FARMINGTON — Alec Stopperich’s qualifying round for the 45th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship had just a couple of stressful moments along the way. Kevin Fajt’s round, however, led to an abundance of them.
Stopperich, a Peters Township graduate who played at Memphis and Samford, shot a 5-under score of 67, punching a ticket to the nation’s top Mid-Amateur championship during qualifying on Tuesday at Nemacolin’s Mystic Rock.
Cleveland native Trevor Cohen and Greensburg’s Kevin Fajt each shot 3-under and survived an extremely long playoff to move on, as well.
“I’ve honestly just been doing all parts of the game pretty well,” said the 28-year-old Stopperich, who qualified for his first Mid-Amateur in his first attempt. “There’s been some consistent golf for the last 12 months or so. I’ve been driving it well and the putter’s been pretty hot for me. I’m just trying to keep that up as much as possible.”
His round, however, didn’t get off to an inspiring start. Stopperich posted bogey on the opening hole, putting himself in a bit of an early hole in what is always a tightly contested qualifier.
“That bogey was a little different than normal,” he said with a laugh. “I had 8- yards in from the dead middle of the fairway and hit the forehead of my 60-degree (wedge). It went like 30 yards over the green. That was kind of a shock to the system, but I was able to laugh it off.”
Stopperich didn’t post another bogey until the 17th hole, carding seven birdies along the way — a particularly impressive feat given a drastic lack of experience at Mystic Rock.
“I played in the Tri-State Amateur here last year and it got rained out after seven holes,” he said. “I hadn’t seen holes eight through 18 since I played here when I was 13 years old.
“A couple of my tee shots, I thought they were way too far left and I looked at my caddy and said, ‘I swear there’s trouble over there.’ And we got to the ball and both were fine. There was some stress not knowing exactly where the ball was going.”
While that was the extent of Stopperich’s stress, things were a tad different for Fajt.
The 48-year-old clinched his fourth trip to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Tuesday. None of his prior qualifying rounds were as grueling this one, however.
Fajt held the lead for much of the day, but a double bogey on the 16th hole and bogey on the 18th hole cast him into a three-man playoff for the final two qualifying spots.
Cohen emerged on the fifth playoff hole, getting past Fajt and San Diego native Grant Martens. The two other men, however, went four more holes, with Fajt’s par on the ninth playoff hole giving him the final qualifying spot.
“I’m pretty tired,” said an exasperated Fajt afterwards. “Grant played great, Trevor played great. It was just a couple putts here and there. It was a battle.”
With the qualifying round being a walking event on hilly Western Pennsylvania terrain, 27 holes took a toll on Fajt and Martens. But Fajt continually found a way to collect himself for shots.
“I didn’t on the ninth hole,” he said with a laugh. “I whiffed one out to the right. But I’ve been playing golf for a long time. With something like this, you just have to bear down and concentrate and hit the next shot and worry about that one. (Fajt’s caddy) Caleb kept me calm and did a nice job reading the putts.”
Fajt has been a premier amateur player in the region for the last three decades and will get another crack at the Mid-Amateur Championship just a couple years shy of his 50th birthday.
“I love playing in USGA championships,” he said. “They’re always first class and the golf courses are tremendous. To be part of the West Penn Golf Association — there’s a lot of good players here. To come out of this qualifier makes me really happy.”
Stopperich, meanwhile, shared that sentiment, as he’ll get to represent the region on the national stage at the 45th U.S. Mid Amateur, set for Sand Valley Resort in Nekoosa, Wisconsin from September 26 to October 1.
After spending a couple of years as a professional, this will be his first individual USGA championship.
“I’ve never been to that part of the country to play golf and I’ve heard great things about it,” said Stopperich, who won the 2024 WPGA Open Championship as a pro. “I love individual, competitive golf. On a stage like that, playing against the best Mid-Am’s in the country, it’s going to be fun.
“In West Penn, there are so many good amateurs in this area. Every year, whoever goes out there, they’re going to represent West Penn well. I’m happy that I’m able to carry the torch this year.”
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