| Aug. 24-29, 2019, Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham, N.C. Meet the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur Quarterfinalists Rick Cloninger, 62, of McDonough, Ga. -Born March 26, 1957 in Charlotte, N.C. -No. 3,738 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 13 seed with rounds of 73-73 in stroke play -Earned medalist honors in Asheville, N.C., sectional qualifier on July 29 -Competing in his fifth U.S. Senior Amateur -Advanced to Senior Amateur semifinals in 2015 and Round of 16 in 2015–Tied for 40th in the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor -Won two Carolinas Golf Association Senior Amateur titles (2012, 2013) -NAIA All-America quarterback at Wofford College -Works in construction industry and served on South Carolina Golf Association board Path to quarterfinals -Defeated Jack Hall, 4 and 2, in the Round of 64 -Defeated Chris Peddicord, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32 -Defeated Mark Knecht, 5 and 3, in the Round of 16 Brady Exber, 63, of Las Vegas, Nev. -Born March 29, 1956 in Las Vegas, Nev. -No. 899 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 35 seed with rounds of 76-73 in stroke play -Advanced to the quarterfinals for first time in 26 USGA championships played -Reached match play in six of the seven U.S. Senior Amateurs he has played -Won 2014 Seniors Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A -Tied for 41st in the 2007 U.S. Senior Open -Past president of the Southern Nevada Golf Association -Member of Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame -Minority owner of MLB’s Houston Astros –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated Chris Hall, 4 and 3, in the Round of 64 -Defeated No. 3 seed and 2013 champion Doug Hanzel, 1 up, in the Round of 32 -Defeated Stewart (Buddy) Alexander, 3 and 2, in the Round of 16 Steve Harwell, 56, of Mooresville, N.C. -Born Nov. 20, 1962 in Mooresville, N.C. -No. 1,900 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 44 seed with rounds of 77-73 in stroke play -Reached quarterfinals for first time in 14 USGA championships played -Twice advanced to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Mid-Amateur (1993, 2010) -Won North Carolina Senior Amateur and National Senior Hall of Fame Tournament in 2019 -Edged Chip Lutz and Jeff Knox by one stroke to win this year’s George L. Coleman Invitational -NAIA All-American selection at Guilford College -Works in a life insurance company’s finance division –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated Lionel Sutton, 3 and 2, in the Round of 64 -Defeated Paul Simson, 20 holes, in the Round of 32 -Defeated Kory Frost, 3 and 2, in the Round of 16 Paul Jett, 55, of Southern Pines, N.C. -Born July 7, 1964Not ranked in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 57 seed with rounds of 76-75 in stroke play -Carded a 68 in the Lexington, S.C., sectional qualifier on July 22 -Competing in his first USGA championship -Youngest player (age 55) in the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur field -Superintendent at Pinehurst No. 2 when course hosted two U.S. Opens (1999, 2005) -Also served as superintendent for the Duke University Golf Course -Earned a B.S. in turfgrass management from Clemson University -Won 1982 South Carolina Class 4A state high school championship -Territory sales manager for a turf and ornamental company –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated No. 8 seed Gene Elliott, 2 and 1, in the Round of 64 -Defeated Terry Tyson, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32 -Defeated Bryan Norton, 1 up, in the Round of 16 Roger Newsom, 55, of Virginia Beach, Va. -Born March 14, 1964 in Portsmouth, Va. -No. 3,011 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 17 seed with rounds of 72-74 in stroke play -Competing in his sixth USGA championship -Played in two U.S. Senior Opens (2014, 2019) -Won the State Open of Virginia twice (2008, 2011) -Captured the 2014 Virginia State Golf Association Senior Open -Board-certified eye surgeon and ophthalmologist -Specializes in laser and refractive cataract surgery -Played golf for three years at East Carolina University -His brother, Tim, is the director of golf at Riverfront Golf Club, in Suffolk, Va. –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated David Nelson, 3 and 2, in the Round of 64 -Defeated Jerry Slagle, 2 and 1, in the Round of 32 -Defeated No. 1 seed Michael McCoy, 4 and 3, in the Round of 16 Bob Royak, 57, of Alpharetta, Ga. -Born Sept. 9, 1961 in Albany, N.Y. -No. 821 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 31 seed with rounds of 77-72 in stroke play -Advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 16 USGA championships played -Played in three U.S. Amateurs and two U.S. Senior Opens (2012, 2019) -2017 Georgia State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year -Won 2017 Georgia State Golf Association Senior Amateur -He and his brother (Paul) each played golf at the University of Tampa -Paul was also in this year’s U.S. Senior Amateur field, the first USGA championship they have both competed since 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur -Vice president for an executive search firm –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated Kenneth Coutant, 8 and 7, in the Round of 64 -Defeated No. 2 seed Dean Channell, 1 up, in the Round of 32 -Defeated William Mitchell, 2 and 1, in the Round of 16 Walter Todd, 59, of Laurens, S.C. -Born Aug. 18, 1960 in Laurens, S.C. -No. 3,093 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 26 seed with rounds of 74-74 in stroke play -Competing in his fifth USGA championship and second U.S. Senior Amateur -Advanced to Round of 32 in last year’s Senior Amateur -Won 2007 Carolinas Golf Association Mid-Amateur -Captured 2005 South Carolina Golf Association Mid-Amateur -Combined to claim eight SCGA and CGA Four-Ball championships -2016 and 2017 SCGA Senior Player of the Year -Member of golf team at Presbyterian College, in Clinton, S.C. -Works as an independent sales representative –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated Don Whittemore, 1 up, in the Round of 64 -Defeated No. 7 seed Frank Vana Jr., 2 and 1, in the Round of 32 -Defeated Victor Minovich, 3 and 1, in the Round of 16 Jeff Wilson, 56, of Fairfield, Calif. -Born June 14, 1963 in Vallejo, Calif. -No. 2,285 in World Amateur Golf Ranking™ -Earned No. 6 seed with rounds of 73-71 in stroke play -Won 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur, defeating Sean Knapp, 2 and 1, in the final -Attempting to be the first player to defend his title since William C. Campbell in 1980 -Competed in 35 USGA championships, including four U.S. Opens -Tied for 31st and was low amateur in last year’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor -Low amateur in 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links -Joined Marvin (Vinny) Giles as only players to earn low amateur at U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open -Reinstated as an amateur in 1997 after bouncing around professional mini tours and PGA Tour -General sales manager for an automobile dealership –Path to quarterfinals -Defeated 2016 champion Dave Ryan, 1 up, in the Round of 64 -Defeated 2011 champion Louis Lee, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32 -Defeated Craig Steinberg, 4 and 3, in the Round of 16 ### |
