Senior Amateur Championship

May 22 - 24, 2023, Ironwood CC

This Championship is open to SCGA members with a Handicap Index of 9.4 or below. Players must be 55 years of age or older. Players must qualify or earn an exemption into the championship field.

Championship Info Qualifying InfoExemptions

John Adams Wins Senior Amateur Championship

Photos Results

The 46th playing of the Senior Amateur Championship yielded a deserving and emotional winner. After 54 holes of besting 83 other fierce competitors, John Adams of San Clemente clutched his trophy with his head down, visibly choked up and said, “I guess this is why they say your first one is the best one.”

Adams shot even par in Wednesday’s final round at Ironwood CC to finish six-under for the championship. In doing so, he cleared the field by three shots. But this was no runaway. Four-time Senior Amateur winner, Craig Davis, playing in the penultimate group, made a ferocious charge on his front-nine, shooting a 32 highlighted by a string of birdies that came on four consecutive holes. Before the turn, Davis had run down Adams and kept it locked up all the way through No. 14.

Adams had fired a tournament-best 67 the day before in his second round to go up four shots on Davis, but that lead had evaporated. Adams said he never once checked the scoreboard and had no idea Davis had completely closed the gap.

Davis would stall out, however, and give back three shots coming in to finish T-2 at three-under. When Adams teed it up on No. 18, he was four shots ahead of any pursuer and could have made a triple bogey and still won the championship. A wayward approach shot from the middle of the fairway was hardly the disaster needed to make it interesting and Adams was able escape with minor blemish that didn’t come close to hurting him. A two-putt bogey sealed the deal.

Despite shooting 67 on Tuesday, Adams said he was prouder of Wednesday’s round of 72. “I didn’t sleep well going into the final day. I’ve never slept on the lead before. This was brand new to me. To be able to come back and take care of that situation was big.”

For Adams, this was a long time coming after a decadelong break from competitive play.

“I stopped playing competitively 10 years ago because I don’t hit it far enough to hang with the younger guys. But I started getting back into it and I started practicing and playing again. All this hard work has finally paid off. We have a lot of great players here in Southern California. When you beat them, you should pat yourself on the back.”

Past Winners

Year Winner Site
2023 John Adams Ironwood CC
2022 Tim Hogarth
Santa Ana CC
2021 Randy Haag
La Cumbre CC
2020 Craig Davis
Red Hill CC
2019 Craig Davis
El Niguel CC
2018 Craig Davis
North Ranch CC
2017 Craig Davis
Hacienda GC
2016 Robert Blair
Wilshire CC
2015 Gary Vanier
Ranch Course at the Alisal
2014 Jeff Burda
Annandale GC
2013 Gary Vanier Virginia CC
2012 David Delich Pauma Valley CC
2011 Jeff Burda Victoria Club
2010 Brad Larsen Santa Ana CC
2009 Howie Knodt North Ranch CC
2008 Clark Heath Industry Hills GC
2007 Rich Tolly Hacienda CC
2006 Steve Bogan Ranch Course at The Alisal
2005 Scott Monroe Pauma Valley CC
2004 Steve Bogan Wilshire CC
2003 John Olive The Farms
2002 John Olive Ranch Course at The Alisal
2001 John Olive Victoria Club
2000 Ted Lyford Mesa Verde CC
1999 Joe Byrom Redlands CC
1998 Frank Merhar Ranch Course at The Alisal
1997 Bob Wernick Saticoy CC
1996 Ralph Rubenstein La Jolla CC
1995 Paul Ladin La Cumbre CC
1994 Ed Rieu Rolling Hills CC
1993 Ed Rieu Soboba
1992 Bud Bradley Warner Springs Ranch
1991 Bud Bradley Antelope Valley CC
1990 Jack Brogan Redlands CC
1989 Bob Pastore Ojai Valley Inn
1988 George Lombino The Club at Morningside
1987 Bob Pastore Crystalaire CC
1986 John Richardson Victoria Club
1985 Dick Runkle The Alisal
1984 Ted Richards, Jr. Arrowhead CC
1983 Alton Duhon Antelope Valley CC
1982 Dick Lytle Redlands CC
1981 Ted Richards, Jr. Las Posas CC
1980 Ted Richards, Jr. Glendora CC
1979 John Richardson Red Hill CC
1978 Ted Richards, Jr. Wilshire CC
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Rooster60

Handicap Index: 3.6
Thursday, March 21, 2019

Good day. During this event what time does it start on each day.  And on the last day what normally (with no playoff hopefully)  does the tournament end. 

Thank you.
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