401: Inside the U.S. Mid-Am: What It’s REALLY Like to Play a USGA Championship

What is it actually like to qualify for and compete in the U.S. Mid-Am? Trey Sanders joins the Chasing Daylight Podcast after earning his way into the USGA championship with a bogey-free 66 in qualifying. Trey takes us inside the entire experience—from arriving at Sand Valley and seeing his name on the USGA range for the first time to competing on championship setups at Sand Valley and The Lido. We get into the speed and firmness of the golf courses, the mental and physical grind of tournament golf, first-tee nerves, what separates elite amateur players, and why Trey believes more golfers should test their games in competition. The conversation also turns to one of amateur golf’s biggest debates: former professionals being reinstated as amateurs. Trey, a reinstated amateur himself, explains where he thinks the current system works—and where there may need to be a line. Plus, we talk Mammoth Dunes, Erin Hills, Sand Valley vs. Bandon Dunes, South Shore at Lake Las Vegas, our NASCAR pit experience, and the latest updates to the Chasing Daylight Podcast Community. Episode 401 of The Chasing Daylight Podcast. Subscribe and join us LIVE every Tuesday at 7 PM Pacific. Presented with support from Garsen Golf. Use code DAYLIGHT15 at checkout. MORE CHASING DAYLIGHT Episodes, articles, golf content & the CDP Pro Shop:https://www.chasingdaylightpodcast.com/ LISTEN TO THE PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chasing-daylight-podcast/id1464725572 SPONSORED BY GARSEN GOLF — Use code DAYLIGHT15 to save 15% https://garsengolf.com SHOW SUPPORTERS Gretsch Golf Academy — https://gretschgolf.com/ Las Vegas Golf Superstore — https://www.worldwidegolfshops.com/ Rohrs Golf Co — https://rohrsgolf.com/ FOLLOW CHASING DAYLIGHT Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chasingdaylightpodcast/ X — https://x.com/CDPGolfShow Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/chasingdaylightpodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@chasingdaylightpodcast MORE FROM THE CREW Joe's HittinGreens on Whatnot — https://www.whatnot.com/s/Cdk2Zpku Damn Good Putter — https://www.damngoodputter.com/ 1440 Golf - https://www.fourteen40golf.com/ FOLLOW THE CDP CREW Mathew Wangrycht - https://www.instagram.com/1440golf/ Joe Keith - https://www.instagram.com/hittingreens/ Jeremy Martin - https://www.instagram.com/damngoodputter Dan Hodges - https://www.instagram.com/bogey_free62/ Support the show