Chapman's Dramatic 18th Hole Secures Victory in Final Round of 2026 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship at Cobblestone Creek
_____
First RDGA Mid Am Title for 2022 District Champion Comes at Former Home Club
CLICK HERE for final results from the 2026 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship at Cobblestone Creek
CLICK HERE to view a photo album from the 2026 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship
CLICK HERE for a history and list of past champions from the RDGA Mid Amateur Championship
By DAVE EATON
VICTOR, NY – As homecomings go, few are as memorable – or satisfying – as Christian Chapman’s dramatic victory in the Final Round of the 2026 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship at Cobblestone Creek Country Club.
On Thursday, August 20, Chapman completed the biggest final-round comeback in the 20-year history of the RDGA Mid Am, a Championship featuring players ages 25 and above. Coming from five places and four shots behind the lead in the second (and final) round, Chapman executed a dramatic eagle-3 on the par-5 18th hole to perfection, jumping up two places and holding on for his first RDGA Mid Am title.
And he did it on a course he knows well, having been a Cobblestone member up until earlier this year.
Upon his return to his former home club – following a 74 in the First Round of the Championship on Wednesday – Chapman looked to improve his standing as the Second Round began. Ahead of him were five players, including 3-time RDGA Mid Am champ Ken Starkweather of Ridgemont, Patrick Ward of Lake Effect Golf Club (who finished top-5 at this year’s District Championship) – and 2-time RDGA District Champion Yaroslav Merkulov of Sodus Bay Heights leading the way at 2-under-par 70.
As Chapman began his second round, he did so with the one positive take-away from his opening round: an eagle on No. 18. Picking up where he left off in Round 2, Chapman recorded six birdies on the front side – with only a bogey and double bogey keeping him from taking the lead outright.
As groups began to finish, No. 18 was shaping up to be a pivotal hole, yeilding many birdies – and, a couple of eagles – amongst the leaders. Brian Albertazzi of Sodus was one of those to birdie 18, posting a 4-under 68 to move in to the top-5 on the leaderboard – only to be followed one group later by Taylor Rising of Monroe Golf Club, who finished with six birdies from hole No. 5 onward, on his way to a 67, a 3-under-par 141 total and a share of the lead with just two groups left.
In the next group to finish was Chapman, who had moved up to 2-under-par after birdieing 13, 15 and 16, and, after parring the 17th, arrived at No. 18 just one shot behind Rising and Merkulov.
Chapman’s drive came to rest within range of his eight iron – leaving him with a decision: lay up and get close enough to drain a birdie putt, or, go for the pin, tucked behind the pond on the left side of the green, and maybe make eagle. Knowing that Merkulov was behind him and would likely have his own shot at birdie (or better), Chapman chose option No. 2. Leaning on his 8-iron, Chapman’s approach just cleared the pond and settled on the fringe, less than 10 feet from the hole.
Watching as his putt turned towards the hole, Chapman followed the ball into the hole with a fist pump – and celebrated an eagle, and a one-shot lead with a round of 66, and a 4-under-par totoal for the Championship.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Chapman, Merkulov had bogeyed No. 17 and now sat two shots behind Chapman. At 18 – needing an eagle of his own to force a playoff – Merkulov’s second shot landed on the side of the green opposite the hole.
As Merkulov watched his eagle putt roll just past the hole, Chapman celebrated his victory.
Chapman Adds A New Title to His Growing List of Accomplishments
For Chapman, the 2026 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship title is his fourth RDGA Championship title – having also won the 2013 RDGA Boys Sub Junior Championship, and the 2022 RDGA District Championship and RDGA Match Play Championship.
In addition to Chapman’s victory, the RDGA Mid Amateur also served as a qualifying round for the 2027 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial – with the top five finishers earning exemptions from qualifying for next year’s Championship.
Patterned after the USGA’s Mid Amateur, the first RDGA Mid Amateur Championship was held in 2007 as a way to provide a formal competition for local post collegeiate-age amateurs, for whom the game is an avocation, rather than a stepping stone to a professional career.
The RDGA would like to thank Cobblestone Creek Country Club PGA Professional Michael Basch, Head Superintendent Brent Wensel, General Manager Andrew Stress as well as the hospitality of the Cobblestone Creek membership and staff – all of whom have helped to make the 2026 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship a success.
The Rochester District Golf Association is led by Executive Director Tim Vangellow and is a proud Allied Golf Association of the USGA, serving Rochester area golfers since 1929.
