Michael McCoy, left, and Greg Sanders pose with the Frederick L. Dold trophy before the start of the final round of the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Ted Pio Roda/USGA)
RESULTS: 70th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship
USGA RECAP – The Real McCoy: Historic USGA Double for Iowa Legend
Sanders finishes runner-up as McCoy completes Mid-Am/Senior Am double
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – History was made on Thursday morning at Oak Hills Country Club as Michael McCoy, of Des Moines, Iowa, became the first player in history to win a U.S. Mid-Am title (2013) along with a U.S. Senior Amateur title. McCoy topped Society of Seniors member Greg Sanders, of Anthem, Arizona, by a margin of 3 & 2.
McCoy stated his intentions early, making birdie on the first two holes and then took advantage of a Sanders bogey on hole three to go 3-up right out of the gate. After a couple of uncharacteristic bogeys on Nos. 6 and 8, Sanders found himself 5-down. He wasn’t going away quietly.
Sanders made birdie on No. 9 (par 3, 160 yards) to start clawing back, and won No. 12 (par 4, 427 yards) with a par to get within three. McCoy’s bogey on 12 was one of just two he made on the day. The two would exchange pars on 13 and 14.
Sanders made birdie on No. 15 (par 5, 517 yards) to keep things interesting, but McCoy was right there to match with a birdie of his own to remain 3-up with just three holes to go. A solid par on No. 16 (par 4, 372 yards) sealed the historic victory for McCoy, who was the equivalent of 1-under par for the 16 holes played.
Greg Sanders watches his tee shot at the third hole during the round of 32 of the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Ted Pio Roda/USGA)
At 61 years of age, Sanders is a retired petroleum engineer and was a USGA Rules Official for 25 years. He captured the Alaska Amateur Championship for the 11th time this summer, and was the oldest competitor in the U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club. This was his fifth appearance in the U.S. Senior Amateur. Sanders also played in two USGA Men’s State Team Championships representing Alaska, and earlier this season won the National Senior Hall of Fame Tournament where Rusty Strawn, of Eatonon, GA, was the Hall of Fame inductee. A great and memorable season by any measure.
The Iowa legend adds another feather to his golfing cap. As many are aware, McCoy, age 62, has both played on and captained the U.S. Walker Cup team, won the 2013 U.S. Mid-Am Championship and competed in the 2014 Masters Tournament. He has also won the Trans-Miss Amateur twice (2000 & 2008) and won the 2022 R&A Senior Amateur Championship. As strong as amateur golf in the state of Iowa is, he has been named its Player of the Year a record 11 times.
Photos: Scenes from Thursday’s final at Oak Hills – USGA
Congratulations to Michael McCoy on his historic win and to Greg Sanders on finishing runner-up and to all Society of Seniors members that qualified for the championship.
See full results and news from the USGA at the links above.
