VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) Sammy Schmitz and Marc Dull each won two matches Wednesday to advance to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship final at John's Island Club.
The winner of the 36-hole final Thursday will receive a spot in the Masters.
The 35-year-old Schmitz, from Farmington, Minnesota, beat Joshua Irving of Dallas 4 and 3 in the morning quarterfinals, and edged Brad Wilder of Fort Wright, Kentucky, 1 up in the afternoon semifinals.
''This is my biggest accomplishment in golf by far,'' Schmitz said. ''There's just something magical about a USGA golf event to me and a lot of friends back home.''
The 29-year-old Dull, from Lakeland, Florida, beat David Gies II of Charlotte, North Carolina, 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals, and topped David Bolen of Lubbock, Texas, 4 and 3 in the semifinals.
''I still cannot believe it - my mind is blown,'' Dull said. ''And for 36 holes, in the end, the best guy will win, so it's going to be fun tomorrow.''
Schmitz and Dull are reinstated amateurs.
Schmitz is a regional director for a health care services company and played at St. John's University in Minnesota. Dull played at Florida Southern and works as a caddie at Streamsong Resort.
The event is limited to players 25 and older.
