Bryce Lewis (Courtesy of Tennessee Athletics)
A new era in amateur golf was ushered in on Wednesday with the start of the Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions and the stakes have never been higher.
The tradition-rich Sunnehanna Amateur is the first stop on the recently-created Elite Amateur Series, which aligns seven of the top competitive amateur events for PGA Tour-bound amateurs with coveted tour starts and U.S. Golf Association exemptions on the line.
After day one in Johnstown, Pa.,
Bryce Lewis of the University of Tennessee and
Cole Anderson of Florida State are tied atop the leaderboard after both players carded impressive 6-under rounds of 64 on Wednesday. Three players -
Nick Gabrelcik (North Florida),
Brian Stark (Oklahoma State) and
Julian Perico (Arkansas) are one back at 5-under.
Lewis was 1-under at the turn and then caught fire, collecting four consecutive birdies to start his inward nine to move to 5-under on the day. After pars on 14 and 15, Lewis birdied the par-3 16th hole en route to shooting an opening-round 64.
After a birdie-bogey start, Anderson played his final 16 holes at 6-under to match Lewis on the scoreboard with a 64 of his own.
A total of 27 players managed to break par on the forgiving Sunnehanna layout.
The top five finishers in the 2022 Elite Amateur Cup final points classification will receive an exemption for the 2022 US Amateur and an exemption for the 2023 U.S. Open Final Qualifying (must remain amateurs). They will also earn exemptions into the PGA TOUR's Butterfield Bermuda Championship (Oct. 28-31) and select Korn Ferry Tour events.
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Future Elite Amateur Series Events
• Northeast Amateur (June 22-25; Wannamoisett Country Club, Rumford, RI)
• North and South Amateur (June 26-July 2; Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Pinehurst, NC)
• Trans-Mississippi Amateur (July 6-9; Denver Country Club, Denver, Colo.)
• Southern Amateur (July 13-16; Sea Island Golf Club, St. Simons Island, Ga.)
• Pacific Coast Amateur (July 19-22; Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Ore.)
• Western Amateur (Aug. 1-6; Exmoor Country Club, Highland Park, Ill.).
ABOUT THE
Sunnehanna Amateur
First played in July 1954, the Sunnehanna Amateur holds a distinguished place in golf history as the first country club-sponsored 72-hole medal (stroke) play event for amateurs in the United States. Its groundbreaking format helped set the standard for elite amateur competition and has since inspired numerous high-level tournaments across the country.
Hosted at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the event is played on a classic 1921 A.W. Tillinghast design—a quintessential golden-age layout known for its strategic shot values, rolling terrain, and challenging greens. The course itself is as much a draw as the championship, offering a pure test of golf that showcases the talent of rising amateur stars.
With its rich tradition, elite fields, and iconic venue, the Sunnehanna Amateur remains one of the premier proving grounds for future professionals. Its alumni list includes many who have gone on to successful PGA Tour careers, making it a must-watch event on the amateur calendar, and one of the best tournaments to kick off a competitive summer in amateur golf.
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