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Mid-Amateur Championship

Taylor Haden's Late Birdies Lead to Mid-Am Crown

April 19, 2022

Photos
Results

 

It wasn’t decided until the final stroke of the final hole, but Taylor Haden clinched the 2022 SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Annandale GC on Tuesday. The 39th edition of this championship had the kind of fireworks ending that all competitions deserve.

Three players in the final group at Annandale GC stepped onto the par-5 18th tee box all tied at even par with just 539 yards left between them and history. Mark Strickland had been in control since making the turn but carded an untimely bogey on No. 17. Both of Strickland’s playing partners, Torey Edwards and Taylor Haden, capitalized on the miscue and made birdies to level the leaderboard with just one hole remaining.

For Haden, the final hole was his first time in 53 holes he held a share of the top spot. Edwards, meanwhile, had held the overnight lead and didn’t surrender it until the 10th hole of the championship round. Now they had both caught Strickland with a chance to force a playoff or win it outright.

To make things even more dramatic, all three players reached the green in regulation with good looks at birdie. But it was Haden who took the catbird seat after he stuffed a wedge four feet below the hole. Haden would dodge a pair of bullets as both Strickland and Edwards two-putted for par leaving the stage set for a walk-off, championship putt. And Haden buried it in right in the heart to become to the 2022 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion.

"It felt great. Even though (I hit it) pretty close I was still pretty nervous," Haden said. "I saw the other guys putt around it so I felt pretty good about the read."

Haden’s victory is equal parts comeback and equal parts clutch. Coming into the final round, he trailed the lead by two strokes. After just two holes on Tuesday, he was four back. But Haden stayed patient, racked up gutty pars, and made his made his move when it mattered most. Over his three rounds, Haden played 17 and 18 at a combined five-under par.

"It feels amazing," Haden said. "I did not think this would happen at all. After the birdie on (No.) 17, I felt pretty good coming into (No.) 18 and fortunately hit a pretty good wedge shot towards the end and knocked it close."

 

Haden, a first-time SCGA champion, slayed some serious giants in the field. Damon Krause won the Mid-Am in 2019 and finished tied for fourth with Logan Lanier, just three shots back. Haden’s playing partners, Strickland and Edwards, who finished tied for second, are accomplished winners, too. Edwards won the event in 2020 and shot a 58 at Annandale in 2020. Strickland was a college golfer at Wake Forest, a 2021 U.S. Senior Open qualifier, and a two-time Georgia Mid-Am champion.

The win for Haden means a 10-year exemption to the Mid-Am, an exemption to the SCGA Amateur Championship, and an exemption to the California Amateur Championship.

Mid-Amateur Championship News

Matt Cohn Claims the 2025 SCGA Mid-Amateur Title at Soule Park GC

Torey Edwards Notches Second Mid-Am Title in Come From Behind Fashion

NICK GEYER HOLDS OFF TWO PAST CHAMPS TO WIN MID-AM

Past Champions

Year Winner Site
2025 Matt Cohn Soule Park GC
2024 Torey Edwards Santa Ana CC
2023 Nick Geyer Bakersfield CC
2022 Taylor Haden Annandale GC
2021 Stephen Hale Victoria Club
2020 Torey Edwards Mission Viejo CC
2019 Damon Krause Virginia CC
2018 Jeff Wilson The Saticoy Club
2017 Dan Sullivan Ironwood CC
2016 Corby Segal Brentwood CC
2015 Jeff Wilson Santa Ana CC
2014 Ramie Sprinkling Valencia CC
2013 Robert Funk Bermuda Dunes CC
2012 Tim Hogarth Rancho Santa Fe GC
2011 Scott Almquist Mesa Verde CC
2010 Tim Hogarth Hillcrest CC
2009 Tim Hogarth Hacienda GC
2008 Jeff Wilson Toscana CC
2007 Tim Hogarth Mission Viejo CC
2006 Robert Funk Bear Creek GC
2005 John McClure North Ranch CC
2004 Mantor Hays Pauma Valley CC
2003 Eric Wang Mesa Verde CC
2002 Scott McGihon Big Canyon CC
2001 Craig Steinberg Lakeside GC
2000 John Pate Virginia CC
1999 Tim Hogarth Victoria Club
1998 Pat Duncan Saticoy CC
1997 Brian Ricketts San Gabriel CC
1996 Craig Steinberg Victoria Club
1995 Brad Larsen De Anza CC
1994 Mark Johnson Indian Ridge CC
1993 Mark Johnson Yorba Linda CC
1992 Craig Anderson Bear Creek GC
1991 Sandy Galbraith Apple Valley CC
1990 Mitch Voges La Purisima GC
1989 Mark Johnson Apple Valley CC
1988 Buzz Greene Santa Ana CC
1987 Steve Lass Apple Valley CC
1986 Sandy Galbraith Wood Ranch GC
1985 Bernie LeBeau Bakersfield CC
1984 Jim Myers Apple Valley CC
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