Tag: Kevin VandenBerg

Terry Cook, Don Kuehn among leaders at 2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown

Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona, is host of the 2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown. 

Casino Del Sol’s Sewailo Golf Club was a beautiful canvas for opening round action of the 2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown. 

Some of the best senior amateur players from across the country have descended upon Tucson, Arizona, to duke it out in the desert for 54 holes. With players ranging in age from 55 to older than 75, plenty of scores came in under retirement age.

Terry Cook has the early lead in the 55-64 year old senior division. Pacing the field with a blazing 6-under 66, the Iowa native holds a four-shot lead. A lone bogey on the par-4 5th dirtied Cook’s scorecard but he was able to finish strong with three birdies over his final five holes to close out his impressive start.

Four players sit at 2 under with another duo finishing Wednesday’s opening round five back of the lead. Golfweek’s No. 2 ranked senior amateur Kevin VandenBerg finished his day at even par. Unable to keep bogeys off of his card, VandenBerg was able to finish on a high note as he closed with a birdie on No. 18 in hopes to gain a bit of momentum heading into Thursday’s second round. 

VandenBerg is practically the only challenger to No. 1 Rusty Strawn for 2022 Golfweek Player of the Year honors. With less than three events left in the season and Strawn playing in the East-West Matches this week, a strong finish by VandenBerg would take a bite out of the 1,930 points that separate him and Strawn.

Super Senior Don Kuehn is in a familiar spot: atop the leaderboard. Kuehn carded a 2-under 70 to take an early two-stroke lead. As a winner of 44 championship events throughout his career, Kuehn looks to make it 45 before heading home to be inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame next week.

Florida’s Jim Starnes trails by two after a 72. Dan Parkinson and Robin Rubrecht are hot on the trail after matching each other with 1-over 73s.

John Hamilton leads the way in the Legends division. The New York native made the cross country trek and is loving the change of pace. Firing a 5-over 77, Hamilton didn’t quite shoot his age but will take a one-shot lead into Thursday looking to change that.

Steve Wilson and Craig Collins came into the clubhouse with some of the most impressive golf of the day. Both in the Super Legend division (75-years-old and up), the pair turned in matching 1-under 71s. 

Wilson was bogey free on the day with his lone birdie coming on the par-5 14th. Collins had a much more colorful scorecard that was highlighted with an eagle on the par 5 8th. Neither man can rest easy thinking it’s a two horse race. Dan Nicholson and Richard Hunt lurk at 2 over par, making the Super Legend age bracket one to watch as the championship turns its eyes to Thursday’s second round.

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2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown kicks off year-end rush for Player of the Year points

The Sewailo Course at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona, plays host to some of the best senior amateur golfers in the world beginning November 2nd.

The Sewailo Course at beautiful Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona, plays host to some of the best senior amateur golfers in the world beginning November 2nd. The 2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown tees off on Wednesday with players beginning to make their final pushes for their chance at Golfweek Player of the Year honors.

With just three events remaining for this year’s POY title, the race is tight between No. 1 Rusty Strawn and No. 2 Kevin VandenBerg. With Strawn not in the field in Tucson, VandenBerg can take a bite out of the 1,930 points that separate the two men.

As the only player within nearly 4,000 points of Strawn, VandenBerg is mathematically the only challenger that can overtake Golfweek’s No. 1 as the season ticks down. Nonetheless, players inside the top 10 are all jockeying for strong finishes to gain momentum heading into the 2023 POY race.

No. 7 ranked Steve Maddalena is the next highest-ranked player in the field this week. A first-place finish this week would catapult him all the way to the No. 4 spot thanks to the 1,200 POY points that come with a win.

While it won’t put him close enough to challenge Strawn, Maddalena would most certainly use the late-season push as a building block for next season.

The field also includes Craig Larson, who went wire-to-wire in his victory back in late September.

In all, four different age divisions will duke it out over 54 holes in the desert. Four new champions will be crowned with winners being invited to the year-end Golfweek Tournament of Champions.

If you want to play elite golf courses across the country against some of the best senior amateurs in the world, check out Golfweek’s events schedule. There’s still time to register for the three remaining events that round out the calendar year. The Golfweek Player of the Year Classic in January kicks off the 2023 race for Player of the Year honors. We hope you join us!

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Kevin VandenBerg, three others take home wins at Golfweek Senior National Championship

Kevin VandenBerg was the highest ranked player in the field.

Kevin VandenBerg claimed what was his at the 2022 Golfweek Senior National Championship at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

The highest ranked player in the field per Golfweek’s senior amateur rankings, VandenBerg was able to overcome an uncharacteristic first round to win the inaugural championship by two strokes.

VandenBerg used four birdies to negate three final-round bogeys, good for a 1-under 71. Playing with Steve Maddalena, the Michigander kept the pressure on as he matched VandenBerg shot for shot on the front nine.

Trading momentum shifts, VandenBerg was able to keep big numbers off his card and controlled a one-shot lead as the duo stood on the 18th tee. Unable to capitalize on a scoreable par-5, Maddalena posted a par to VandenBerg’s birdie, securing the two stroke victory for the New York native.

VandenBerg also now surpasses Rusty Strawn as the No. 1 ranked player in Golfweek’s Senior Amateur rankings.

Child Guy rounds out the senior podium with a third place finish at 10 over.

In the super senior division, it was Stephen Fox who was able to hold on to a two stroke victory as he crawled into the clubhouse going 5 over in his final four holes. Larry Vaughan (6 over) and Tim Vigotsky (7 over) nabbed silver and bronze finishes.

Legend Pete Allen used a steady 1-over 73 to take home a four-stroke win. Tied with Charley Yandell heading into the day, Allen stayed relatively mistake free to coast into the clubhouse for the win.

Unarguably the most impressive performance of the week came from Super Legend John Blank. The Maryland native carded rounds of 70, 73, and 71 to run away with the 75+ age division title. Two under on the week Blank beat every single player in the field, regardless of age division, by at least six shots.

All four champions earned 1,200 points in their respective Player of the Year race. The next Golfweek senior event is the 2022  Golfweek U.S. Super Senior, Legends, & Super Legends National Championship at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Georgia, July 2-5. 

First-ever Golfweek Senior National has attracted top amateurs to North Carolina

The Golfweek Senior National will be a pivotal tournament towards crowning the 2022 champion.

Top senior amateurs from around the country are in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the inaugural Golfweek Senior National.

Designed by two-time major champion David Graham and his build partner Gary Panks, Grandover Resort will play host to the first-ever Golfweek Senior National, June 13-15. The Player of the Year race is heating up too, with 1,200 points heading towards the winner’s bankroll when it’s all said and done.

Among those in the field is Golfweek’s No. 2 senior amateur Kevin VandenBerg. With No. 1 Rusty Strawn not playing this week, VandenBerg has an opportunity to take over the top spot as he sits just 350 points out of first.

Nearing the halfway point in the year, the Golfweek Player of the Year standings has become a two-horse race. Third-place Allen Peake is separated from VandenBerg by more than 1,000 points. Matt Sughrue (No. 4) and Billy Mitchell (No. 5) round out the top 5.

Ninth-ranked Jerry Slagle can make big strides in his ranking, just like VandenBerg. A win would catapult Slagle into fourth place with over 2,900 points.

With both the summer temperatures and the Player of the Year race heating up, the Golfweek Senior National will be a pivotal tournament towards crowning the 2022 champion.