Bluffton's John Patterson became the fourth golfer with area ties to qualify for the U.S. Mid Amateur Championship when he shot a 1-under-par 70 at Columbia Country Club on Monday to earn one of five available qualifying spots.

Patterson, the director of marketing and sales at Chechessee Creek, is a former member of the Buy.com Tour who reached the final stages of PGA Tour Qualifying School. He has since regained his amateur status.

He tied for the 2011 Hilton Head Amateur Championship when darkness halted a playoff against Beaufort's Rob Simmons. He again tied Simmons in the same event this year before losing on the fourth hole of a playoff. He was sixth among amateurs at this month's Hilton Head Open and was eliminated during stroke play at the Western Amateur in July.

The Mid Amateur Championship is the USGA's tournament for amateurs 25 and older. This year's event will be played Sept. 8-13 at Conway Farms in Chicago.

Also qualified for the Mid Amateur are Hilton Head Island High School teacher Todd White, Bluffton's Kevin King and Iowa State assistant golf coach and former Hilton Head Island High School golfer Patrick Datz.