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Packed leaderboards at 2022 International Mid-Am/Senior Championship after first round

Plenty of big names are near the top of the leaderboard after the first round.

A weekend of top tier mid-am and senior golf officially teed off in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, on Friday, and the competition got fierce fast. With both team and individual titles on the line, there’s no time to waste against the best. The 2022 International Mid-Amateur & Senior, Team and Individual Championship has yet to crown champions but has plenty of contenders vying for their shot at being crowned champion.

Rod Baronet and Jon Lindstrom are paving the way for the senior division. Both at 6 under, the duo matched each other shot for shot with seven birdies and a bogey. Leading the pack by three shots, the pair is being chased by Wes McNulty and John Wright at 3 under.

Behind them lurks Tony Wise at 2 under and a pack of five golfers at 1 under, led by Rusty Strawn and Doug Hanzel.

In the team portion, Lindstrom is once again leading the way. Team Colorado leads by two in large part because of Lindstrom. His round of 6 under, accompanied by Chris Carson’s 2-over 74, is good for a two stroke lead over Team Arkansas. Richard Bradsby fills out Colorado’s roster but was not counted in the team score with a 4-over 76.

Team St. George, Team Georgia (South), and North Carolina (East) trail by less than five heading into the second round.

In the mid-am competition, Marc Engellenger carded a bogey-free 5-under 67 to take a one-shot lead over the field.

Beginning the day on a hot steak, Engellenger coasted on the back nine with pars on eight of his final nine holes. Just one shot back, the trio of Philip Reale, Travis Woolf and Justin Young will all seek to stay in contention in the second round.

Reale has teamed up with Pat Carter, Cam Roam, and Sam O’Dell to form Team West Virginia. Combining for a team score of 6-under 210, they lead Team North Texas by a single stroke.

Team South Texas is the only other team under par at 2 under. Team Mississippi is six shots back at even par.

Saturday’s second round begins at 7:30 am on both of Pawleys Island’s premier courses: True Blue and Caledonia.

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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.

The Golfweek/Midwestern Golf Association National State Team Invitational

Golfweek and the Midwestern Golf Association partner for the 15th annual National State Team Invitational to be held August 4-7, 2022 at Caledonia and True Blue Golf Club on Pawleys Island, SC. The National State Team Invitational is a tournament within a tournament where individual and team champions will be crowned in both the Mid-Amateur and Senior divisions.

Robert Funk, three others claim victories at Golfweek Senior National Championship

In the senior division, Robert Funk claimed top dog with a final round 1-over 73 on Saturday.

With the LPGA playing their first major of the year just 20 minutes down the road, some of the nation’s best senior amateurs descended upon PGA West in La Quinta, California, for the Golfweek Senior National Championship.

In the senior division, Robert Funk claimed top dog with a final-round 1-over 73 on Saturday. Rounds of 73, 71, 73 (217) were good for a three-shot victory for the Canyon Lake, California, native.

“I played very consistent until the back nine,” Funk told Golfweek.

Funk was 3 under at the turn before crawling in with two bogeys and a double on the par 5 7th. However, a 73 was all Funk needed to hold onto his lead he started the day with. One of the key pieces to Funk’s win? His flatstick.

“What turned my game around is my new putter,” Funk said. “I guess it gives me confidence that I can hit it online.”

Unable to catch Funk, Billy Mitchell. Twice a bridesmaid on the west coast swing, Mitchell heads back to Atlanta with two top-3 finishes under his belt. Firing a 1-under 71 to add some pressure, Mitchell was unable to fully recover from his opening 77 which left a three-stroke difference between him and Funk.

Rounding out the podium was Don Whittemore who tied with Mitchell at 4 over while last week’s winner Jerry Gunthorpe racked up a T-6 finish at 7 over.

Super senior Jeff Burda had himself a fantastic week, running away with the 65- to 69-year-old age bracket by 13 strokes. Playing in his hometown, Burda used his local knowledge to go wire-to-wire and close the tournament in style with an event low 67.

With one bogey on No. 1, Burda kept the rest of his card clean with six birdies on Saturday, leaving no doubt among the super senior division. Burda’s 7-under 209 would’ve been good for a win in any age division and his 14 birdies in 54 holes also led the entire field.

Rounding out the top-5 were Gary Albrecht (6 over), Larry Vaughan (7 over), John Armstrong, and Curtis Worley (8 over).

After taking the lead through two rounds, Evan Long never looked back. His 54 hole total of 6 overtook the cake in the legend division as he cruised to a six-shot victory over Don Donatoni. Mickey Jones (+13), Peter Van Ingen (+14) and Rick Lawrence (+18) rounded out the top-5.

In the super legend division, John Seehausen and John Banks needed three holes to declare a winner where Seehausen claimed the championship. Beginning the day two back of Blank, Seehausen came in clutch down the stretch with an eagle on the par-5 15th en route to a final round 73 to help force the playoff.

Golfweek has amateur events for juniors, amateurs, mid-ams, and seniors all throughout the year. If you are interested in teeing it up in one of Golfweek’s amateur events, head on over to our events page here to see if you meet the criteria.

Robert Funk takes lead at Golfweek Senior Amateur National Championship

There weren’t a lot of red numbers on Friday, but the few that were able to card sub-par rounds made it count.

There weren’t a lot of red numbers to go around at PGA West’s Pete Dye Dunes course course on Friday, but the few that were able to card sub-par rounds made them count.

Robert Funk of Canyon Lake, California, took the senior division lead ahead of the final round thanks to a 1-under 71. With four birdies on the day, Funk made the jump from third place over round 1 leaders Don Whittemore and Larry Nunez.

Both Whittemore (1 over) and Nunez (2 over) are well within striking range after rounds of 73 and 74, respectively.

Last week’s runner-up Jerry Slagle looks to redeem himself on Saturday as he is just two shots back of Funk. Slagle had the low round of the tournament not just within the 55-64 age division, but the whole tournament with a moving day 68.

Funk has plenty of players to keep in his rear view mirror as 10 players are within six shots of him heading into Saturday’s final round.

In the super senior division Jeff Burda maintains his lead following an even-par 72. Thanks to over par rounds from those contending after day 1, Burda enjoys a six shot lead over his nearest competitor.

One back to begin the day, legend Evan Long was the only man in the 70-74 age bracket to get to red numbers on the day with an age matching 2-under 70 to get to 2 over for the tournament.

Living up to the title of ‘legend’, Long paces round 1 leader Peter Van Ingen by five strokes.

Super legend John Blank was among a trio of players who trailed John Walker by a shot as moving day began. Blank rose above the rest, including Walker, with a round of 4-over 76. Walker trails by four strokes with John Seehausen (+6) and Gaylord Davis (+7) bridging the gap between the two. Two players are within five of the lead.

Four champions will be crowned Saturday at PGA West with each winner earning 1,200 points toward the Golfweek Player of the Year race.

Jerry Gunthorpe wins Golfweek Senior Division National Championship

Jerry Gunthorpe tracked down 36-hole leader Jerry Slagle to claim the championship.

The Firecliff Course at Desert Willow Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, played host to an eventful and dramatic Golfweek Senior Division National Championship.

The 54-hole event was graced by some of the best senior amateur golfers in the nation, with one man claiming his title and 1,200 points towards the year-long race for the Golfweek Player of the Year honor.

In the final round, Ovid, Michigan’s, Jerry Gunthorpe tracked down 36-hole leader Jerry Slagle on Tuesday to claim the championship. Behind by three strokes to start the final round, Gunthorpe made easy work of the front nine, carding a 2-under 34.

“Things were clicking,” Gunthorpe told Golfweek. “It started out easy right away.”

Slagle was not as fortunate with double bogeys on Nos. 5 and 8, erasing a birdie on No. 2, for an opening 39.

The five-shot swing put Gunthorpe in the driver’s seat at the turn. He relied on previous experiences on big stages both at the state level in Michigan and the national level as he came up just short to Gene Elliott in the 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur.

“When I have a little bit of adrenaline, that means it matters to me,” Gunthorpe said. “If it doesn’t matter to me, I don’t do as well. When I feel the butterflies, or whatever that feeling is, that means it matters to me.”

Finding his why helped Gunthorpe stave off a late run by Slagle. Sitting at 4 over through 13 holes, Slagle turned on the jets, birdieing three of his last five holes in an attempt to make Gunthorpe feel the pressure. Gunthorpe stayed the course, swapping a birdie and bogey to close out a round of 2-under 70 and the championship.

In an interview following Sunday’s first round, Gunthorpe foreshadowed a bit saying that he always felt like he belonged in competitive senior golf.

“I always knew that I would [belong in competitive golf],” he said. “Every time I’ve competed, I’ve done well. I haven’t competed a lot, but when I have, I’ve been successful I feel.”

Well, to come back against one of the hottest hands of the week, in Slagle while also holding off the rest of the field is a success in anyone’s book.

Gunthorpe is expected to make a big jump in the Golfweek senior amateur rankings from his current spot at No. 37.

Slagle makes the trip back to Southlake, Texas, with much to be happy about as he recorded a tournament-high 16 birdies. Billy Mitchell, the 2021 U.S. Senior Open low-am, took home a solo third-place finish after a 1 over to finish at even par.

Greg Sanders (1 over) of Anthem, Arizona, and Steve McPherson (2 over) of San Jacinto, California, round out the top five.

The next Golfweek Senior amateur event will be a full-field event at the Golfweek Senior Amateur Championship at PGA West in La Quinta, California starting March 31.

Golfweek Senior Division national championship up for grabs at Desert Willow Golf Resort

Some of the best senior amateurs tee it up March 27-29 at the Firecliff Course at Desert Willow Golf Club in Palm Desert, California.

Some of the best senior amateurs will tee it up March 27-29 at the Firecliff Course at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California.

The Firecliff Course made the Golfweek Top 20 list of the best courses you can play in California.

The 2022 installment will feature yet another who’s who in the senior amateur game. The usual suspects will be there: Jerry Gunthorpe, Billy Mitchell, Rich Bucker, etc. But the 1,200 Golfweek Player of the Year points that are up for grabs have brought players from every corner of the United States to fill out the rest of the 84-man field. This tournament is certified by the USGA and R&A as a WAGR counting tournament with the top-25 in the WAGR ranking receiving exemptions into the U.S. Senior Amateur to be held at the Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass.

With the limited field, just one age division is in play this week. The 55-plus-year-old field will navigate its way through the challenging but fair Firecliff Course native areas, water features, and over 100 waste bunkers.

Kevin VandenBerg looks to extend his points lead over Rusty Strawn who is not in the field this week. Seventh-ranked Richard Kerper is the next top-10 player in the field who can make a big jump in the Golfweek Senior Amateur Rankings.

A winner will be crowned on the 29th with 1,200 points accompanying their name as the first quarter of the Senior Player of the Year race comes to a close in April.

2022 Golfweek U.S. Super Senior, Legends, & Super Legends National Championship at The Golf Club of Georgia

Calling all National Champions, State Champions, club champions and elite senior amateurs age 65 and over! Join us July 5-7 at one of the nations premier private golf clubs, The Golf Club of Georgia, in the 2022 Golfweek U.S. Super Senior, Legends & …

Calling all National Champions, State Champions, club champions and elite senior amateurs age 65 and over! Join us July 5-7 at one of the nations premier private golf clubs, The Golf Club of Georgia, in the 2022 Golfweek U.S. Super Senior, Legends & Super Legends National Championship.

This is the first national ranking championship exclusively for elite senior amateurs age 65 and over. The Golfweek U.S. Super Senior, Legends & Super Legends National Championship, sponsored by USA Today Sports, is now in its sixth year. The tournament fills a US Golf Association void by providing a national championship for players age 65 and over. After 54 holes of intense competition, only one player in each division will earn the right to hoist the trophy and be called a “National Champion.”

2022 Golfweek Senior National

This is your personal INVITATION to join us in the 2022 Golfweek Senior National presented by USA Today Sports on the East Course at Grandover Resort & Spa in Greensboro, NC.

This is your personal INVITATION to join us in the 2022 Golfweek Senior National presented by USA Today Sports on the East Course at Grandover Resort & Spa in Greensboro, NC.

Four champions crowned at the 2022 Golfweek Player of the Year Classic

The Golfweek PoY Classic came to a close on Tuesday with four senior golfers earning their claim to ‘Champa Bay’ at Tampa Palms CC.

Tampa, Florida, has been given the moniker ‘Champa Bay’ in recent years thanks to the Lightning winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Buccaneers winning Super Bowl LV on their home turf and the Rays winning divisional and American League pennants.

The Golfweek Player of the Year Classic came to a close on Tuesday with four senior golfers earning their claim to ‘Champa Bay’ at Tampa Palms Country Club.

Lurking all week long, Miles McConnell stuck around the top of the leaderboard long enough to claim the top spot in the senior division (ages 55-64). McConnell was a co-leader following the first round and trailed 36-hole leader Billy Mitchell by three shots heading into the day.

McConnell got out of the gates quickly, carding birdies on three of his first five holes.

“I knew today particularly, I had to play well,” McConnell told Golfweek. “It was a challenge the whole way around [to] keep your composure and try to hit greens.”

McConnell felt that he had the tournament in hand by No. 16. After a front nine 4-under 32 and sitting two under through No. 16, McConnell was quickly reminded that golf is a humbling game. Back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 led to a bit of sweat, but McConnell was able to piece together a couple more good swings to close out the tournament with a par on No. 18 for a final round 70 to take the Classic by two strokes.

Virginia’s Matt Sughrue took home second place at even par for the event with Bob Royak taking the final podium spot at 1-over par. Solo leader Billy Mitchell could not close out the tournament, posting a final round 78 to finish in fourth. 2021 Yancy Ford Award winner Gene Elliott finished fifth after an uncharacteristic week, posting 78/74/71. 2021 Golfweek Player of the Year Rusty Strawn nabbed a three-way share of eighth place at 11-over par.

Trailing by three strokes before the final round teed off, Duke Delcher held his own in the Super Senior division (ages 65-69). The Bluffton, South Carolina, native sandwiched a bogey on No. 4 with 14 pars.

Delcher watched the scoreboard on the back-nine after a six-shot swing between himself and overnight leader Mark Benefield. After a bogey on No. 16 and a birdie on No. 17, Delcher knew he had a five-stroke lead heading into the infamous par-4 18th.

“I made a triple on the hole yesterday,” Delcher said. “Today I drove it well but hit it into the left-hand bunker. I wasn’t going to fuss with the water… I made six but it was a good day even though I didn’t have a birdie.”

Despite the double bogey on the last, Delcher was able to post a tournament total of 14-over 230. Finishing second was Tim Vigotsky, two shots back of Delcher while Mark Benefield took third.

Finishing third in the 2021 Golfweek Player of the Year Legends standings (ages 70-74) Pete Allen took his first step towards improving on his 2022 ranking. Allen went wire-to-wire, coasting to the victory with his tournament-best, even-par 72. Missing just one fairway over the final 18, Allen lived up to his ‘Pipeline Pete’ nickname that John Daly gave him back in 1991.

Arkansas’s Bev Hargraves took solo second, eight shots back of Allen at 14 over. Georgia’s Don Marsh, finished third at 18 over.

After maneuvering his way past the first-round leaders on Monday, Super Legend Dennis Adkins never looked back over the final 36 holes. Holding a two-shot lead, Adkins used a final round 76 to grow his lead all the way to eight shots to claim the title.

Jim Pfrogner claimed second place with a 20-over 236. Defending Golfweek Player of the Year from the 75+ Super Legends division, Walt Martin, finished third at 21 over.

All four division winners, on top of their purse money, receive 1,200 Player of the Year points. The race for top dog has just begun, but the point totals from this week can go a long way into determining who is crowned Golfweek Player of the Year in 2022.

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