A major national golf tournament rolls into Richmond this weekend

Play begins Saturday at two area golf courses in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, the premier event for non-professional golfers over the age of 25.

The event crowns the best among golfers who never pursued professional careers. Three Richmonders will compete: John Rosenstock, Jordan Utley and Andrew Crowley.

The tournament will begin with rounds Saturday and Sunday at Independence Golf Club and Kinlock Golf Club, then move to Kinloch for elimination rounds early next week, culminating in a Thursday championship match.

The winner receives an automatic berth into the Masters and U.S. Open golf tournaments.

Crowley played at the University of Georgia, but hung up his clubs for a decade while focusing on his career and family.

His dad served as his caddie when he won a qualifying tournament earlier this year at Willow Oaks Country Club, something he described as a special moment for both of them.

"Certainly all of us in golf probably grew up dreaming about, oh, this is a 20-foot putt to win the Masters," he said. "And some get to live that life as professionals. For the rest of us, we gave up on that dream and just enjoy the camaraderie, the integrity and the competitiveness of the game."

The Richmond competitors are among the 264 players who will compete this week, but did not receive any special treatment in qualifying. They'll get the benefit of sharing their moment in the spotlight with a gallery of friends and family, though.

"The notion that there's a tournament here in Richmond where the winner gets to go to the Masters is pretty special, "Crowley said.