Four Remain in 40th Mid-Amateur Championship at Deal Golf & Country Club
Troy Vannucci of Little Mill Country Club
DEAL, N.J. - The semifinals of the 40th Mid-Amateur Championship are set at Deal Golf & Country Club. Troy Vannucci will take on Jeremy Wall, while Anthony Campanile will face Michael Brown.
Vannucci, the No. 16 seed earned his way into the match play portion of the championship via a playoff on Tuesday against Justin Chae.
“Yesterday I made it really stressful for myself,” Vannucci recalled. “I can't remember the last time I had five (bogeys) in a row. It was like the bogey train but I was lucky enough to dodge a playoff yesterday. He drove it to 12 feet for eagle on the first hole and he missed it. After that, I just feel honored to even be here, so I'm just having fun with it.”
He proceeded to take out top seeded Michael Stamberger, who earned medalist honors on Tuesday, shooting a 2-under par 69. Vannucci, who was a 2021 New Jersey Mid-Amateur runner-up shot a 2-over par 73 in the stroke play.
After downing Stamberger in the morning, 1-up, Vannucci proceeded to defeat Al Tenembaum, 3&1. The 31-year-old won the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) Mid-Amateur Championship in 2022 and despite his rocky round on Tuesday, has been playing solid golf at Deal.
“Match play is not like my forte, but I feel like the course suits me well. It's a lot of fairways and greens, so I feel comfortable and ready to get the job done.”
Competing out of Deal, Anthony Campanile has found it beneficial knowing the ins and outs of the course. After shooting a 1-over par 71, Campanile knew there was room for improvement.
“The stroke play was lot of added pressure because I wanted to play so well but knowing the course helps for sure,” Campanile recalled.
In the morning, Campanile defeated 2022 Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) Mid-Amateur Champion Pat Wilson, 3&1. In the afternoon, he swiftly won his match against Zachary Pallis 5&4.
“I’ve hit some good shots. It's not perfect, but it doesn't really need to be,” said Campanile. “I've been playing pretty good golf and getting a little lucky, so it's worked out so far.”
Campanile will take on 2021 New Jersey Amateur Champion and 2020 Mid-Amateur Champion, Michael Brown. For Brown, his solid play is continuing over the last several years. In his round of 16 match, Brown defeated Jason Bataille, 4&3 and then took down 2021 Pre-Senior Champion, Gregg Angelillo, 3&2.
Wall, of Manasquan River Golf Club is competing in his first Mid-Amateur Championship and will face Vannucci. Wall, 27, won back-to-back Philadelphia Amateurs in 2018 and 2019. In the morning, Wall defeated Kieran Purcell and then won his quarterfinal match against James Arbes, 2&1.
The first semifinal match will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the second group going off at 7:42 a.m.
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