Kemp Richardson
[Pictured left: Two-time U.S. Senior Am Champ
Kemp Richardson made the field the hard way]
This year’s U.S. Senior Amateur
Championship will be held Sept. 13-18 at Big
Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach.
Californians have extra incentive to qualify,
and some of the "usual suspects" in Northern
California punched their tickets in
convincing fashion. Monday, August 25 was a
huge day for
Southern Californians but no easy rides here;
the results were much closer.
AUGUST 25, 2014: LA JOLLA
COUNTRY CLUB
At La Jolla CC, 7 Big Canyon CC
members, plus two
time U.S. Senior Amateur Champion, Kemp
Richardson
(his 10
year exemption has expired) were in the field
vying for 5 available spots. John Schaller of
Arizona was medalist at 70, and four players
tied at 73. Don Dubois of Big Canyon was one
of them -- it's always fun to have a member of
the host club in the field and the recently-
turned-55 Dubois (who also qualified for the
2014 U.S. Mid-Am) will be tough to beat in
match play at his home club. Kemp Richardson,
68, proved that age is no factor. He recorded
3 birdies on the back nine to get in on the
number along with fellow El Niguel Country Club
member Mike Davis. Keith Whitehead of
Temecula grabbed a spot as well. complete results>
AUGUST 25, 2014: NORTH RANCH
GOLF CLUB
John McClure of Los
Angeles Country Club posted 72 to tie with Jim
Seymour (Bakersfield) and Mark Nickeas
(Westlake Village) for medalist honors. Michael
Turner of Sherman Oaks and Mel Collins, Jr. of
Long Beach shot 73 and survived a 4-for-2
playoff that left Jeffrey Gipner of Carlsbad (1st
Alternate) and Patrick Carrigan (Walnut) on
the sidelines hoping for a spot at Big Canyon.
complete results>
AUGUST 18, 2014: DEL RIO
COUNTRY CLUB
6-time NCGA Player of the Year Randy
Haag of San Francisco and The Olympic Club
was a USGA qualifying medalist for the 10th
time, posting 6-under 66 at Del Rio Country
Club to earn his spot at Newport Beach CC.
"At 7-under after 16, and with two
birdie holes ahead, I had a chance to go low,
but qualifying is most important," said
Haag, who will play in his 33rd USGA
championship.
Finishing second and also moving on was
Fresno’s Conrad Nilmeier, who shot 69,
while Michael Staskus (70) of Los Altos, Jeff
Burda of Modesto (71) and Bruce Hanavan of
San Anselmo (71) also advance. Frank Pieper is
the first alternate after shooting a 73.
AUGUST 18, 2014: RED HAWK
GOLF CLUB
Dave Nelson lives in Reno, but he has
played a lot of golf in California including each
year at the Stocker Cup (he's a past champion
and Preserve record holder) as well as in
AmateurGolf.com events. He fired 67 at the
Resort at Red Hawk to capture the lone spot
there.
View results for
ABOUT THE
The U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier is open to all
competitors
with an index of 5.4 or lower who will be at least 55
years of age at the start of the championship. The
format is 18 holes of stroke play, with qualifying
sites
scattered across the country.
View Complete Tournament Information