of Sam Migdal and Joe Migdal, Tanner Haeberle and Corey Matthey, and Trenton Mierl and Reese Roberts. Waiting on the sidelines will be the side of Keenan Flemming and Joseph Williams as first alternate and the side of Steven Hyten and Matthew Lewis as second alternate. The championship is set to take place May 22-26 in Erin, Wisconsin.