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Walker Taylor leads stacked field at 2023 Golfweek Senior National Championship

Walker Taylor, 61, leads the 2023 Golfweek Senior National Championship.

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Walker Taylor, 61, leads the 2023 Golfweek Senior National Championship after Monday’s first round at Grandover Resort (The East Course) in Greensboro, North Carolina. The scene is a dose of deja vu for the North Carolina native who led the tournament after one round last year.

Pacing the field with an opening 68, the former touring professional and three-time Ironman competitor out of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, had himself quite the back nine.

One under through 10, Taylor found the hazard on the par-4 11th. After a three-putt double bogey, Taylor was a bit irritated with himself as he walked to the 12th tee.

“I was actually standing on that tee and I was kind of mad at myself but I was calm,” he said. “I was like ‘Man, maybe if you ace you get back to under par.’”

Stepping into his tee shot on the 117-yard par 3, Taylor didn’t feel comfortable and backed off to reset and find the right mind space before hitting his next shot.

Flushing his wedge, Taylor one-hopped his ball right into the hole for an ace, immediately erasing the damage done on the previous hole.

The ace is Taylor’s ninth of his career but first in competition play.

With the good fortune, Taylor resumed his near-automatic play as he looked to finish strong. Birdies on Nos. 13, 14, 17 and 18 resulted in Taylor playing his final seven holes at 5 under par and granted him a first-round 68.

Currently an insurance broker, Taylor has plenty of experience playing on big stages. After finishing college at Clemson, Taylor made it to the final stage of European Tour Q-School and even made a PGA Tour start before hanging up his professional golf dream.

Since regaining his amateur status in 1989, Taylor has teed it up in five U.S. Mid-Ams, four British Amateurs, two U.S. Amateurs and most recently has advanced to match play in both of his U.S. Senior Amateur appearances. He’ll be making a trip across the pond later this summer to play in his third British Senior Amateur.

With 29 putts and 15 of 18 greens hit on the day, Taylor looks to build upon his hot start with one mantra borrowed from his good friend and Walker Cup Captain, Mike McCoy: “Keep moseyin’ on.”

He’ll have plenty of competition with one of the best fields of the year lurking behind him.

Georgia’s Mike Combs, ranked No. 15 in Golfweek’s Senior Amateur Rankings, posted a 1-under 71 and is tied for second alongside Alabama’s Michael Arasin (No. 20). Another friend of Taylor’s, Sherrill Britt (No. 79), carded an even-par round to take sole possession of fourth place through 18 holes. Golfweek No. 1 Vance Welch looks to apply some pressure after an opening round 73, giving him a three-way share of fifth place alongside Golfweek’s No. 10 senior amateur Rick Cloninger.

Other notables: 2022 Golfweek Senior National Champion Kevin VandenBerg (+6, T18), Carolina amatuer golf legend Paul Simson (+4, T14)

Super Seniors (65-69)

Randy King holds a one-shot lead following a first-round 73. Bill Long (+2) and Bob Edens (+3) lead the rest of the pack of nine players within five strokes of the lead.

Legends (70-74)

Charley Yandell earned the top spot in the Legends age bracket with an opening 71. The score holds as one of just four rounds under par and the only sub-par round outside of the Senior division.

Super Legends (75+)

Bill Engel and Frank Costanzo share the lead at 1 over. John Blank (+3) looks to give chase ahead of a three-man group at 4 over.

Rex Enright comes from behind to win; Team New Mexico goes wire-to-wire at 38th U.S. Senior Challenge Cup

Enright was glad he had seven years of local knowledge in his back pocket.

Rex Enright began the final round trailing 36-hole leader Randy Haag by three strokes.

As a member of the Canyon Club, host of the 38th U.S. Senior Challenge Cup, Enright was glad he had seven years of local knowledge in his back pocket as he faced off against Haag in the final group.

“After looking Randy’s resume,” Enright told Golfweek. “I was like ‘Oh (expletive) this guy is pretty good… this could be a challenge!”

With more than 300 wins in his amateur career and three wins already in 2023, Haag was definitely a worthy opponent. Resting on his local knowledge, Enright took comfort in his ability to navigate the elevation and sloped greens that prove to be the primary challenge in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“I figured with his (Haag) resume, that I’d have to shoot 67,” Enright said.

Fortunately for Enright, Haag stumbled out of the gates with a bogey, bogey start. On the par 5 4th, Haag five-putted for a triple to sway the leaderboard in favor of Enright.

Down but not out, Haag battled for control of the top spot and earned back a share of the lead as the two men stood on the 17th tee after being down three strokes through 11 holes.

After catching multiple breaks in Wednesday’s second round, Haag’s luck seemed to have run out on the par-3 17th. Hitting his tee shot just a couple of paces too long, he found himself putting back down towards the hole from just off the green in the rough.

Four putting from off the green Haag left the door open for Enright to slam the tournament shut.

Putting the finishing touches on the championship with a two-putt par, Enright went on to par the 18th and claiming the Challenge Cup by two strokes with a tournament total of 2-over 218.

Defending his home course, Enright becomes the first U.S. Senior Challenge Cup individual champion from New Mexico.

Team Champion

Four more New Mexico natives made Challenge Cup history Thursday as Team New Mexico-Slayton was crowned champions. Riding the back of captain Jack Slayton all week, Kevin Sivage, Anton Salome and Bill Squier strolled through the week to win by 15 shots, boasting a three-day total of 6-over to complete a wire-to-wire win.

Legends (70-74)

Slayton not only ran away with the team portion, but also the Legends age division. Touting three straight rounds of 70, Slayton swept the 70-74 year old bracket by six shots and totaling the lowest 54-hole total of the tournament with a 6-under 210. His play nets him low man of the week honors as no other player finished under par regardless of age bracket.

Super Seniors (65-69)

Wyoming’s John Hornbeck was crowned champion in the 65-69 age group, running away with a seven shot victory with tournament total of 4-over 220. New Mexico’s Crispin Fuentes finished second at 11 over.

Super Legends (75+)

Arizona’s David Ralsey capped off the week with a final-round 77 to complete a wire-to-wire win in the 75+ age division.

Gary Albrecht wins 2023 Golfweek Senior Division National Championship

For Albrecht, the win is one of the biggest of his career.

One of the most highly-touted fields in all of amateur senior golf lived up to its billing this week. The 2023 Golfweek Senior Division National Championship needed an extra hole to crown a winner.

Following a one-hole playoff, 66-year-old Gary Albrecht came out on top at Desert Willow Golf Club in Palm Desert, California. The 36-hole leader was able to stave off Kory Frost for his first national championship win with a 2-under 214 total.

Typically a super senior, Albrecht dropped an age bracket to play, as it’s right down the road from where he winters in Indian Wells.

“I was comfortable coming in,” Albrecht said. “I was hitting the ball well and the first round I thought I didn’t putt real well but I was right there. I putted real well in round two and made a move up the leaderboard and then today was really just a matter of holding it together.”

Albrecht needed a bit of duct tape early after recording three bogeys through his first five holes. Never hitting the panic button, Albrecht quietly worked his way back toward 1 over on the day as he hit the final stretch.

“My game wasn’t all working, but it all worked at different times,” Albrecht recalled.

One group ahead of Albrecht were his top two challengers.

Jon Lindstrom and Kory Frost both had shots to track down Albrecht. Lindstrom bowed out after making par on the par-5 18th for a final-round 69. Frost however, birdied the hole to get himself to 2 under for the tournament and 6 under in his final 10 holes.

After an Albrecht par on No. 18, the pair were deadlocked at 2 under and headed to the first tee for a sudden-death playoff.

Both men found themselves in the left rough off the tee. Albrecht played first and nearly got to the green in two. Frost countered with a shot that was also a near miss, just left of the green.

With about 40 feet left, Albrecht elected to use the Texas wedge to try and knock it close.

Fortunately for Albrecht, the flagstick saved him from running by as his ball kissed the flagstick and nestled up well inside a foot. Frost left his birdie putt short and was unable to knock down a five-foot slider to extend the playoff.

For Albrecht, the win is one of the biggest of his career.

How’s the semi-retired attorney going to celebrate the victory? Well he’s going to tee it right back up on Thursday at the Golfweek Senior Amateur.

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Gary Albrecht leads 2023 Golfweek Senior Division National Championship

It’s one of the deepest fields in all of senior amateur golf.

The 2023 Golfweek Senior Division National Championship has become a battle in the desert.

Gary Albrecht takes a two-shot lead into the final round at Desert Willow Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, following a 4 under 68 on Monday. The California native carded just one bogey on the day to leapfrog 18-hole leader, Robert Funk, to take the 36-hole lead.

Funk was able to work off an early-round double bogey, closing his scoring with a birdie on No. 17 to get himself back to even on the day and remain 1 under for the tournament. He and Joe Palmer sit at 1 under and lead a pack of players well within striking range.

Mark Lindberg and Leonard Komar are both 1 over and coming off of sub-par rounds Monday. Three more players are in a tie for sixth, just five shots off the lead.

As one of the deepest fields in all of senior amateur golf, the tournament is living up to its billing. Six players, including 2021 U.S. Senior low amateur Billy Mitchell, are just 3 over and six shots back. With such an elite field, the championship is still anyone’s ball game.

For 2022 Golfweek Challenge Cup captain Craig Hurlbert, the week comes to an abrupt end with a WD. Other notables: Jerry Gunthorpe (T17), Craig Larson (T17), Kevin VandenBerg (T29) and Vance Welch (T39).

If you want to tee it up with the best senior amateurs in the game, check out the Golfweek senior amateur schedule here.

Mike Finster, Gene Bingman go wire-to-wire at Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic

The 2023 season started in a dominant fashion for Mike Finster.

The 2023 season started in a dominant fashion for Mike Finster. The Florida native kicked off the 2023 Golfweek senior slate with a wire-to-wire victory at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club.

Rebounding from his 1 over second-round performance, Finster closed the championship out with an even-par final round. Finster had a hot hand on the front nine with four birdies sandwiching a double bogey on the par-4 sixth.

Rusty Strawn, the defending Golfweek Player of the Year and U.S. Senior Amateur champion, began the day four shots back of Finster and was a part of the final group set on chasing down the 36-hole leader. Strawn was able to muster three birdies on the front nine but made the turn at 1 under and six shots back of Finster.

As the final group plodded their way through the final nine, Strawn was unable to capitalize on Finster’s two back-nine bogeys, finishing the tournament three back of the leader at 3 over.

Finster’s play was strong all week, as he navigated tough and uncommon Florida conditions en route to his 54-hole, even-par total. He was the only player in the field, regardless of age bracket, to have two rounds at par or better.

In the Super Senior division, it was Steve Humphrey taking the crown. Holding a share of the 36-hole lead with Mike Poe, Humphrey left no doubt on Wednesday.

Making the turn at even par, Humphrey stayed out of trouble while those around the top of the leaderboard faltered left and right. As his opponents struggled, Humphrey tacked on two birdies down the stretch to cap off a 10-shot victory and the lowest round of the week.

While the Super Senior division was decided rather easily, the Legends needed all 54 holes to declare a winner.

Don Donatoni, the 36-hole leader and the 2022 Legend Player of the Year, set out to keep his outstanding form going into the 2023 calendar year. Looking to contest was Arkansas’ Bev Hargraves, who paced the Legends after Monday’s first round and trailed Donatoni by three strokes heading into Wednesday’s final round alongside Don Russell.

Russell bowed out of the fight following a double bogey on the par-4 15th, leaving way for Donatoni and Hargraves.

Three shots behind Donatoni with just four holes left, Hargraves birdied Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to tie Donatoni for the lead at 10-over par.

With both men needing to catch a flight, the pair decided to share medalist honors. With the act of sportsmanship, the pair were awarded 1,000 player of the year points each and split the first place purse of $900.

In the 75+ year old Super Legends division, Gene Bingman matched Finster’s dominant play, also going wire-to-wire in his win. Rounds of 80, 82 and 78 was enough to keep Jack Marin and Gil Stenholm well away from the lead, as Bingman coasted to a five-shot victory.

The next Golfweek senior event is the Golfweek Senior Division National Championship, slated for March 26-28 at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. To register, click here.

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Moving day sees little ‘moving’ at 2023 Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic

Scoring has been hard to come by at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club.

It’s not all sunshine and roses in Tampa, Florida, this week. Scoring has been hard to come by at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, home of the 2023 Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic.

One man, however, has been able to piece things together enough to lead not just his age division, but also the entire field.

Mike Finster paced the field for the second straight day following his opening round 71 with a 1-over 73, good for an even-par score through 36 holes. The St. Petersburg native has held steady throughout the week despite unusual Florida weather and tough course conditions.

Finster holds a three-shot lead over Georgia’s Danny Nelson, while last year’s Golfweek Player of the Year, Rusty Strawn, lurks in solo third at 4 over.

Through 36 holes, Super Senior co-leaders Steve Humphrey and Mike Poe still have not separated from each other, both at 8 over. First round Super Senior leader Marcus Beck slid back into solo second with a 6-over 78 on Tuesday. At 9 over, he sits one shot behind Humphrey and Poe and will be the primary contender for the co-leaders.

Reigning Golfweek Legend Player of the Year, Don Donatoni looks to pick up 2023 right where he left off 2022. A second round 75 moved the Pennsylvania native past round one leader Bev Hargraves and sets Donatoni up for an early season victory.

At 8 over for the week, Donatoni leads Hargraves and Florida’s Don Russell by three strokes.William Everett has a puncher’s chance, as he played himself into the final foursome with a second-round 76. He remains four back at 12 over.

In the Super Legend division, it’s still anyone’s race.

Ohio’s Gene Bingman continues to pace the field, following his opening 80 with a second round 82. However, with just two shots ahead of the field, a slew of contenders await a chance to move up the leaderboard Wednesday. Led by Jack Marin and Dan Nicholson at 20 over, there are five golfers within seven shots of Bingham.

With more of the same scoring conditions coming for Wednesday’s final round, a more than solid round of golf will be needed to overtake any leader.

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2023 Senior Amateur season tees off in Tampa at Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic

The quest for Player of the Year honors commenced Monday at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club in Florida.

The 2023 Golfweek senior amateur season is officially underway.

The quest for Player of the Year honors commenced Monday at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida. But first, let’s take a moment to honor the four men who earned Player of the Year honors in 2022.

Senior division player of the year Rusty Strawn had a fantastic 2022. The Georgia native began his year with a win at the Florida Senior Azalea in March. Picking up another win at the Senior Trans-Miss, Strawn took down fellow Georgian Doug Hanzel in the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Not done yet, Strawn followed the USGA major victory with a win North of the border, winning the Canadian Senior Amateur a week later. Capping off his 2022 season with a winning captaincy at the Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup, Strawn ran away with Player of the Year in the senior division.

Super Senior Marc Fried, like Strawn, had a dominant 2022. Starting his season with three straight top-five finishes, Fried built momentum towards a winning effort at the U.S. Super Senior National Championship. Per AmateurGolf.com, Fried’s worst finish on the year was T-18 in 17 starts.

Pennsylvania native Don Donatoni nabbed Legend player of the year honors thanks in part to a win at the Super-Senior Amateur. Playing strongly throughout the year at Golfweek events, the 74 -year-old was able to secure the top spot at year’s end.

After a season that included a win at the Golfweek Senior National Invitational, John Blank earned the Super Legend player of the year honor.

With all four age division winners and 2022 Yancey Ford Award winner Joe Pavoni, all honored on Monday, the 2023 race for Player of the Year is officially underway.

Mike Finster leads the senior division through round 1. The Florida native carded the lone under-par score of the day with a 1 under 71. Georgia’s Danny Nelson lurks two shots back at 1 over while Rusty Strawn is in a two-way tie for third after posting an opening 74.

In the Super Senior division, it’s Marcus Beck holding a two-shot lead at 3 over. An even par front nine was marred by a lone double bogey on the par-5 15th. Mike Poe and Steve Humphrey matched each other with 77s to finish the day two back of Beck.

Arkansas’s Bev Hargraves impresses with an opening 4 over 76. With 36 holes left to play, Hargreaves will have to be weary as Don Donatoni trails by just one shot.

In the 75+ age bracket, Gene Bingman commands an early lead. The super legend carded an 8 over 80 to take a one shot lead over Gil Stenholm.

Round two of the Golfweek Senior Player of the Year Classic continues on Tuesday. For more information on how to play Golfweek events, click here.

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Team Hurlbert leads following the opening round of the 2022 Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup

Former Golfweek player of the year Craig Hurlbert and his crew have taken the early advantage over Rusty Strawn’s team at the 2022 Golfweek Challenge Cup. Led by a 2-under-par performance by senior division leader, Rich Buckner, Hurlbert’s team …

Former Golfweek player of the year Craig Hurlbert and his crew have taken the early advantage over Rusty Strawn’s team at the 2022 Golfweek Challenge Cup.

Led by a 2-under-par performance by senior division leader, Rich Buckner, Hurlbert’s team takes a 13-shot lead into Thursday’s second round. The biggest factor in growing the team’s lead? Half of the counting scores for Hurlbert’s team tallied up to even par. Buckner, Ken Kinkopf, Gary Durbin, Kevin VandenBerg and Victor Leoni were the biggest performers as they all carded rounds of 72 or better.

With over 20 players per team, 10 counting scores each day and 36 holes yet to play, a 13-shot lead can be erased in a matter of seconds. Knowing things change quickly when playing a team competition, Strawn is keeping his team in high spirits with a strict curfew of 3 a.m.

Much like the team portion, the individual competition is far from being decided.

Senior leader Rich Buckner holds a two-shot lead over a trio of players. His 2 under round of 69 was the low round of the day in all age divisions. Golfweek’s No. 2 ranked senior Kevin VandenBerg trails by three shots. Both captains are in the top 10 after one day of play as Hurlbert carded a 2-over 73, good for solo eighth. Strawn is hot on his tail at 9 over in a tie for ninth.

A member of Team Strawn leads the Super Senior division. Mike Arter used two birdies on the back nine to close out a strong 2 over 73. Two shots behind Arter, Steve Humphrey, Tim Vigotsky and Marc Fried are all giving chase.

Despite a back nine 40, Peter Van Ingen enjoys a four-stroke lead in the Legends division. Both Dale White and Sam Robinson will look to capitalize on what they hope to be a lack of momentum for Van Ingen as they begin their chase Thursday.

This year’s Yancy Ford Award winner, Joe Pavoni, holds the helm in the Super Legend division following an opening round of 76. His five-over-par effort is good enough for a three-shot lead over Jim Dubois.

Play continues Thursday at Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation, Florida. Come Friday, four medalists will be crowned as well as a team champion. With nearly 50 of the world’s best senior amateur golfers in one place, only time will tell who will stake their claim as champion.

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2022 Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup features stacked field

The 2022 Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup is more than just the penultimate event of the season.

The 2022 Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup is more than just the final ranking tournament of the season. It’s an opportunity to share camaraderie, stories and plenty of healthy rivalries.

The 54-hole stroke play event will be at Jacaranda Golf Club just outside of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and features four different age groups ranging from 55 to over 75 years old. Aside from crowning individual medalists in each age division, the Challenge Cup features a team aspect as well.

Not only are bragging rights and player of the year points up for grabs, but crucial World Amateur Golf Rankings points. The top 20 ranked senior amateur men in WAGR are exempt into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur. Although the points race for the U.S. senior am ends in August, every event matters.

Captaining the two teams are 2022 Golfweek/USA Today Sports Player of the Year Rusty Strawn and 2020 Golfweek/USA Today Sports Player of the Year Craig Hurlbert. Strawn is coming off an incredible year that was highlighted by wins at the U.S. and Canadian senior amateurs. Hurlbert is getting back in the playing saddle after taking time off to upstart a venture, raising over a billion dollars in investment capital for his newest company, Local Bounti.

Backing them is plenty of firepower: 2021 U.S. Open low amateur Billy Mitchell, Golfweek No. 2-ranked senior am Kevin Vandenberg and 2022 Yancey Ford Award winner Joe Pavoni.

If you want to play premier courses across the country and test your skills against the best senior amateur golfers, check out the 2023 Golfweek senior amateur golf schedule.

Four champs crowned at 2022 Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions

Four champs were crowned at 2022 Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions.

Four winners were crowned at the Golfweek Senior Tournament of Champions on Friday.

The event, held at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, lured some of the best senior amateur from around the country.

However, 55 holes were needed to name a senior champ. Ken Kinkopf needed an extra hole to defeat Ryan Howison. Kinkopf had been near the top of the leaderboard all week long and enjoyed a share of the 36-hole lead heading into Friday’s final round.

Howison was two shots back to begin the day but made quick work to close the gap. Carding three early birdies, Howison not only negated Kinkopf’s lead, but took a one-stroke advantage as he headed to the back nine. Unable to muster any more birdies, Howison fell down the stretch, ruining his good work on the front nine with three bogeys, including the 18th, to finish even on the day and 5 over for the tournament.

In the clubhouse with a share of the lead, Howison would have to wait and see what Kinkopf and company could do.

Kinkopf struggled with the front nine on Friday. Making the turn at 1 over on the day, Kinkopf began the back nine with two more bogeys to go from 2 over on the week to 5 over.

Rallying with a birdie on the par-4 15th, Kinkopf held the solo lead until he carded a bogey on the 18th to fall into a playoff with Howison. The pair set back out onto the par-4 18th, where Kinkopf was able to claim the win with a par.

In the super legends division, Steve Humphrey put the finishing touches on a blowout. The Florida native not only won his age division but posted a tournament low with a 54-hole score of 4-under 212.

Humphrey took home the super legends title by a whopping 14 shots. Stacking up against the rest of the field, Humphrey’s 212 would have been good for a nine-shot victory in the 55-60 year old age group.

Don Donatoni pieced together rounds of 74, 78 and 75 (227) for a five-shot victory in the legends division. Super legend Frank Polizzi broke 80 twice to sneak away with a three-shot victory in the 75+ age division.

Want to play some of the best golf courses around the world? Want to make friends along the way? Check out the 2023 Golfweek senior amateur golf schedule to see when and where you can join the best.

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