Jim Holtgrieve, 64, of St. Louis, carded a 3-under-par 68 on Sunday to earn medalist honors Sunday at the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship at the par-71, 6,838-yard Mountain Ridge Country Club. Holtgrieve, who also shot 68 in the first round, finished at 6-under 136.
First-round leader Stan Kinsey, 58, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., was one stroke behind at 5-under 137. His second-round 71 followed a 66, which matched the second-best 18-hole qualifying score in championship history.
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The USGA Senior Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
USA Walker Cup Captain Holtgrieve made 11 birdies in two rounds, and his 36-hole total ties the second-best mark in Senior Amateur history. In the second round, he made five birdies, most by holing eight- to 12-foot putts.
"It just feels really good," Holtgrieve said. "I haven’t been in this position for a long time. Match play is where you have to put pressure on the other guy. If I hit good shots and good putts, we will see what happens."
Holtgrieve, the 1981 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, kept the momentum of his round with a 15-foot par putt on the 186-yard 14th after hitting a 6-iron into a greenside bunker.
"I hit one bad shot, but I was able to get up and down," he said. "It’s kind of fun. I got my hands more upright [on the putting stroke] and I love the greens; they are rolling great."
Kinsey, who is playing in his first USGA championship, made two birdies and two bogeys. He was in one the last groups that finished in the twilight. The competitors were able to complete the second round despite a 48-minute suspension of play due an isolated afternoon storm.
"Yesterday my swing felt natural, and you know where the ball is going," Kinsey said. "Today there was a lot of scrambling; it was a fight every hole. I feel good going out on the lead and at least playing a solid round."
Steve Golliher, 57, of Knoxville, Tenn. shot 3-under 68 with five birdies and is third at 139, three strokes behind Holtgrieve. Mark Bemowski, the 2004 USGA Senior Amateur champion, shot even-par 71 for a total of 140. Bemowski, 66, of Mukwonago, Wis., started on the 10th tee and made a pair of birdies on the outward nine to cruise into match play.
"You can’t go to the party unless you have an invitation," said Bemowski, a two-time runner-up in this championship. "I got an invitation and I will be at the party."
Defending USGA Senior Amateur champion Louis Lee, 56, of Heber Springs, Ark., reigning British and Canadian Senior Amateur titlist Chip Lutz, 57, of Reading, Pa., and Graham Cooke, of Canada, joined Bemowski at 2-under 140. Lee recorded three birdies and one bogey to post 69, while Lutz had a second straight 70. Cooke birdied the par-5 17th to cap his round of 69.
"Every hole has its dangers," Lee said. "I just plodded my way around, a little workmanship. It wasn’t anything flashy. I kept it in play. I had to get it up and down from some strange places a couple of times."
Paul Simson, the 2010 Senior Amateur winner, Rick Woulfe, 62, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Stephen Fox, 58, of Huntington, W.Va., stood at 1-under 141. Simson, this championship’s stroke-play medalist three of the last four years, made an eagle on the par-5 sixth that was offset by a double-bogey 5 on the seventh en route to a 73.
"I made a couple of errors as far as placement on a couple of holes and made some stupid bogeys," said Simson, 61, of Raleigh, N.C. "But I’m into match play and I’m in good shape. I don’t think I’ll need to worry about [the medalist jinx]. I’m pleased to be in. You always worry that it might be the year you miss, but I played solid today."
Eleven players tied for 56th at 7-over 149 will play off for the final nine match-play berths in a playoff, which begins Monday at 8 a.m.
Brian DePasquale is a manager of championship communications for the USGA. Email him at bdepasquale@usga.org.
West Caldwell, N.J. – Results of Sunday’s second round of stroke play at the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship, played at 6,838-yard, par-71 Mountain Ridge Country Club. (*-Involved in 11-for-9 playoff for final match-play spots):
Jim Holtgrieve, St. Louis, Mo. - 68-68--136
Stanley Kinsey, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. - 66-71--137
Steve Golliher, Knoxville, Tenn. - 71-68--139
Louis Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. - 71-69--140
Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. - 70-70--140
Graham Cooke, Canada - 71-69--140
Mark Bemowski, Mukwonago, Wis. - 69-71--140
Stephen Fox, Huntington, W.Va. - 71-70--141
Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. - 68-73--141
Rick Woulfe, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - 69-72--141
Curtis Skinner, Lake Bluff, Ill. - 72-71--143
Jim Rollefson, Franklin, Wis. - 72-71--143
Terry Werner, Dyer, Ind. - 69-74--143
John Grace, Fort Worth, Texas - 72-71--143
David Szewczul, Farmington, Conn. - 72-71--143
Stephen Sharpe, Greensboro, N.C. - 73-71--144
Michael Stephens, Carmel, Ind. - 74-70--144
James Pearson, Charlotte, N.C. - 72-72--144
Roger Brown, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 72-72--144
David Talcott, Edgewood, Wash. - 70-75--145
Casey Boyns, Monterey, Calif. - 71-74--145
Greg Reynolds, Grand Blanc, Mich. - 74-71--145
Randal Lewis, Alma, Mich. - 73-72--145
Kevin Carey, South Dennis, Mass. - 71-74--145
Robert Baker, Little Rock, Ark. - 72-73--145
Douglas Hanzel, Savannah, Ga. - 75-71--146
Douglas Pool, Las Vegas, Nev. - 73-73--146
Emile Vaughan, Pike Road, Ala. - 73-73--146
Doug Potter, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - 73-73--146
John Ervasti, Brooklyn, N.Y. - 74-72--146
Owen Joyner, Spring, Texas - 75-71--146
Gerardo Ramirez, San Antonio, Texas - 73-73--146
Jeff Burda, Modesto, Calif. - 73-73--146
Gary Vanier, Pleasant Hill, Calif. - 70-76--146
David Mooty, Eden Prairie, Minn. - 75-71--146
Jay Blumenfeld, Parsippany, N.J. - 74-72--146
Sam Till Jr., Fort Wayne, Ind. - 77-69--146
Douglas Farr, Monroe, La. - 69-78--147
Brady Exber, Las Vegas, Nev. - 72-75--147
Leif Carlson, Apple Valley, Minn. - 74-73--147
Grady Brame Sr., Hammond, La. - 73-74--147
Dennis Vaughn, Germantown, Tenn. - 78-69--147
Mike Booker, The Woodlands, Texas - 72-76--148
Steven Ford, Trappe, Md. - 74-74--148
David Jacobsen, Portland, Ore. - 73-75--148
David Pulk, Williamsburg, Va. - 69-79--148
Ron Vannelli, Edison, N.J. - 79-69--148
Mike Rice, Houston, Texas - 76-72--148
Doug Ritter, Davie, Fla. - 76-72--148
George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. - 74-74--148
Gary Hardin, Fort Worth, Texas - 72-76--148
Donald Detweiler, Raleigh, N.C. - 70-78--148
Mike Gravley, Greer, S.C. - 78-70--148
Kemp Richardson, Laguna Niguel, Calif. - 75-73--148
Hunter Nelson, Houston, Texas - 72-76--148
*-Steve Rogers, Bowling Green, Ky. - 74-75--149 (3)
*-Joe Russo, Sewell, N.J. - 74-75--149 (4,3)
*-Martin West, Rockville, Md. - 72-77--149 (4,4)
*-Don Marsh, Johns Creek, Ga. - 74-75--149 (4,4)
*-Jim Knoll, Sunnyvale, Calif. - 72-77--149 (4,4)
*-Neil Spitalny, Chattanooga, Tenn. - 75-74--149 (4,4)
*-Greg Osborne, Lititz, Pa. - 76-73--149 (4,4)
*-Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va. - 76-73--149 (4,5,4)
*-Pat O'Donnell, Happy Valley, Ore. - 76-73—149 (4,5,4)
Failed to Qualify
*-Michael Occi, Clarksville, Md. - 76-73--149 (4,5,5)
*-Jack Kearney, Peachtree City, Ga. - 78-71--149 (4,5,5)
Doug Lacrosse, Tampa, Fla. - 78-72--150
Alan Fadel, Toledo, Ohio - 77-73--150
John Fritz, Mint Hill, N.C. - 73-77--150
Danny Green, Jackson, Tenn. - 75-75--150
Armen Dirtadian, Tucson, Ariz. - 77-73--150
Jim Bango, North Haven, Conn. - 72-78--150
Leon Roday, Richmond, Va. - 76-75--151
George Roat, Windermere, Fla. - 75-76--151
Don Donatoni, Malvern, Pa. - 73-78--151
Dennis Younglove, Davis, Calif. - 75-76--151
Ben Hargis, Alexandria, La. - 75-76--151
Bill Tribou, Lakeville, Mass. - 77-74--151
Lynn Martin, Findlay, Ohio - 75-76--151
Tom Hyland, Marlton, N.J. - 74-77--151
Jim McNelis, Gig Harbor, Wash. - 77-74--151
Ron Carter, Monticello, Ind. - 80-71--151
Bill Probst, Midway, Utah - 76-76--152
George Marucci Jr., Villanova, Pa. - 78-74--152
Michael Kawate, Aiea, Hawaii - 76-76--152
Bob Stephens, Indianapolis, Ind. - 77-75--152
G. Munroe Cobey, Chapel Hill, N.C. - 77-75--152
Mike Fedewa, Canton, Mich. - 75-77--152
Mike Bell, Indianapolis, Ind. - 78-74--152
Vance Antoniou, North Barrington, Ill. - 75-77--152
Robert Bachman, Farmington, Utah - 74-78--152
Ronald Kilby, McAllen, Texas - 76-76--152
Vinny Giles, Richmond, Va. - 74-79--153
Mark Rallas, Leesburg, Va. - 79-74--153
Robert Stahl, Santa Ana, Calif. - 76-77--153
Rick Weihe, Bellingham, Wash. - 76-77--153
Rick Luzar, Pinehurst, N.C. - 72-81--153
Patrick Carrigan, Walnut, Calif. - 75-78--153
Davis Driver, El Paso, Texas - 75-78--153
Tim Dinwiddie, Afton, Tenn. - 72-81--153
John Wray, Fort Wayne, Ind. - 78-76--154
Steve Paulsen, Las Vegas, Nev. - 76-78--154
Colin Ahern, Andover, Mass. - 76-78--154
Hal Wright, Shreveport, La. - 79-75--154
Kelly Crone, Englewood, Colo. - 75-79--154
Jorge Gaudiano, Mexico - 77-78--155
Mike Puls, Irving, Texas - 78-77--155
Bill Clanton, Leesburg, Ga. - 79-76--155
Robert Mase, Tulsa, Okla. - 74-81--155
Robert DeWitt, East Amherst, N.Y. - 73-82--155
Jay Sessa, Garden City, N.Y. - 78-77--155
Thomas Lynett, Rye, N.Y. - 82-73--155
George Walker, Mobile, Ala. - 76-79--155
Blair Subry, Wauconda, Ill. - 82-73--155
Hal Marshall, Littleton, Colo. - 76-80--156
Ron Eilers, Kansas City, Mo. - 78-78--156
Norton Brick, Elyria, Ohio - 77-79--156
Christopher Blair, Nipomo, Calif. - 79-77--156
Philip Pleat, Nashua, N.H. - 77-79--156
Bob Griesgraber, Vadnais Heights, Minn. - 74-82--156
Michael Fosdick, Theodore, Ala. - 81-76--157
David Lind, Burr Ridge, Ill. - 81-76--157
Tom Norton, Muscatine, Iowa - 76-81--157
Gregory Hetzer, San Pedro, Calif. - 76-81--157
Gary Kirwan, McKinney, Texas - 77-80--157
Don Eklund, San Diego, Calif. - 80-77--157
George Kelley, Merced, Calif. - 78-80--158
Gus Sylvan, Columbia, S.C. - 80-78--158
Richard Marlowe, Youngstown, Ohio - 79-79--158
Marlin Detweiler, Akron, Pa. - 82-76--158
Steve Pelzl, Aberdeen, S.D. - 76-82--158
Raymond Emsley, Davisburg, Mich. - 77-82--159
Don Russell, Tequesta, Fla. - 80-79--159
Marshall Morgan, Odessa, Texas - 79-80--159
Mickey Jones, Odessa, Texas - 81-78--159
Kevin Hayes, La Jolla, Calif. - 79-80--159
Jarratt Jones, Boerne, Texas - 83-77--160
Brian Hawke, Temple Terrace, Fla. - 85-75--160
Tom Perry, Indianapolis, Ind. - 81-79--160
Andrew Conway, Pittsford, N.Y. - 75-85--160
John Hull, Clayton, Mo. - 82-79--161
Jim Wise, Columbia, S.C. - 78-83--161
Mark Mann, Ann Arbor, Mich. - 79-82--161
Stan Lefrak, Folsom, Calif. - 79-82--161
Wesley Paxson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. - 79-82--161
Douglas Alt, Salina, Kan. - 80-82--162
James Seymour, Bakersfield, Calif. - 81-81--162
James Saivar, San Diego, Calif. - 79-83--162
Michael Hoefs, Lincoln, Neb. - 79-84--163
David Mears, Citra, Fla. - 78-85--163
Chip Ward, South Burlington, Vt. - 81-86--167
Richard Hunt, Bixby, Okla. - 82-89--171
Bruce Scamehorn, Winter Haven, Fla. - 80-DQ
Randy Campbell, Asheville, N.C. - 79-WD
John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 76-WD
William Thomas Doughtie, Amarillo, Texas - 81-WD
West Caldwell, N.J. – Pairings for Monday’s first round of match play at the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship, played at 6,838-yard, par-71 Mountain Ridge Country Club.
(Upper Bracket)
9:00 a.m. - Gerardo Ramirez, San Antonio, Texas (146) vs. Jeff Burda, Modesto, Calif. (146)
9:08 a.m. - Stephen Sharpe, Greensboro, N.C. (144) vs. Doug Ritter, Davie, Fla. (148)
9:16 a.m. - Michael Stephens, Carmel, Ind. (144) vs. Mike Rice, Houston, Texas (148)
9:24 a.m. - Robert Baker, Little Rock, Ark. (145) vs. Leif Carlson, Apple Valley, Minn. (147)
9:32 a.m. - Kevin Carey, South Dennis, Mass. (145) vs. Grady Brame Sr., Hammond, La. (147)
9:40 a.m. - Doug Potter, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (146) vs. Jay Blumenfeld, Parsippany, N.J. (146)
9:48 a.m. - Terry Werner, Dyer, Ind. (143) vs. Donald Detweiler, Raleigh, N.C. (148)
9:56 a.m. - David Talcott, Edgewood, Wash. (145) vs. David Jacobsen, Portland, Ore. (148)
10:04 a.m. - Emile Vaughan, Pike Road, Ala. (146) vs. Sam Till Jr., Fort Wayne, Ind. (146)
10:12 a.m. - Jim Rollefson, Franklin, Wis. (143) vs. Mike Gravley, Greer, S.C. (148)
10:20 a.m. - Casey Boyns, Monterey, Calif. (145) vs. Steven Ford, Trappe, Md. (148)
10:28 a.m. - Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. (141) vs. Steve Rogers, Bowling Green, Ky. (149)
10:36 a.m. - Stephen Fox, Huntington, W.Va. (141) vs. Joe Russo, Sewell, N.J. (149)
10:44 a.m. - Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. (140) vs. Jim Knoll, Sunnyvale, Calif. (149)
10:52 a.m. - Louis Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (140) vs. Martin West, Rockville, Md. (149)
11:00 a.m. - Jim Holtgrieve. St. Louis, Mo. (136) vs. Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va. (149)
(Lower Bracket)
11:08 a.m. - Stanley Kinsey, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (137) vs. Pat O’Donnell, Happy Valley, Ore. (149)
11:16 a.m. - Owen Joyner, Spring, Texas (146) vs. Gary Vanier, Pleasant Hill, Calif. (146)
11:24 a.m. - David Szewczul, Farmington, Conn. (143) vs. George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. (148)
11:32 a.m. - James Pearson, Charlotte, N.C. (144) vs. Ron Vannelli, Edison, N.J. (148)
11:40 a.m. - Mark Bemowski, Mukwonago, Wis. (140) vs. Greg Osborne, Lititz, Pa. (149)
11:48 a.m. - Douglas Hanzel, Savannah, Ga. (146) vs. Brady Exber, Las Vegas, Nev. (147)
11:56 a.m. - Rick Woulfe, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (141) vs. Hunter Nelson, Houston, Texas (148)
12:04 p.m. - Randal Lewis, Alma, Mich. (145) vs. Dennis Vaughn, Germantown, Tenn. (147)
12:12 p.m. - Steve Golliher, Knoxville, Tenn. (139) vs. Neil Spitalny, Chattanooga, Tenn. (149)
12:20 p.m. - John Ervasti, Brooklyn, N.Y. (146) vs. David Mooty, Eden Prairie, Minn. (146)
12:28 p.m. - John Grace, Fort Worth, Texas (143) vs. Gary Hardin, Fort Worth, Texas (148)
12:36 p.m. - Roger Brown, Scottsdale, Ariz. (144) vs. David Pulk, Williamsburg, Va. (148)
12:44 p.m. - Graham Cooke, Canada (140) vs. Don Marsh, Johns Creek, Ga. (149)
12:52 p.m. - Douglas Pool, Las Vegas, Nev. (146) vs. Douglas Farr, Monroe, La. (147)
1:00 p.m. - Curtis Skinner, Lake Bluff, Ill. (143) vs. Kemp Richardson, Laguna Niguel, Calif. (148)
1:08 p.m. - Greg Reynolds, Grand Blanc, Mich. (145) vs. Mike Booker, The Woodlands, Texas (148)