U.S. Senior Amateur History
The remarkable growth of senior golf prompted the USGA to establish the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in 1955 for players 55 and older. Many senior golf associations had come into being on the local, state, and regional level, proving that the competitive instinct among golfers was not diminished by age.
The inaugural Senior Amateur, at Belle Meade Country Club, in Nashville, Tenn., drew 370 entries from 30 states and the District of Columbia, with J. Wood Platt, 56, the eight-time Philadelphia Amateur champion, beating George Studinger, 5 and 4, in the final.
Former USGA President William C. Campbell and Marvin "Vinny" Giles are the only players to have won a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Senior Amateur title. John (1987) and Kemp Richardson (2001 and 2003) are the lone father-son tandem to have claimed a USGA championship.
In 2013, Type 1 diabetic Douglas Hanzel won the championship a year removed from making history by qualifying for match play in the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Senior Amateur as well as being the low amateur at the U.S. Senior Open. Gene Elliott, Chip Lutz and Paul Simson are the only players to have won the national senior amateur titles of the U.S., Canada and Great Britain.
U.S. Senior Amateur Champions (1955-Present)
1955: J. Wood Platt d. George Studinger, 5 and 4; Belle Meade C.C., Nashville, Tenn.; Medalist — 72, Martin M. Issler; Entries: 370
1956: Frederick J. Wright d. J. Clark Espie, 4 and 3; Somerset C.C., St. Paul, Minn.; Medalist — 72, Weller Noble; Entries: 282
1957: J. Clark Espie d. Frederick J. Wright, 2 and 1; Ridgewood (N.J.) C.C. (West and Center nines); Medalist — 73, Thomas M. Green Jr.; Entries: 349
1958: Thomas C. Robbins d. John W. Dawson, 2 and 1; Monterey Peninsula C.C., Pebble Beach, Calif.; Medalist — *71, (Dunes Course), J. Clark Espie; Entries: 370
1959: J. Clark Espie d. J. Wolcott Brown, 3 and 1; Memphis (Tenn.) C.C.; Medalists — 73, J. Wolcott Brown, George Dawson; Entries: 391
1960: Michael Cestone d. David Rose, 20 holes; Oyster Harbors Club, Osterville, Mass.; Medalist — 74, S.S. Rockey; Entries: 517
1961: Dexter H. Daniels d. Col. William K. Lanman Jr., 2 and 1; Southern Hills C.C., Tulsa, Okla.; Medalist — 74, Joseph Morrill Jr.; Entries: 481
1962: Merrill L. Carlsmith d. Willis H. Blakely, 4 and 2; Evanston G.C., Skokie, Ill.; Medalists — 72, James M. Johnson, Henry L. Robison, William S. Terrell; Entries: 525
1963: Merrill L. Carlsmith d. William D. Higgins, 3 and 2; Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.; all match play; Entries: 494
1964: William D. Higgins d. Edward Murphy, 2 and 1; Waverley C.C., Portland, Ore.; Medalist — 150, A.L. “Jim” Miller; Entries: 357
1965: Robert B. Kiersky d. George Beechler, 19 holes; Fox Chapel G.C., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Medalist — 149, Curtis Person Sr.; Entries: 448
1966: Dexter H. Daniels d. George Beechler, 1 up; Tucson (Ariz.) National G.C.; Medalist — 143, Curtis Person Sr.; Entries: 449
1967: Ray Palmer d. Walter D. Bronson, 3 and 2, Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton, N.Y.; Medalists — 153, J. Wolcott Brown, David Goldman, Ray Palmer; Entries: 563
1968: Curtis Person Sr. d. Ben Goodes, 2 and 1; Atlanta (Ga.) C.C.; Medalist — 146, John C. Tullio; Entries: 674
1969: Curtis Person Sr. d. David Goldman, 1 up; Wichita (Kan.) C.C.; Medalist — 146, David Goldman; Entries: 576
1970: Gene Andrews d. James Ferrie, 1 up; California G.C. of San Francisco, South San Francisco, Calif.; Medalist — 147, Bruce N. McCormick; Entries: 683
1971: Tom Draper d. Ernest Pieper Jr., 3 and 1; Sunnybrook G.C., Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; Medalist — 148, Robert E. Cochran; Entries: 655
1972: Lewis W. Oehmig d. Ernest Pieper Jr., 20 holes; Sharon G.C., Sharon Center, Ohio; Medalist — 145, William Hyndman III; Entries: 617
1973: William Hyndman III d. Harry Welch, 3 and 2; Onwentsia Club, Lake Forest, Ill.; Medalists — 147, Sam Friedman, William Hyndman III; Entries: 633
1974: Dale Morey d. Lewis W. Oehmig, 4 and 2; Harbour Town G.L., Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Medalist — 144, Ed Tutwiler; Entries: 743
1975: William F. Colm d. Stephen Stimac, 4 and 3; Carmel Valley G. & C.C., Carmel, Calif.; Medalist — 143, William Hyndman III; Entries: 737
1976: Lewis W. Oehmig d. John Richardson, 4 and 3; Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo.; Medalist — 145, Ed Tutwiler; Entries: 833
1977: Dale Morey d. Lewis W. Oehmig, 4 and 3; Salem C.C., Peabody, Mass.; Medalist — 143, Dale Morey; Entries: 789
1978: Keith K. Compton d. John Kline, 1 up; Pine Tree G.C., Boynton Beach, Fla.; Medalist — 143, William Stewart; Entries: 930
1979: William C. Campbell d. Lewis W. Oehmig, 2 and 1; Chicago G.C., Wheaton, Ill.; Medalists — 143, Dale Morey, William C. Campbell; Entries: 1,023
1980: William C. Campbell d. Keith K. Compton, 3 and 2; Virginia Hot Springs G. & T.C. (Cascades Course), Hot Springs, Va.; Medalist — 147, William C. Campbell; Entries: 1,000
1981: Edgar R. Updegraff d. Dale Morey, 2 and 1; Seattle (Wash.) G.C.; Medalist — 148, Edgar R. Updegraff; Entries: 952
1982: Alton Duhon d. Edgar R. Updegraff, 2 up; Tucson (Ariz.) C.C.; Medalist — 142, Roger McManus; Entries: 1,104
1983: William Hyndman III d. Richard Runkle, 1 up; Crooked Stick G.C., Carmel, Ind.; Medalist — 148, Edgar R. Updegraff; Entries: 1,102
1984: Robert Rawlins d. Richard Runkle, 19 holes; Birmingham (Mich.) C.C.; Medalist — 144, William C. Campbell; Entries: 1,159
1985: Lewis W. Oehmig d. Ed Hopkins, 20 holes; Wild Dunes B & R.C., Isle of Palms, S.C.; Medalist — 143, Ed Hopkins; Entries: 1,345
1986: R.S. “Bo” Williams d. John Harbottle, 3 and 2; Interlachen C.C., Edina, Minn.; Medalist — 149, William Hyndman III; Entries: 1,362
1987: John Richardson d. James Kite Jr., 5 and 4; Saucon Valley C.C., Bethlehem, Pa.; Medalist — 145, John Richardson; Entries: 1,485
1988: Clarence Moore d. Bud Stevens, 5 and 4; Milwaukee (Wis.) C.C.; Medalists — 148, John Harbottle, Richard Goerlich Jr.; Entries: 1,440
1989: R.S. “Bo” Williams d. Joe Simpson, 19 holes; Lochinvar G.C., Houston, Texas; Medalist — 147, Frank Tenfel; Entries: 1,508
1990: Jackie Cummings d. Bobby Clark, 3 and 2; Desert Forest C.C., Carefree, Ariz.; Medalist — 150, William Godden; Entries: 1,658
1991: Bill Bosshard d. Morris Beecroft, 5 and 4; Crystal Downs C.C., Frankfort, Mich.; Medalists - 150, Clarence Moore, Morris Beecroft; Entries: 1,724
1992: Clarence Moore d. Robert Harris, 6 and 4; The Loxahatchee Club, Jupiter, Fla.; Medalists — 151, John Procter, Bob Hullender; Entries: 2,058
1993: Joe Ungvary d. Jerry Nelson, 7 and 6; Farmington C.C., Charlottesville, Va.; Medalist — 136, John Harbottle; Entries: 2,275
1994: O. Gordon Brewer d. Bob Hullender, 5 and 4; The Champions G.C., Nicholasville, Ky.; Medalist — 141, Bob Hullender; Entries: 2,046
1995: James Stahl Jr. d. Rennie Law, 2 and 1; Prairie Dunes C.C., Hutchinson, Kan.; Medalist — 141, William Erwin; Entries: 2,069
1996: O. Gordon Brewer d. Heyward Sullivan, 2 up; Taconic G.C., Williamstown, Mass.; Medalist — 141, Bob Wernick; Entries: 2,131
1997: Cliff Cunningham d. Ed Bartlett, 5 and 3; Atlantic G.C., Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Medalists — 146, Bill Heldmar, Edward Fletcher; Entries: 2,140
1998: Bill Shean Jr. d. William King, 5 and 3; Skokie C.C., Glencoe, Ill.; Medalist — 144, Jim Gibbons; Entries: 2,149
1999: Bill Ploeger d. Gary Menzel, 3 and 2; Portland (Ore.) G.C.; Medalist — 143, Joel Hirsch; Entries: 2,026
2000: Bill Shean Jr. d. Richard Van Leuvan, 2 and 1; Charlotte (N.C.) C.C.; Medalist — 144, Marvin “Vinny” Giles III; Entries: 2,265
2001: Kemp Richardson d. Bill Ploeger, 2 and 1; Norwood Hills C.C., St. Louis, Mo.; Medalist — 142, Joe Cadle; Entries: 2,242
2002: Greg Reynolds d. Mark Bemowski, 4 and 3; Timuquana C.C., Jacksonville, Fla.; Medalist — 139, Billy Clagett; Entries: 2,357
2003: Kemp Richardson d. Frank Abbott, 19 holes; The Virginian G.C., Bristol, Va., Medalist — 137, Robert Kulp; Entries: 2,252
2004: Mark Bemowski d. Greg Reynolds, 4 and 3, Bel-Air C.C., Los Angeles, Calif.; Medalist — 144, Ronald Vannelli; Entries: 2,420
2005: Mike Rice d. Mark Bemowski, 1 up, The Farm G.C., Rocky Face, Ga.; Medalist — •134, Billy Clagett; Entries: 2,498
2006: Mike Bell d. Tom McGraw, 1 up, Victoria National G.C., Newburgh, Ind.; Medalists — 143, Bill Leonard, Paul Simson; Entries: 2,448
2007: Stan Lee d. Sam Farlow, 4 and 3, Flint Hills National G.C., Andover, Kan.; Medalist — 137, Steve Bogan; Entries: 2,255
2008: George “Buddy” Marucci Jr. d. George Zahringer, 2 up; Shady Oaks C.C., Fort Worth, Texas; Medalist — 140, Paul Simson; Entries: 2,393
2009: Marvin “Vinny” Giles III d. John Grace, 1 up; Beverly C.C., Chicago, Ill.; Medalists — 140, Paul Simson, Patrick Tallent; Entries: 2,182
2010: Paul Simson d. Patrick Tallent, 2 and 1; Lake Nona Golf & C.C., Orlando, Fla.; Medalist – 140, Patrick Tallent; Entries: 2,287
2011: Louis Lee d. Phillip Pleat, 1 up; Kinloch Golf Club, Manakin-Sabot, Va.; Medalist – 139, Paul Simson; Entries: 2,084
2012: Paul Simson d. Curtis Skinner, 4 and 3; Mountain Ridge Country Club, West Caldwell, N.J.; Medalist – 136, Jim Holtgrieve; Entries: 2,260
2013: Douglas Hanzel d. Pat O'Donnell, 3 and 2, Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers, N.C.; Medalist – 138, Chip Lutz; Entries: 2,344
2014: Patrick Tallent d. Bryan Norton, 2 and 1; Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.; Medalist – 137, Alan Fadel; Entries: 2,252
2015: Chip Lutz d. Tom Brandes, 5 and 3; Hidden Creek Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; Medalist – 138, Randal Lewis; Entries: 2,381
2016: Dave Ryan d. Matthew Sughrue, 2 up; Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis, Mo.; Medalist – 138, Tim Jackson; Entries: 2,382
2017: Sean Knapp d. Paul Simson, 2 and 1; The Minikhada Club, Minneapolis, Minn.; Medalist – 138, David Brown; Entries: 2,395
2018: Jeff Wilson d. Sean Knapp, 2 and 1; Eugene (Ore.) Country Club; Medalist – 139, Gregory Condon, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 2,381
2019: Bob Royak d. Roger Newsom, 1 up; Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham, N.C.; Medalists – 142, Michael McCoy, Dean Channell, Doug Hanzel; Entries: 2,466
2020: Championship canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Gene Elliott d. Jerry Gunthorpe, 1 up; Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.; Medalist – •134, Tim Hogarth; Entries: 2,565
2022: Rusty Strawn d. Doug Hanzel, 3 and 2; The Kittansett Club, Marion, Mass.; Medalists – 140, Miles McConnell, Jeff Wilson; Entries: §2,865
2023: Todd White. Jody Fanagan, 4 and 3; Martis Camp Club, Truckee, Calif.; Medalist – 144, Todd White; Entries: 2,752
• Record qualifying score, 36 holes (2005, 2021)
* Record qualifying score, 18 holes (1958)
§ Record entry (2022)