2026 GAP Middle-Amateur Qualifying: Laurel Creek

Scotland Run’s Russo takes medal

Mount Laurel, N.J.— Joey Russo of Scotland Run Golf Club carded a 1-under-par 70 to take medalist honors in GAP Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifying Monday at Laurel Creek Country Club (par 71, 6,524 yards).

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Russo carded five birdies against four bogeys to get to his number.

The low 28 scorers and ties advance to the Championship proper. The cut line at stopped at 76 with 29 players successfully qualifying for the Championship proper.

The 43rd Middle-Amateur Championship, presented by Parx Casino, will take place May 20-21 at Jeffersonville Golf Club in Norristown, Pa. It will be the first time a public facility will host a GAP Major.

The Middle-Amateur is open to males 25 years of age or older with a GAP Handicap Index of 5.0 or less. 

A William Hyndman, III Player of the Year points event, the Middle-Amateur started in 1984, three years after the USGA created the U.S. Mid-Amateur as a formal championship for post-college amateurs. GAP followed suit with the USGA in creating a Middle-Amateur, but initially varied in its administration of the tournament in a couple of respects.

The most obvious difference was the age requirement. Prior to 2001, the GAP Middle-Amateur was only available to players 30 years of age or older.

The GAP Executive Committee reviewed and revised that age requirement in 2001 to match the USGA’s guidelines of 25 years of age or older for eligible players.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 140,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.