The VSGA Mid-Amateur Championship connects players across generations
by HAYDEN HUNDLEY
Flying Along
@ 50
The VSGA Mid-Amateur Championship connects players across generations
The Virginia State Golf Association’ s Mid-Amateur
Championship is one of the association’ s most historic championships and, nationally, the oldest Mid-Amateur championship. The event’ s 50th iteration will take place in September at Bay Creek Golf Club and Resort in Cape Charles.
No state golf association had established a Mid-Amateur before the VSGA played its first in 1977 at The Homestead in Hot Springs. Wayne Jackson won the first VSGA Mid-Amateur Championship, then open to players ages 35 and older, by 10 strokes. In 2020, Jackson was inducted into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.
The United States Golf Association added its Mid-Amateur in 1981, which became the first new U. S. golf championship added since the U. S. Women’ s Amateur started in 1962. After that, most state golf associations began to follow suit, including the Carolinas Golf Association and the Golf Association of Philadelphia.
Back then, it was very much the new championship on the block, and the VSGA was ahead of the curve.
A WORKING MAN’ S CHAMPIONSHIP Keith Decker, who has won a record seven Mid-Amateur Championships dating back to 1990, said the VSGA Mid-Amateur“ championed the tournament forward” for the USGA and other state associations.
“ The VSGA has a long track record, including the VSGA Mid-Am … for making the other golf associations jealous,” Decker said with a chuckle.“ It’ s an honor for me to represent the VSGA, and for anybody, when we go out of state.”
Decker reflected on his times playing national events in Virginia and said people would frequently compliment the VSGA’ s ability to run tournaments.
“ They were jealous of what we were accustomed to at the VSGA, like what other golf associations tried to strive for,” Decker explained.“ They hadn’ t met them, but they knew the people at the VSGA were doing a tremendous job. The people who have made the VSGA what it is today— when you look at Wallace McDowell and Richard Smith, those guys— they were the founding fathers of the VSGA.”
Now, the VSGA’ s men’ s golfers consider the Mid-Amateur to be one of the golf association’ s four majors, including the State Open of Virginia, Amateur Championship, and Four-Ball Championship. The Mid-Amateur may not have the same glitz and glam of the other three, but the players regard lifting the M. W.“ Dyke” Peebles Trophy near and dear for reasons outside of golf.
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24 V IRGINIA G OLFER | S EPTEMBER / O CTOBER 2026 vsga. org