Branton reaches match play portion of U.S.G.A. Mid-Amateur Championship

Local golfer Chad Branton shot 68-74 in the stroke play portion of the U.S.G.A.’s Mid-Amateur Championship Saturday and Sunday in Aurora, Colorado to qualify for the match play portion of the tournament that begins Monday. The stroke play portion included 264 competitors who played 18 holes each at CommonGround Golf Course and Colorado Golf Club. Only the top 64 players from stroke play qualify for Monday’s first round of match play. Over 4,750 players entered the national championship tournament for qualifying at 65 different sites around the country. Branton qualified for the event in Colorado by placing in the top five of 134 players at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw back in August. The U.S. Mid-Am is open to any amateur golfer who has reached their 25th birthday as of Sept. 14 and whose Handicap Index does not exceed 3.4.

Branton’s 142, even par, weekend total tied for 13th in the stroke play segment. He begins the Round of 64 in match play Monday at 11 a.m. MDT as the No. 21 seed. He squares off in his 18-hole match against No. 44 seed Jimmy Chestnut of Royal Oak, Michigan.

The surviving field of 64 players will complete the first round of match play Monday. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Tuesday. Wednesday is scheduled for the quarterfinals and semifinals with the 36-hole championship match set for Thursday.

All match play round will be held at the par-72, 7,561-yard Colorado Golf Club.