U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR

Meet the 2019 Quarterfinalists August 27, 2019 | Durham, N.C. By Brian DePasquale, USGA

Roger Newsom's two victories on Tuesday at Old Chatham included a 4-and-3 decision over No. 1 seed Michael McCoy. (USGA/Chris Keane)

U.S. Senior Amateur Home

Rick Cloninger, 62, McDonough, Ga.
- Born March 26, 1957 in Charlotte, N.C.
- No. 3,738 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 13 seed with rounds of 73-73 in stroke play
- Earned medalist honors in Asheville, N.C., sectional qualifier on July 29
- Competing in his fifth U.S. Senior Amateur
- Advanced to Senior Amateur semifinals in 2015 and Round of 16 in 2015
- Tied for 40th in the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor
- Won two Carolinas Golf Association Senior Amateur titles (2012, 2013)
- NAIA All-America quarterback at Wofford College
- Works in construction industry and served on South Carolina Golf Association board
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated Jack Hall, 4 and 2, in the Round of 64
- Defeated Chris Peddicord, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32
- Defeated Mark Knecht, 5 and 3, in the Round of 16
Brady Exber, 63, Las Vegas, Nev.
- Born March 29, 1956 in Las Vegas, Nev.
- No. 899 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 35 seed with rounds of 76-73 in stroke play
- Advanced to the quarterfinals for first time in 26 USGA championships played
- Reached match play in six of the seven U.S. Senior Amateurs he has played
- Won 2014 Seniors Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A
- Tied for 41st in the 2007 U.S. Senior Open
- Past president of the Southern Nevada Golf Association
- Member of Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame
- Minority owner of MLB’s Houston Astros
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated Chris Hall, 4 and 3, in the Round of 64
- Defeated No. 3 seed and 2013 champion Doug Hanzel, 1 up, in the Round of 32
- Defeated Stewart (Buddy) Alexander, 3 and 2, in the Round of 16
Steven Harwell, 56, Mooresville, N.C.
- Born Nov. 20, 1962 in Mooresville, N.C.
- No. 1,900 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 44 seed with rounds of 77-73 in stroke play
- Reached quarterfinals for first time in 14 USGA championships played
- Twice advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Mid-Amateur (1993, 2010)
- Won North Carolina Senior Amateur and National Senior Hall of Fame Tournament in 2019
- Edged Chip Lutz and Jeff Knox by one stroke to win this year’s George L. Coleman Invitational
- NAIA All-American selection at Guilford College
- Works in a life insurance company’s finance division
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated Lionel Sutton, 3 and 2, in the Round of 64
- Defeated Paul Simson, 20 holes, in the Round of 32
- Defeated Kory Frost, 3 and 2, in the Round of 16
Paul Jett, 55, Southern Pines, N.C.
- Born July 7, 1964
- Not ranked in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 57 seed with rounds of 76-75 in stroke play
- Carded a 68 in the Lexington, S.C., sectional qualifier on July 22
- Competing in his first USGA championship
- Youngest player (age 55) in the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur field
- Superintendent at Pinehurst No. 2 when course hosted two U.S. Opens (1999, 2005)
- Also served as superintendent for the Duke University Golf Course
- Earned a B.S. in turfgrass management from Clemson University
- Won 1982 South Carolina Class 4A state high school championship
- Territory sales manager for a turf and ornamental company
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated No. 8 seed Gene Elliott, 2 and 1, in the Round of 64
- Defeated Terry Tyson, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32
- Defeated Bryan Norton, 1 up, in the Round of 16
Roger Newsom, 55, Virginia Beach, Va.
- Born March 14, 1964 in Portsmouth, Va.
- No. 3,011 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 17 seed with rounds of 72-74 in stroke play
- Competing in his sixth USGA championship
- Played in two U.S. Senior Opens (2014, 2019)
- Won the State Open of Virginia twice (2008, 2011)
- Captured the 2014 Virginia State Golf Association Senior Open
- Board-certified eye surgeon and ophthalmologist
- Specializes in laser and refractive cataract surgery
- Played golf for three years at East Carolina University
- His brother, Tim, is the director of golf at Riverfront Golf Club, in Suffolk, Va.
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated David Nelson, 3 and 2, in the Round of 64
- Defeated Jerry Slagle, 2 and 1, in the Round of 32
- Defeated No. 1 seed Michael McCoy, 4 and 3, in the Round of 16
Bob Royak, 57, Alpharetta, Ga.
- Born Sept. 9, 1961 in Albany, N.Y.
- No. 821 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 31 seed with rounds of 77-72 in stroke play
- Advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 16 USGA championships played
- Played in three U.S. Amateurs and two U.S. Senior Opens (2012, 2019)
- 2017 Georgia State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year
- Won 2017 Georgia State Golf Association Senior Amateur
- He and his brother (Paul) each played golf at the University of Tampa
- Paul was also in this year’s U.S. Senior Amateur field, the first USGA championship they have both competed since 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur
- Vice president for an executive search firm
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated Kenneth Coutant, 8 and 7, in the Round of 64
- Defeated No. 2 seed Dean Channell, 1 up, in the Round of 32
- Defeated William Mitchell, 2 and 1, in the Round of 16
Walter Todd, 59, Laurens, S.C.
- Born Aug. 18, 1960 in Laurens, S.C.
- No. 3,093 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 26 seed with rounds of 74-74 in stroke play
- Competing in his fifth USGA championship and second U.S. Senior Amateur
- Advanced to Round of 32 in last year’s Senior Amateur
- Won 2007 Carolinas Golf Association Mid-Amateur
- Captured 2005 South Carolina Golf Association Mid-Amateur
- Combined to claim eight SCGA and CGA Four-Ball championships
- 2016 and 2017 SCGA Senior Player of the Year
- Member of golf team at Presbyterian College, in Clinton, S.C.
- Works as an independent sales representative
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated Don Whittemore, 1 up, in the Round of 64
- Defeated No. 7 seed Frank Vana Jr., 2 and 1, in the Round of 32
- Defeated Victor Minovich, 3 and 1, in the Round of 16
Jeff Wilson, 56, Fairfield, Calif.
- Born June 14, 1963 in Vallejo, Calif.
- No. 2,285 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™
- Earned No. 6 seed with rounds of 73-71 in stroke play
- Won 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur, defeating Sean Knapp, 2 and 1, in the final
- Attempting to be the first player to defend his title since William C. Campbell in 1980
- Competed in 35 USGA championships, including four U.S. Opens
- Tied for 31st and was low amateur in last year’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor
- Low amateur in 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links
- Joined Marvin (Vinny) Giles as only players to earn low amateur at U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open
- Reinstated as an amateur in 1997 after bouncing around professional mini tours and PGA Tour
- General sales manager for an automobile dealership
Path to quarterfinals
- Defeated 2016 champion Dave Ryan, 1 up, in the Round of 64
- Defeated 2011 champion Louis Lee, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32
- Defeated Craig Steinberg, 4 and 3, in the Round of 16

Compiled by Brian DePasquale, manager of championship communications for the USGA. Email him at bdepasquale@usga.org.

U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR Meet the 2019 Quarterfinalists August 27, 2019 | Durham, N.C. By Brian DePasquale, USGA

Rick Cloninger, 62, McDonough, Ga.

Brady Exber, 63, Las Vegas, Nev.

Steven Harwell, 56, Mooresville, N.C.

Paul Jett, 55, Southern Pines, N.C.

Roger Newsom, 55, Virginia Beach, Va.

Bob Royak, 57, Alpharetta, Ga.

Walter Todd, 59, Laurens, S.C.

Jeff Wilson, 56, Fairfield, Calif.

More From the 65th U.S. Senior Amateur

U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR

Meet the 2019 Quarterfinalists August 27, 2019 | Durham, N.C. By Brian DePasquale, USGA