Gene Elliott, Norwalk, IA
RESULTS: 70th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship
SAN ANTONIO, Texas. – The 70th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship continued on Tuesday with heavyweight matchups across the board in what will be a grueling test for the morning victors as they then face another match in the afternoon heat. Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s matches involving our 11 remaining competitors.
Trae Cassell, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, vs John Kemp, England: Kemp wins 4 & 3
In the first match of the morning round, Cassell ran into medalist and buzzsaw John Kemp, of England. Kemp birdied the second hole and won with a par on hole four and never looked back, as he made four more birdies and was the equivalent of 5-under par through 15 holes when it was all over with the result 4 & 3. Cassell made two birdies of his own, but the barrage from Kemp was too much to overcome.
Tommy Brennan, Covington, LA, vs Bob Royak, Alpharetta, GA: Royak wins 5 & 4
After Tommy Brennan knocked out defending champion Louis Brown on Monday, his reward was just another past champion (2021 U.S. Senior Amateur) in Bob Royak. The two exchanged holes on four and seven, but then Royak started pouring in birdies on holes No. 8, 10, 14, and 15 to close out the match, 5 & 4.
*Rick Stimmel, Pittsburgh, PA, vs Michael Anderson, Novi, MI: Anderson wins 2-up
In a match amongst fellow-members, Anderson gained control early with a 2-up lead through four holes. Stimmel then got it going and tied the match after seven holes and the two competitors traded 1-up leads through hole 14, when Stimmel held the advantage. On the par 5 15th, Anderson stepped up with an eagle to tie the match again. Hole 16 was tied, and then a clutch birdie on No. 17 by Anderson proved to be the difference as he would go on to win 2-up.
Anderson will now face fellow-member Tony Wise in the Round of 16.
Tony Wise, Georgetown, KY, vs Brent Paterson, New Zealand: Wise wins 2-up
Tony Wise continues to impress during the summer of 2025. In a tight match where he faced a two hole deficit through seven, Wise made a deuce on the par four No. 8 (264 yards) to get within one, then tied the match with a solid par on the very next hole. Wise finally took a one hole advantage with a birdie on the par four No. 12 and never looked back. He went on to birdie No. 16 to go 2-up, and sealed the victory with a par on No. 17 to win 2-up.
Wise faces fellow-member Michael Anderson in the Round of 16.
*Terrence Miskell, New Braunfels, TX, vs Rusty Strawn, Eatonton, GA: Strawn wins 1-up
In another heavyweight battle among fellow-members, Miskell and Strawn duked it out in a match where neither player took more than a one hole advantage. Miskell struck first with a par on No. 1, but Strawn, the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion, took a 1-up lead through seven. Miskell then rattled off two birdies on eight and nine to go 1-up. Strawn would tie the match again after a hiccup by Miskell on No. 11, and they then traded pars through No. 16. Strawn stepped up with a clutch birdie on No. 17 and then sealed the win with a par on 18 to win 1-up.
Strawn faces familiar foe and 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion Michael McCoy, of Des Moines, IA, in the Round of 16.
*Greg Sanders, Anthem, AZ, vs Shaw Pritchett, Montgomery, AL: Sanders wins in 19 holes
In yet another matchup of fellow-members, Sanders and Pritchett would have to go extra holes to decide the winner. Sanders took a 3-up advantage through 11 holes, only to see that lead evaporate as Pritchett battled back and tied the match through 16. Pritchett made birdie on No. 17 to take a 1-up lead only to give it right back on No. 18 and the two headed back to the first tee for more golf. On the 19th hole of the match, Sanders sealed the win with a par.
Sanders faces fellow-member Gene Elliott in the Round of 16.
Gene Elliott, Norwalk, IA, vs John Pierce, San Antonio, TX:
2021 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion Gene Elliott has been making a habit of falling behind early, only to come storming back in each of his first two matches. This time facing local hopeful John Pierce, he was 3-down through three, and remained that way through hole six before getting things going in the right direction and squaring the match through 10. Pierce would take another 2-up advantage through 16, but Elliott again fought back to win 17 and 18 with pars to force extra holes. Elliott refused to blink first, and eventually won the marathon match with par on the 23rd hole (No. 5, par 5).
Elliott will now face Greg Sanders in the Round of 16 in yet another matchup featuring two Society members.
Bryan Hoops, Scottsdale, AZ, vs Daniel Sullivan, Pasadena, CA: Hoops wins 4 & 3
Bryan Hoops has been a man on a mission so far in the early rounds of match play. After dispatching Brendan Hester in the Round of 64 by a margin of 4 & 3, he again dominated in the Round of 32. This time he faced the 2024 runner-up, Dan Sullivan. Hoops wasted no time in building a 6-up lead through 10 holes against Sullivan, thanks to making four birdies along the way. From that point on, it was a conservative gameplan, and he eventually closed it out with a birdie on the par 5 No. 15 to win 4 & 3.
Hoops faces Jacabo Cestino, of Spain, in the Round of 16.
The Round of 16 is already underway on Tuesday afternoon. Another 36-hole day looms as the Quarterfinals and Semifinals will be played on Wednesday.
(*Member vs Member matchup)
Congratulations to all Society of Seniors members that qualified for the championship and those moving on in match play. Best of luck to all as we continue to follow the championship.
See full results and news from the USGA at the links above.
