The Cookout by seniorgolfHQ Vol 5
The Cookout by seniorgolfHQ
June 2026
What we are cooking this month:
Welcome back to another rendition of The Cookout by seniorgolfHQ. May delivered one of the strongest stretches of senior amateur golf we've seen all season. This issue features five events contested across the country and several familiar names adding to their impressive résumés. From Virginia to California, players battled on some of the nation's most demanding venues, producing memorable performances and creating significant movement in the East-West Cup standings.
The month was highlighted by dominant victories from Rick Stimmel at the Giles Invitational, Mike McCoy at the Jupiter Invitational, Jason Pridmore at the Trans-Mississippi Senior Championship, and Bob Royak at the Huddleston Cup. Meanwhile, Dave Scialabba added his name to the prestigious Walter J. Travis Invitational trophy, capping a busy and highly competitive month of championship golf. McCoy's victory in Jupiter, combined with another top-five finish at the Trans-Miss, further cemented his place among the season's elite performers, while Royak's victory at Maridoe Golf Club vaults him to the top of the East-West Cup standings.
As we turn the page to June, the season enters another pivotal stretch with the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame Championship and the George C. Thomas Invitational on deck. In this edition, we recap all of May's major senior-amateur action, recognize the month's champions, review the latest East-West Cup rankings, and look ahead to the tournaments that will shape the race for year-end honors. Thank you for being part of the SeniorGolfHQ community, and we hope you enjoy this month's newsletter.
2026 May Major Senior-Am Tournament Results
The Giles Invitational (Senior Division)
May 1-3, 2026
Kinloch Golf Club
Champion: Rick Stimmel
Rick Stimmel put together a masterful performance to win the Senior Division of the 2nd Annual Giles Invitational, finishing at -4, 212 total. After opening with a steady 73, Stimmel took control of the tournament with a brilliant second-round 66, the lowest round of the championship. He followed it up with a closing 73 to secure a five-shot victory and comfortably hold off the chasing pack.
Jack Larkin, Sr. finished alone in second place at +1, after rounds of 74, 71, and 72. Despite a strong final round effort, Larkin was unable to make up ground on Stimmel's lead. Mike Sposa and Mike McCoy shared third place at +2. Sposa closed with an impressive final round 70, while McCoy's second round 70 kept him in contention throughout the week.
Played on the beautiful Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, the Giles Invitational is becoming a can’t miss event on the calendar. While several players posted solid rounds over the three days, Stimmel's exceptional 66 on Saturday proved to be the difference. His ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the second round and maintain his advantage over the final 18, earned him a convincing victory.
Leaderboard
-4 | Rick Stimmel | 73-66-73=212+1 | Jack Larkin, Sr | 74-71-72=217Jupiter Invitational (Senior Division)
May 7-9, 2026
Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club
Champion: Mike McCoy
The Jupiter Invitational at Jonathan’s Landing saw Mike McCoy separate himself from the field with a dominant three round total of -6, 204 total. After opening with a steady 70 and following with a 68, McCoy closed in style with the tournament’s low round, a 66, to finish 4 shots ahead. His final round featured nine birdies and showcased the firepower that has long made him one of golf’s most accomplished players.
The battle for runner-up honors was far more dramatic, with Shaw Pritchett and Gordy McKeown sharing second place at -2. Both players finished with impressive final round charges, Pritchett matching McCoy’s 66 while McKeown added a 67 to climb the leaderboard. Pritchett rebounded brilliantly from a second round 73, while McKeown improved each day with rounds of 72, 69, and 67. Their closing efforts highlighted the scoring opportunities available in the championship, but neither could erase the gap McCoy had established through the first two rounds.
Beyond the top three, Ryan Howison and Brian Quackenbush tied for fourth at +5, leading a group of players who struggled to keep pace with the legendary McCoy. Michael Kelley claimed sixth at +8, while Mike Combs (+11) and Mike Moffat (+12) rounded out the top eight. In all, only three competitors finished under par for the championship, underscoring the challenge presented by Jonathan’s Landing and the quality of McCoy’s play over three days.
Leaderboard
-6 | Mike McCoy | 70-68-66=204-2 | Shaw Pritchett | 69-73-66=208-2 | Gordy McKeown | 72-69-67=208The Walter J. Travis Invitational (Senior Division)
May 15-17, 2026
Garden City Golf Club
Champion: Dave Scialabba
Leaderboard
Finals:Dave Scialabba 1 Up over Doug ClappTrans-Mississippi Senior Championship
May 19-21, 2026
Mission Hills Country Club (Pete Dye Challenge Course)
Champion: Jason Pridmore
Jason Pridmore of Ventura, California delivered a dominant performance to capture the championship at Mission Hills Country Club, finishing at 10-under-par with a 54-hole total of 206. Pridmore separated himself from the field with a spectacular opening-round 62, highlighted by a pair of eagles and a flawless back nine, before closing with steady rounds of 72-72 to secure a three-shot victory.
Jerry Gunthorpe of Ovid, Michigan finished runner-up at 7-under-par after posting rounds of 69-69-71, while Jon Lindstrom of Denver, Colorado claimed third place at 4-under. Rob McIver and Michael McCoy shared fourth place at 3-under-par, each finishing with totals of 213.
Pridmore’s historic opening round ultimately proved too much to overcome. His wire-to-wire victory capped off one of the strongest performances of the tournament and earned him a convincing win against a deep national field. Jon Valuck (+2) edged Chuck Gardner (+3) in the Super Senior divisison, while Monterey legend Casey Boyns appropriately took the Legends division at 1-under par.
Leaderboard
-10 | Jason Pridmore | 62-72-72=206-7 | Jerry Gunthorpe | 69-69-71=209-4 | Jon Lindstrom | 71-71-70=212Up Next
Huddleston Cup (Senior Division)
May 28-30, 2026
Maridoe Golf Club
Champion: Bob Royak
Bob Royak captured the 2026 Huddleston Cup Senior division finishing at E, totaling 216 after rounds of 70, 73, and 73. Royak established himself as the player to beat with an opening-round 70 and never relinquished control, relying on solid ball-striking and timely pars throughout the week to secure a six-shot victory.
Royak turned for the final nine holes with a six-shot lead, leaving the field to battle it out for second. Neal Barfield and Jerry Slagle shared runner-up honors at +6. Barfield closed with the low round of the final day, a 72, while Slagle’s second-round 70 was one of the tournament’s best scores and helped propel him into a tie for second. Senior stalwart Bryan Hoops finished alone in fourth place at 7-over-par after posting rounds of 78, 71, and 74.
Played on the challenging Maridoe layout, the Huddleston Cup proved once again to be a true test of consistency. While several players ran into trouble, Royak’s ability to avoid big numbers over 54 holes ultimately separated him from the field, earning him a convincing championship victory.
Leaderboard
E | Bob Royak | 70-73-73=216+6 | Neal Barfield | 74-76-72=222+6 | Jerry Slagle | 76-70-76=222
2026 “Major” Senior-Am Events
Society of Seniors: Spring Classic - February 2026 - William Mallon
Gasparilla Invitational (Senior Division) - February 2026 - Jeff Frazier
Jones Cup Senior Invitational - February 2026 - Mike McCoy
Society of Seniors: Ed Tutwiler Four-Ball - March 2026 - Fox & Channell
Golfweek Senior Amateur Championship - March/April 2026 - Todd Doss
Society of Seniors: Senior Masters - April 2026 - Bryan Hoops
The Giles Invitational (Senior Division) - May 2026 - Rick Stimmel
The Jupter Invitational (Senior Division) - May 2026 - Mike McCoy
The Walter J. Travis Invitational (Senior Division) - May 2026 - Dave Scialabba
Trans-Mississippi Senior Championship - May 2026 - Jason Pridmore
Huddleston Cup (Senior Division) - May 2026 - Bob Royak
National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame - June 2026
George C. Thomas Invitational (Senior Division) - June 2026
R&A Senior Amateur Championship - July 2026
North & South Senior Men’s Amateur Championship - August 2026
Sunnehanna Senior Amateur Championship - August 2026
Valentine Invitational - August 2026
Senior Porter Cup - September 2026
USGA Men’s Senior Amateur - August/September 2026
The Crump Cup (Senior Division) - September 2026
International Senior Individual Championship - October 2026
Ojai Senior Cup - October 2026
Reynolds Senior Invitational - October 2026
California Senior Amateur Championship - November 2026
East West Cup Matches - November 2026
Society of Seniors: Ralph Bogart - November 2026
East West Matches
Senior Standings
As of May 31, 2026
Bob Royak | 1,425.82
Mike McCoy | West | 1,375.00
Bryan Hoops | West | 1,080.00
Gene Elliott | West | 959.70
Jeff Knox | East | 650.00
Jack Larkin | East | 609.00
Robert Gerwin | East | 578.60
Danny Nelson | East | 578.00
Doug Hanzel | East | 478.00
Mike Lohner | 463.50
Mike Sposa | East | 457.50
Robert Funk | West | 433.00
Greg Sanders | West | 427.50
Kevin Vandenberg | East | 422.15
Miles McConnell | 367.50
Rick Stimmel | East | 361.00
Matt Sughrue | 333.00
Jim Lehman | 300.00
Jack Hall | East | 292.00
Todd White | 270.00
Big Niger | West | 255.00
Steve Harwell | East | 246.12
Tony Wise | East | 241.50
Neal Barfield | 235.00
Jeff Frazier | East | 225.00
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Until next month…..