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