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LIVE SCORING: British Senior Amateur Championship
08 Jul 2025
by Kyle Rector of AmateurGolf.com

see also: British Senior Amateur Championship, Walton Heath Golf Club

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Round 1 Recap

Bob Royak of the United States surged to the top of the leaderboard at the 2025 British Senior Amateur Championship with a brilliant opening-round 67 (-5) on Walton Heath's famed Old Course. The 63-year-old from Georgia showed his trademark control and touch on the firm, heather-lined layout to grab a two-shot lead heading into Wednesday's second round.

Royak, the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur champion and 2023 AmateurGolf.com Senior Player of the Year, has been in superb form all season, with recent wins and top finishes on the national senior circuit. He plotted his way around Walton Heath with precision, making five birdies and avoiding major mistakes despite the classic Colt-designed bunkering and demanding green complexes.

“It’s the kind of course where you have to stay patient, hit the right sides of the fairways, and accept your two-putts when they come,” Royak said after his round. “I was able to keep it in play and make a few putts when I had chances.”


Chasing Pack

Three players are tied for second at 69 (-3), two shots back of Royak: Dave Bunker of Canada, Thomas Himmel of Germany, and Tord Nilsson of Sweden. Each posted steady, controlled rounds in the tricky summer breeze that picked up in the afternoon, making scoring progressively harder.

Seven players sit tied for fifth at 70 (-2), including England's Matt Jarvis, Canada's Miles McConnell, and Scotland's Paul Moultire of Royal Troon. The international flavor of the leaderboard reflects the event’s stature as a true senior amateur major, drawing elite players from across Europe and North America.

Another cluster of contenders posted 71 (-1) to stay within striking distance, setting up a tightly packed field heading into Round 2.


About Bob Royak

Royak, from Alpharetta, Georgia, carries one of the most accomplished senior amateur resumes in the world. A +3.5 index player out of St. Ives Country Club, he won the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur and has dozens of national-level titles to his name, including the Jones Cup Senior and multiple Georgia Senior Four-Ball Championships. He was also the 2023 AmateurGolf.com Senior Player of the Year, confirming his status as one of the most consistent and successful senior amateurs in the game.

Already this year he’s won the Pirate’s Cup and finished top five in multiple senior invitationals. With a strong opening round at Walton Heath, Royak has put himself in perfect position to chase one of the most prestigious titles in senior amateur golf.


Leaderboard Highlights

PositionPlayerCountryScore
1Bob RoyakUSA67 (-5)
T2Dave BunkerCanada69 (-3)
T2Thomas HimmelGermany69 (-3)
T2Tord NilssonSweden69 (-3)

 

The 2025 British Senior Amateur Championship tees off today at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England. One of the R&A’s most prestigious events, it draws a truly international field of senior amateur golfers aged 55+, all set for three days of high-stakes stroke play on the storied Old Course.

This championship is renowned for its depth of field, attracting national champions, Walker Cup veterans, and top club players from the UK, Europe, North America, and Australasia. For the second time since 2022, the Men’s and Women’s Senior Amateur Championships will be staged concurrently at the same venue, highlighting the global reach of senior amateur golf.

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Walton Heath Golf Club: Championship Venue

Few courses in England boast a championship pedigree to match Walton Heath’s Old Course. Designed by Harry Colt in 1904, it features firm heathland fairways lined with thick heather, classic Colt bunkering, and large undulating greens that demand a strategic approach.

Course Highlights:

  • Par ~72 (Championship setup ~6,800–7,000 yards)
  • Heather-lined fairways requiring precision
  • Expansive bunkering for strategic risk-reward decisions
  • Fast, firm greens rewarding creative shot-making

Its championship résumé includes hosting the 1981 Ryder Cup, multiple European Tour events, Open Qualifying, and U.S. Open Final Qualifying—making it an ideal venue to test the world's best senior amateurs.


Defending Champion: Todd White (USA)

All eyes will be on American Todd White, who returns as the defending champion after an impressive debut victory in 2024 at Saunton. White edged 2023 champion Brent Paterson of New Zealand by a single shot, posting a seven-over-par 291 in brutal conditions featuring punishing rough and firm coastal greens.

That win earned White a rare double as a winner of both the R&A Men’s Senior Amateur and the U.S. Senior Amateur, placing him among an elite group of international senior amateurs.


Championship History

Founded in 1969 at Formby, the R&A’s Senior Amateur Championship is one of the most respected senior events in global amateur golf. The 54-hole stroke play format and world-class venues have helped the event attract elite fields for decades.

Past Notable Winners:

  • Charlie Green (Scotland): 6 titles in 7 years (1988–1994)
  • Roy Smethurst (England)
  • Chip Lutz (USA): 3-time winner
  • Doug Roxburgh (Canada)
  • Gene Elliott (USA)
  • Mike McCoy (USA, 2022)
  • Todd White (USA, 2024)

Since 2022, the R&A has staged the Men’s and Women’s Senior Amateur Championships concurrently:

  • 2022: Royal Dornoch – Mike McCoy (USA) & Terrill Samuel (Canada)
  • 2024: Saunton – Todd White (USA) & Nadene Gole (Australia)

Australia’s Nadene Gole made history in 2024 by becoming the first Australian woman to win the championship after defeating Jackie Foster in a sudden-death playoff at Saunton. That victory, alongside White’s win, underscored the event’s international prestige and competitive depth.


Players to Watch This Week

  • Todd White (USA) – defending champion
  • Brent Paterson (NZL) – 2023 champion and 2024 runner-up
  • John Kemp (ENG) – consistent top performer
  • Gene Elliott (USA) – 2021 champion
  • Top senior amateurs from the UK, Ireland, Europe, North America, and Australasia

Course Challenge at Walton Heath

Competitors face a classic test of strategic golf on Walton Heath’s Old Course. Heather-lined fairways demand precision off the tee, while deep Colt bunkers require thoughtful risk-reward decisions. Fast, firm greens reward creativity and touch, while typical Surrey summer breezes add further complexity.

In short: it’s an ideal stage to crown a deserving R&A Senior Amateur Champion, ensuring that whoever lifts the trophy will have earned it with every facet of their game.

ABOUT THE British Senior Amateur

The British Senior Amateur, called the "Seniors Amateur Championship" in the United Kingdom, was launched by The R&A in 1969 to help select a Great Britain & Ireland side to play in the World Senior Amateur Team Championship. Though the British Senior Amateur, played for the first time at Formby, was an instant success, the team event did not survive beyond 1969. Charlie Green has been the most successful player in the history of the event, winning six times in seven years beginning in 1988. Like the U.S. Senior Amateur, players must be over the age of 55 to play. Notable courses played over the years include Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Royal Aberdeen, and Walton Heath.

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