What to Know
England’s John Kennedy is the 2025 British Senior Amateur Champion after completing a wire-to-wire victory at Walton Heath Golf Club. Kennedy posted rounds of 70-66-68-73 for an 11-under-par 277 total, handling the heathland test with disciplined strategy and impressive consistency.
Competing in his first Senior Amateur, the 56-year-old from Consett & District controlled the event from start to finish by avoiding Walton Heath’s thick heather and punishing bunkers. He relied on precision over power, often hitting 1-iron off the tee, and showed exceptional touch around firm, fast greens. Despite a final-round 73 (+1), he secured a seven-shot victory—one of the most dominant winning margins in recent championship memory.
This prestigious R&A event is open to amateur golfers aged 55 and over, attracting an elite, international field each year. With this win, Kennedy becomes the first English champion since Trevor Foster in 2018 at Royal Porthcawl, joining a roll of honor that includes Charlie Green, Chip Lutz, Gene Elliott, Mike McCoy, and Todd White.
Leaderboard Highlights
| Pos | Player | Country | Total |
|---|
| 1 | John Kennedy | England | -11 (277) |
| T2 | Jody Fanagan | Ireland | -4 (284) |
| T2 | Todd White | USA | -4 (284) |
| T2 | Danny Nelson | USA | -4 (284) |
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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.
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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