What Stewart Hagestad has accomplished in the amateur game in the past 23 days is truly unprecedented.
On Saturday, Hagestad won the Crump Cup, one of the two most important elite mid-amateur events in the world and hosted annually by Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey.
Hagestad began this three-week journey by playing on his fourth winning Walker Cup team on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. He contributed two points to the victorious American effort, winning both of his singles matches on September 2-3.
“It’s a dream come true. This has been won by an incredible group of hall-of-fame-type amateur players, and I am thrilled to be one of them.â€
Stewart Hagestad
Twelve days later, Hagestad won his third U.S. Mid-Amateur title as the 32-year-old Californian defeated Evan Beck, the nation’s second-ranked mid-amateur, at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarsdale, New York. With his 3-and-2 victory in the scheduled 36-hole final, Hagestad ran his U.S. Mid-Amateur match-play record to 28-4.
Eight days after that achievement, Hagestad won the abbreviated Crump Cup.
“It’s an honor to be a part of it all,†Hagestad told Global Golf Post after the victory. Referring specifically to the Crump Cup, Hagestad said: “It’s a dream come true. This has been won by an incredible group of hall-of-fame-type amateur players, and I am thrilled to be one of them.â€
Hagestad easily qualified for the championship flight at Pine Valley, signing for 3-over-par 143 after 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying. He set the tone early when he aced his first hole, the menacing par-3 10th at Pine Valley.
However, the tournament committee decided to change the format in light of the advance of Tropical Storm Ophelia into the Northeast. Only the senior and championship flights were contested on Saturday, and they were held at stroke play. Hagestad finished tied with defending champion Stephen Behr after both shot 3-over 73s in wet and windy weather. Hagestad won the first playoff hole with a par.
Beck led the mid-amateur stroke-play qualifying with a 4-under 136. For the second year in a row, Chip Lutz paced the senior-flight qualifying with a 5-over 145.
Matthew Sughrue shot a 1-under 69 to win the Senior Crump Cup. Bob Royak finished second at 74.
Reflecting on the past three weeks, Hagestad told GGP that “I am as elated as I am tired.â€
Hagestad, who is No. 12 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, has now won both of the most elite mid-amateur titles in the United States. In addition to the Crump Cup, he won the 2022 Coleman Invitational at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida.
By virtue of his U.S. Mid-Amateur title, Hagestad earned spots in next year’s Masters and U.S. Open.
Jim Nugent
Championship Results
Qualifying Results
