The final round of the 2025 Sunnehanna Senior Amateur Championship began with clouds and the occasional rumbling of thunder nearby. But after a very short weather delay, two players who had separated themselves from the field after two days, stepped to the first tee. Tony Wise, from Georgetown, Kentucky, was coming off rounds of 66 – 66 and stood at 8 under par. Rick Stimmel, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, took a one shot lead into the final round as he set the new 36 hole tournament scoring record of 9 under with scores of 66 – 65.

Wise started hot with birdies at holes one and three only to bogey 3 of the next 4 holes to fall back. Stimmel, was struggling a bit as well, as the putter was simply not cooperating. At the turn, both players were tied at 7 under. Then it got interesting as Tony hit it fairly close at the par 3 10 th hole and made birdie to take a one shot lead. But on the 11 th , Rick flipped things by holing a beautiful 35 foot eagle putt to take back the lead. Both players shared pars over the next few holes as Stimmel continued to burn the edges with his putter; other than the eagle at 11, nothing was falling for him. And when Wise made a long curling birdie putt at the 15 th , things were all square again at 9 under. He then followed up his birdie at 15 by hitting a beautiful iron into the difficult par 3 16 th and holed a slick downhill left to right 8 footer to get the lead back again. However, things were happening fast and a brutal lip out from 4 feet on 17 resulted in a three putt, and both players were tied again as they stood on the 18 th tee.

“I made the real twisty curly putt on the 15th, and then I holed the putt on 16, to get ahead, so I really kind of felt good at that point; and then you 3 putt, so, golf is ‘ever giving and ever taking away’ for sure.”

On the last, both players hit the green in regulation and two putted; and for the second year in a row, the Sunnehanna Senior Am would be decided in a playoff. At this point, neither player was aware they had just set the all time tournament scoring record at 9 under par. Both players went back to the 18 th and while Stimmel hit a fairly “commercial” short iron onto the green from the left rough to about 22 feet, Wise took advantage of another impressive drive by flipping a wedge right behind the hole and spinning it back. After Rick missed his birdie putt, Tony faced a fairly straight forward 8 footer to win, which he calmly rolled into the center of the cup, gave it a small fist pump, and breathed a big sigh of relief.

For Rick Stimmel, a runner up finish was disappointing to be sure. But he graciously removed his hat and congratulated Tony on his victory. “I hit the ball well, but my new putter as of seven days ago let me down a little bit. I had at least six putts inside 8 feet and couldn’t figure out how to accidentally make at least one of them. Tony made a few putts coming in when he needed to and definitely deserved that win; I’m happy for him. He’s a good player and a great guy. This is my second year in a row in the final group, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the outcome will be next year.”

In the pressroom, as he sat down to take questions with the Phil Saylor Cup by his side, the reality of Tony’s accomplishment began to set in.

“I bet on the ride home, give me about an hour or two it will hit me, but just to be a small part of all the history, with all the pictures on the wall in the clubhouse, and my name is going to be on the trophy, it’s pretty humbling. Honestly, I’m just kind of numb right now. It’s just such an
honor to not only play here, but to be a winner here. It’s a big win for me.”

Finishing in a Tie for 3 rd after a very solid final round 68 from Akron, Ohio was Howard Clendenin and the seasoned veteran, now living in Pulaski, New York, Keven Vandenburg making 6 birdies on his way to a sterling final round of 66. Rounding out the top 5, shooting two of his three rounds in the 60s was Jeff Mallette, from North Canton, Ohio.