67th U.S. Senior Amateur: Inside the Field

67th U.S. Senior Amateur Home

WHO’S HERE – Among the 156 golfers in the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur field, there are:

Oldest Competitors: Matthew Haefele (72, born 10-6-1949), Jim Hamburger (71, born 10-6-1950), William Everett (71, born 12-9-1950),

Youngest Competitors: Jon Brown (55, born 8-26-1967), Buddy Allen (55, born 8-23-1967), Rob Nelson (55, born 7-21-1967)

Average Age of Field: 60.6

Field breakdown by age:
Age 55-59: 71
Age 60-64: 58
Age 65-69: 21
Age 70-72: 6

U.S. States Represented – There are 40 states represented in the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur: Florida (19), California (17), Georgia (9), Texas (9), North Carolina (8), Pennsylvania (8), Michigan (6), Illinois (5), Iowa (5), New York (5), Massachusetts (4), Ohio (4), Virginia (4), Alabama (3), Arizona (3), Connecticut (3), Washington (3), Wisconsin (3), Kansas (2), Missouri (2), Nevada (2), Oregon (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (2), Utah (2), Alaska (1), Arkansas (1), Colorado (1), Idaho (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), Nebraska (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (1), North Dakota (1), Wyoming (1).

International – There are three countries represented in the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur: United States (147), Canada (7) and England (2).

USGA Champions (16): Stewart “Buddy” Alexander (1986 U.S. Amateur), Kenneth Bakst (1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Nathaniel Crosby (1981 U.S. Amateur), Gene Elliott (2021 U.S. Senior Amateur), Doug Hanzel (2013 U.S. Senior Amateur), Sean Knapp (2017 U.S. Senior Amateur), Jack Larkin Sr. (1979 U.S. Junior Amateur), Randal Lewis (2011 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Chip Lutz (2015 U.S. Senior Amateur), Michael McCoy (2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Fred Ridley (1975 U.S. Amateur), Bob Royak (2019 U.S. Senior Amateur), Dave Ryan (2016 U.S. Senior Amateur), Paul Simson (2010, 2012 U.S. Senior Amateur), Patrick Tallent (2014 U.S. Senior Amateur) and Jeff Wilson (2018 U.S. Senior Amateur)

USGA Runners-up (9): Tom Brandes (2015 U.S. Senior Amateur), Jerry Gunthorpe (2021 U.S. Senior Amateur), Sean Knapp (2018 U.S. Senior Amateur), Randal Lewis (1996 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Roger Newsom (2019 U.S. Senior Amateur), Paul Simson (2017 U.S. Senior Amateur), Curtis Skinner (2012 U.S. Senior Amateur), Matthew Sughrue (2016 U.S. Senior Amateur) and Patrick Tallent (2010 U.S. Senior Amateur)

Walker Cup USA Team Members (4): Stewart “Buddy” Alexander (1987), Nathaniel Crosby (1983), Michael McCoy (2015), Fred Ridley (1977)

Walker Cup USA Captains (3): Nathaniel Crosby (2019, 2021), Michael McCoy (2023), Fred Ridley (1987, 1989)

Most U.S. Senior Amateur Appearances (2022 included): Paul Simson (15), Chip Lutz (12), Stewart “Buddy” Alexander (11), Doug Hanzel (10) and Dave Ryan (10)

Players from Massachusetts (4): Thomas Bagley (Concord), Michael Boden (Sandwich), Donald Foberg (Pembroke), Frank Vana (Boxford)

Played in 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur (45): Stewart “Buddy” Alexander, Kenneth Bakst, Neal Barfield, Dave Bunker, Rick Cloninger, Craig Davis, Keith Decker, Jim Doing, Gene Elliott, John Fisher, Walter Gieselman, Bart Goodwin, Jerry Gunthorpe, Randy Haag, Doug Hanzel, Steve Harwell, Glenn Hogle, Richard Kerper, Sean Knapp, Chip Lutz, Miles McConnell, Michael McCoy, William Mitchell, Mark Morgan, Jim Muething, Rob Nelson, Roger Newsom, David Ortego, Joe Palmer, Fred Ridley, Bob Royak, Dave Ryan, Anton Salome, Paul Simson, Glenn Smeraglio, Craig Steinberg, Lewis Stephenson, Rusty Strawn, Matt Sughrue, James Sweeney, Frank Vana, Kevin VandenBerg, James Volpenhein, Terry Werner, Jeff Wilson

Played in 2022 U.S. Senior Open (7): Gene Elliott, Robert Funk, Jerry Gunthorpe, Jack Larkin Sr., Miles McConnell, William Mitchell, Matt Sughrue

Played in 2022 U.S. Amateur (1): Jerry Gunthorpe

Played in 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (2): Jon Brown, Kevin VandenBerg

Played in 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur (8): Gene Elliott, Jerry Gunthorpe, Doug Hanzel, Randal Lewis, Michael McCoy, William Mitchell, Bob Royak, Rusty Strawn

PLAYER NOTES

Thomas Bagley, 65, of Concord, Mass., qualified for his first USGA championship with a 70 at Captains Golf Course (Starboard Course) on July 18. Bagley served as president of Mass Golf from 2016-2017 and continues to serve as a Rules official and chair of the governance committee. He also serves as committee chair for the Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame. Bagley, an independent insurance agent, has competed in nine Massachusetts Amateurs with his best finish coming in 2007 at his home course, Concord Country Club, when he reached the Round of 16. Bagley was the official-in-charge of the 2022 Massachusetts Amateur at Concord C.C. in July and a practice round starter at the U.S. Open at The Country Club (Brookline) in June.

Kenneth Bakst, 64, of New York, N.Y., won the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Dallas Athletic Club and has competed in 28 USGA championships. Bakst, who earned an invitation to the 1998 Masters thanks to his Mid-Am win, is competing in his fourth U.S. Senior Amateur. Bakst is a member of the Metropolitan Golf Association Executive Committee and is a developer and managing member of Friar’s Head Golf Club, a Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw course located in Riverhead, N.Y. He is currently developing multiple golf courses on a 3,900-acre ranch in Hobe Sound, Fla.

Michael Boden, 55, of Sandwich, Mass., shared medalist honors with a 69 at Captains Golf Course (Starboard Course) on July 18, a round that included an eagle 2 with a 6-iron on the 425-yard, par-4 16th, to earn a spot in his first USGA championship. Boden, a former golf professional at Hyannisport Club, played college hockey at SUNY-Plattsburgh and minor league hockey for several years with the Johnston Chiefs. 

Nathaniel Crosby, 60, of Jupiter, Fla., is competing in his first USGA championship in 26 years. Crosby captained the last two USA Walker Cup teams to victories at Royal Liverpool in 2019 and Seminole in 2021. He won the 1981 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., and a year later was the low amateur in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Crosby was a member of victorious USA teams in both the 1983 Walker Cup Match and the 1982 World Amateur Team Championship. He currently serves as chairman of a network of small travel societies that are tied to rank-worthy golf clubs in vacation and second-home destinations. Crosby is the son of the late legendary American singer and entertainer Bing Crosby, who played in the 1942 U.S. Amateur at Winged Foot Golf Club.

Jim Doing, 62, of Verona, Wis., is in his 25th year teaching voice at the University of Wisconsin. He has sung more 75 operatic roles in an international career where he has performed in several countries, including England, France, Germany, Italy and Qatar. His son, John, is the percussionist in the hit show Hamilton on a Broadway national tour. Jim is competing in his third USGA championship, having played in the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur and the 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur. In 2019, he was chosen Wisconsin State Golf Association Senior Amateur Player of the Year.

Gene Elliott, 60, of West Des Moines, Iowa, claimed his first USGA title by rallying to defeat Jerry Gunthorpe in the championship match of the 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur at the Country Club of Detroit. He has competed in 37 USGA championships, including eight U.S. Amateurs and 15 U.S. Mid-Amateurs, and has reached match play in all four of his U.S. Senior Amateurs starts. Elliott won the 2021 R&A Senior Amateur Championship and was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. The owner of a sanitation and street equipment company underwent successful open-heart surgery 22 years ago.

William Everett, 71, of Hebron, N.H., is the third-oldest competitor in the field. Everett began to play competitive golf when he retired at age 60 and has spent the last 11 years attempting to qualify for the U.S. Senior Amateur. He won a 3-for-1 playoff to earn his spot in the field on July 26 at Manchester (Vt.) Country Club. Everett won the 2017 New Hampshire Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.

Jerry Gunthorpe, 59, of Ovid, Mich., was the runner-up in last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur at the Country Club of Detroit. As a finalist, Gunthorpe earned an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Senior Open and 2022 U.S. Amateur where he competed earlier this month as the oldest player in the field. In March, Gunthorpe won the Golfweek Senior Division National Championship. His two sons, Nathan and Nick, have both qualified for USGA events.

Matthew Haefele, 72, of Bergen, N.Y., shot a 76 at Shelridge Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., to earn a spot in his first USGA championship. He says qualifying for the 67th U.S. Senior Amateur is the highlight of his golf career. Haefele, the oldest competitor in the field, won the 2009 New York State Senior Amateur Championship. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war and played golf in Saigon during the conflict. He was a toolmaker/machine builder for 40 years and still works to restore antique boats.

Erik Hanson, 57, of Kirkland, Wash., was a right-handed pitcher for four Major League Baseball teams. He was named to the 1995 American League All-Star Team during his 15-5 season with the Boston Red Sox. He also won 18 games for the Seattle Mariners in 1990. He has played in 15 USGA championships, including five U.S. Mid-Amateurs. Hansen, who is making his U.S. Senior Amateur debut, won the 2015 Seattle Amateur and the 2019 Washington State Mid-Amateur.

Stan Humphries, 57, of Monroe, La., shot a 1-under 71 to earn medalist honors at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La., on July 25 to earn a spot in his first USGA championship. Humphries is a former NFL quarterback who was a member of the Super Bowl XXVI-champion Washington Redskins (now Commanders). He played four seasons with Washington and six additional seasons with the San Diego Chargers. In 2002, he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame. In May, Humphries finished eighth in the Louisiana Senior Amateur. He has coached high school girls’ basketball in Louisiana for 19 years.

Michael McCoy, 59, of Des Moines, Iowa, has collected wins at the R&A Senior Amateur Championship and Florida Senior Amateur this year. In March, he was named captain of the 2023 USA Walker Cup Team for the Match set to be staged on the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland in September 2023. McCoy has played in three U.S. Senior Amateurs and was a semifinalist in 2018; he lost to good friend and eventual winner Gene Elliott in 19 holes last year. He has competed in 64 USGA championships, including 20 U.S. Amateurs and eight U.S. Senior Opens. McCoy was the low amateur in the 2014 and 2015 U.S. Senior Opens and in 2013 was the second-oldest winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur when he defeated Bill Williamson in the final at the Country Club of Birmingham (Ala.). A member of the 2015 USA Walker Cup Team, McCoy works in the insurance business and has been inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame.

Oscar Mestre, 62, of Berwyn, Pa., is the President of the Golf Association of Philadelphia, the oldest state or regional association in the country. Earlier this month, GAP celebrated its 125-year anniversary. Mestre was born in Cuba and lived in Caracas, Venezuela, before moving to Philadelphia. He attended the University of Delaware and qualified for the 1999 U.S. Amateur. Mestre, who is playing in his fourth USGA championship, is a two-time GAP Senior Player of the Year.

Jim Muething, 58, of Cincinnati, is the president of the board of the First Tee Chapter of Cincinnati. He was a club professional for 13 years after college and served as the head professional at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and Merion Golf Club, site of this year’s Curtis Cup Match, before being reinstated as an amateur in 2001. Muething, now an insurance executive, won the 1984 Ohio Amateur and is a three-time Cincinnati Senior Amateur champion. He is playing in his third USGA championship after previously competing in the 1984 U.S. Amateur and last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur.

Roger Newsom, 58, of Virginia Beach, Va., is a full-time ophthalmic surgeon who performs 20-30 eye surgeries per week. He was the runner-up to Bob Royak in the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C. He has competed in nine USGA championships, including three U.S. Senior Opens (2014, 2019, 2021). Newsom has won the State Open of Virginia twice (2008, 2011) and the 2014 Virginia State Golf Association Senior Open. His brother, Tim, is the director of golf at Riverfront Golf Club, in Suffolk, Va.

John Pate, 62, of Santa Barbara, Calif., has competed in 22 USGA championships including seven U.S. Amateurs and the 2013 U.S. Senior Open. Pate is a two-time California State Senior Amateur champion (2014, 2016) and won the Southern California Amateur in 1999 as a 39-year-old. He is the older brother of six-time PGA Tour winner Steve Pate.

Fred Ridley, 70, of Tampa, Fla., is a past president of the USGA (2004-05) and current Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. He captured the 1975 U.S. Amateur and remains the last champion of the event to never have turned professional. He won both singles matches as a member of the winning 1977 USA Walker Cup Team and captained the USA Walker Cup Team in 1987 and 1989. A partner in the Foley & Lardner law firm, Ridley has played in 18 USGA championships, including the 2011 and 2021 U.S. Senior Amateurs. In 1976, he competed in the U.S. Open and was a member of the USA World Amateur Team. He played at the University of Florida and was mentored by renowned instructor Jack Grout, who was the longtime coach to 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus. Ridley became Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club in 2017. During his first Masters Tournament as Chairman in 2018, he announced the creation of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Mike Riley, 61, of Panama City, Fla., is competing in his fourth USGA championship and first U.S. Senior Amateur. In 2018, Riley’s home and local golf club was severely damaged by Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm. The course at Panama Country Club lost more than 5,000 trees. Riley, the greens chairman of the club, helped manage the cleanup and reconstruction of the golf course. The six-time Sherman Invitational winner competed in the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with his son, Michael Riley Jr.

Paul Simson, 71, of Raleigh, N.C., is a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur champion (2010 and 2012) and the runner-up in 2017. He owns a 34-11 match-play record in the championship, including a perfect 13-for-13 mark in the Round of 64. Simson, a native of Chatham, N.J., played his college golf at the University of New Mexico before moving to North Carolina and getting in the insurance business. Simson also won the Canadian and British senior titles in a magical 2010 season.

Frank Vana, 60, of Boxford, Mass., is the winningest golfer in Mass Golf history. He has been named Mass Golf Player of the Year a record nine times and was inducted into the Mass Golf Hall of Fame in 2016. Vana has won the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur a record 10 times and has been a finalist in the Massachusetts Amateur six times, winning back-to-back years in 2004 and 2005. He reached match play in 24 consecutive Mass Amateurs and most recently won the 2020 New England Senior Amateur. Vana, who is competing in his fifth straight U.S. Senior Amateur, has played in 34 USGA championships, including 10 U.S. Amateurs and the 2018 U.S. Senior Open.

Jeff Wilson, 59, of Fairfield, Calif., is the general sales manager of a Toyota dealership. Wilson regained his amateur status in 1997 after bouncing around several mini tours. In 2018, he won the U.S. Senior Amateur with a 2-and-1 victory over defending champion Sean Knapp. He tied for 31st in the 2018 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor and became the second player to earn low-amateur honors in both the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open, joining Marvin “Vinny” Giles III. Wilson, who was low amateur in the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links, has competed in 39 USGA championships, including four U.S. Opens.

Joey Geske is the USGA’s assistant manager of championship communications. Email him at jgeske@usga.org.