USGA Men’s State Team

2016 State Team Standings Final Standings

The CC of Birmingham hosts the USGA Men's State Team Championship from Sept. 28-30. Nathan Smith, Chris Crawford and Chip Lutz are representing Team Pennsylvania. Follow the action at the USGA site.

The Pennsylvania Golf Association Championship Committee recently selected the 2016 Men's State Team to represent the Commonwealth in Birmingham, Alabama. The event is comprised of three amateur, non-collegiate golfers representing each state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Three stroke-play rounds are played, with the best two scores of three counting in each. Leading team Pennsylvania will be Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh, a record four-time U.S. Mid-Am champion and four-time William C. Fownes, Jr. Amateur Player of the Year (most recently in 2015). Smith is a seven-time USGA champion and has represented Team USA on three Walker Cup teams, twice being victorious. This season, Smith advanced to the quarterfinal in the 13th R. Jay Sigel, an event he has won a record four times, and missed the match-play cut by one stroke in the U.S. Amateur.

Finishing second in the point standings and earning an automatic selection was Christopher Crawford of Bensalem. Crawford had an outstanding summer, highlighted by working his way through local and sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open and competing at Oakmont Country Club where he posted rounds of 76-76 in the national championship. Crawford also took medalist honors in the 36-hole stroke play qualifying portion of the 13th R. Jay Sigel Match Play at St. Davids Golf Club, and advanced to the semifinals where he was defeated by eventual champion, Matt Holuta. He was also runner-up in the Golf Association of Philadelphia Open Championship, where he lost in a playoff to Jeff Osberg. Rounding out the team as the Committee selection is Chip Lutz, of Reading. Lutz is currently the 4th ranked senior amateur in the country and holds two national championships: the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and the 2016 R&A Seniors Amateur title, his third time winning that event. Lutz also earned low amateur honors in the U.S. Senior Open held at Scioto Country Club where he tied for 37th overall. Earlier this year, Lutz played on the victorious Concession Cup team representing Team USA alongside Smith.

Pennsylvania captured the title in 2009 at the Country Club of St. Albans in Missouri, where team members Smith, Sean Knapp and Mike Van Sickle edged Kansas by three strokes. The USGA Men's and Women's State Team Championships grew out of the celebration of the USGA centennial in 1995 and have since been held biennially. The championships are open to players from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. State associations may use any criteria of their choosing in selecting their teams, which comprise three amateur, non-college golfers. Cumulative point totals from the 2015 and 2016 season were used to determine members of Team Pennsylvania. Points earned during the 2016 season were doubled to put an emphasis on current form. The top two players from the point standings received automatic selection. The Championship Committee of the Pennsylvania Golf Association selects the third and final member of the team.

USGA Men's State Team Selection Process

The 2016 USGA Men's State Team will be held at the Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala. on September 28-30. The championships are open to players from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. State associations may use any criteria of their choosing in selecting their teams, which comprise three amateur, non-college golfers. Cumulative point totals from the 2015 and 2016 season will be used to determine members of Team Pennsylvania. Points earned during the current 2016 season will be doubled to put an emphasis on current form. The top two players from the point standings will receive automatic selection to Team Pennsylvania. The Championship Committee of the Pennsylvania Golf Association reserves the right to select the third and final member of the team.