The Cookout by seniorgolfHQ Vol 6
The Cookout by seniorgolfHQ
July 2026
What we are cooking this month:
Welcome back to another rendition of The Cookout by seniorgolfHQ. June delivered another outstanding month in senior amateur golf, with elite competitors battling for some of the game's most prestigious titles on many of the sport's most celebrated courses. From Winged Foot and National Golf Links of America to Los Angeles Country Club, the month showcased the remarkable depth and competitiveness that continues to define senior amateur golf. Whether in stroke play or match play, championships were decided by steady nerves, timely shot-making, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
One player who undoubtedly owned the month was Bryan Hoops. The senior standout captured both the Golfweek Senior National Championship and the Senior division of the George C. Thomas Invitational, adding two significant victories to an already impressive season. Elsewhere, Vance Welch emerged as the lone player to finish under par at the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame Championship, while Dan Keogh and the team of Seth Sargent and Eoghan O'Connell added their names to the list of 2026 champions by claiming victories at the C.B. Macdonald Invitational and Anderson Memorial Four-Ball, respectively.
As the calendar turns to July, the focus shifts to amateurs competing at Scioto Country Club for the U.S. Senior Open before ajourney across the Atlantic to the prestigious R&A Senior Amateur Championship at Frilford Heath Golf Club, where many of the world's top senior amateurs will compete for one of the game's most coveted titles. Before looking ahead, let's take a look back at all of the action, storylines, and standout performances that defined an unforgettable month of June in senior amateur golf.
2026 June Major Senior-Am Tournament Results
Anderson Memorial Four-Ball (Senior Division)
June 4-7, 2026
Winged Foot Golf Club
Champions: Seth Sargent & Eoghan O’Connell
The Anderson Memorial Four-Ball once again showcased elite senior amateur talent, beginning with 36 holes of qualifying on Winged Foot's East and West Courses. Michael McCoy and Robert Gerwin of Seminole Golf Club dominated stroke play, posting rounds of 67 and 64 for a remarkable 9-under par total of 131, six shots clear of the field. Eoghan O'Connell and Seth Sargent of Pine Valley Golf Club secured the second seed at 2-under par, while Davis and Kitchin of Atlanta Athletic Club finished third at 1-under. Only eight teams advanced to match play, with several accomplished pairings narrowly missing the cut in one of the deepest fields in senior amateur golf.
The top seeds continued their impressive play once match play began. McCoy and Gerwin edged Lehman and Rose 1 Up in the quarterfinals before defeating Staudinger and Meyer 5&3 in the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, O'Connell and Sargent advanced with a 3&2 victory over Sposa and Fain before knocking off Goodwin and Peck, 5&4, to earn a spot in the championship match.
In the championship match, O'Connell and Sargent turned the tables on the stroke-play medalists. After the match was tied through the opening two holes, the Pine Valley duo steadily built momentum, winning holes three, five, six, seven, and eight to seize control. McCoy and Gerwin briefly cut into the deficit on holes 10 through 12, but O'Connell and Sargent quickly regained command, regaining their sizeable lead before closing out a decisive 5&3 victory. The win capped an impressive week for O'Connell and Sargent, who followed their runner-up finish in qualifying by capturing the prestigious Anderson Memorial Four-Ball title.
Leaderboard
Finals:O’Connell & Sargent 5&3 over McCoy & GerwinSemi Finals:McCoy & Gerwin 5&3 over Staudinger & MeyerO’Connell & Sargent 5&4 over Goodwin & PeckNational Senior Amateur Hall of Fame
June 10-12, 2026
High Point CC (Willow Creek)
Champion: Vance Welch
The National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame Championship at High Point Country Club's Willow Creek course produced a tightly contested battle, with Vance Welch emerging victorious after three rounds of steady and consistent play. Welch opened the championship with a 74 before taking control with a second-round 70, positioning himself atop the leaderboard heading into the final day. A closing 1-under-par 71, highlighted by an eagle on the 17th hole, gave Welch a three-day total of 215 (-1) and secured the championship by two shots. Remarkably, Welch was the only player in the field to finish under par for the week.
John O'Brien mounted the strongest challenge, firing back-to-back rounds of 70 to share the lead through 36 holes. However, a final-round 77 dropped him to runner-up at 217 (+1). Joe Jaspers finished just one shot further back in third after posting rounds of 72-74-72 for a 54-hole total of 218 (+2), while Eddie Hargett claimed fourth at 219 (+3). The leaderboard remained crowded throughout the week, with just four players finishing within three shots of the title and six players ending the championship at 4-over par or better.
Several players made notable moves during the championship. Bryan Hoops recorded the low round of the tournament with a brilliant second-round 68 to vault into contention before settling for a tie for fifth at 220 (+4). Greg Sanders also closed in style, matching the tournament's final-round low score of 70 to climb into a tie for seventh. High Point Country Club once again provided a stern but fair test, as only one competitor broke par over 54 holes, underscoring both the championship's depth and the enduring challenge presented by the Willow Creek layout.
Leaderboard
-1 | Vance Welch | 74-70-71=215+1 | John O’Brien | 70-70-77=217+2 | Joe Jaspers | 72-74-72=218+3 | Eddie Hargett | 74-72-73=219C.B. Macdonald Invitational (Senior Division)
June 12-14 2026
National Golf Links of America
Champion: Dan Keogh
The CB McDonald Invitational began with a highly competitive qualifying round that saw Roger Newsom and Hans Albertsson share medalist honors after each posted outstanding rounds of 69 (-3). Newsom ultimately claimed the top seed by winning a three-hole playoff, while Michael Rowley secured the No. 3 seed at 70 (-2). With only three players breaking par and five finishing at even par or better, the qualifying round highlighted the depth and strength of the championship field before the event shifted to its traditional match play format.
Once match play began, the bracket quickly produced several surprises. Eighth-seeded Johnny Williams continued his impressive week by upsetting top-seeded Newsom (1 Up) to advance to the semifinals, while fifth-seeded Dan Keogh defeated fourth-seeded Bryan Norton (1 Up) to keep his title hopes alive. On the opposite side of the bracket, seventh-seeded Brian Tennyson knocked off second-seeded Albertsson (4&2), and sixth-seeded Joe Palmer advanced past third-seeded Rowley (3&2), setting up a semifinal round featuring seeds No. 5 through No. 8.
Keogh proved to be the class of the match play portion, edging Williams 2&1 in a tightly contested semifinal before meeting Tennyson in the championship match. Tennyson reached the final with a narrow 1 Up victory over Palmer, but Keogh once again rose to the occasion, capturing the CB McDonald Invitational title with a 1 Up victory. The fifth seed's impressive run through the bracket showcased both consistency and resilience, as Keogh ran through the bracket to claim one of senior amateur golf's most prestigious championships.
Leaderboard
Finals:Dan Keogh 1 Up over Brian TennysonSemi Finals:Dan Keogh 2&1 over Johnny WilliamsBrian Tennyson 1 Up over Joe PalmerGolfweek Senior National Championship
June 15-17, 2026
Benvenue Golf & Country Club
Champion: Bryan Hoops
The Golfweek Senior National Championship at Benvenue Country Club belonged to Bryan Hoops, who separated himself from the field with a pair of brilliant closing rounds to claim the title by a commanding 10 shots. After opening with a 75, Hoops caught fire over the final two days, carding back-to-back 68s to finish at 5-under-par 211. His final round was particularly impressive, featuring a steady inward nine of 34 that secured the championship in dominant fashion. Hoops was the only player in the field to finish under par and one of just two competitors to break 70 during the week.
Yancey Johnson finished as runner-up at 221 (+5) after rounds of 72-77-72, while Lenny Nash claimed third at 222 (+6). Kevin VandenBerg and Chad Branton shared fourth place at 223 (+7), rounding out the top five. Benvenue Country Club once again proved to be a formidable test, with only five players finishing within single digits of par. Hoops' closing surge showcased the consistency and shot-making required to conquer one of senior amateur golf's premier national championships.
Leaderboard
-5 | Bryan Hoops | 75-68-68=211+5 | Yancey Johnson | 72-77-72=221+6 | Lenny Nash | 73-76-73=222
George C Thomas Invitational (Senior Division)
June 24-27, 2026
Los Angeles Country Club (North)
Champion: Bryan Hoops
The Senior Division of the George C. Thomas Invitational produced a tightly contested championship at the famed North Course of Los Angeles Country Club. A hot summer continued for Bryan Hoops of Whisper Rock GC, emerging victorious after three rounds of steady, consistent golf. Hoops posted rounds of 73-73-74 to finish at 9-over par 220, claiming the title by a single stroke. In a championship where avoiding big numbers proved critical, Hoops never shot higher than 74 and used his consistency over 54 holes to separate himself from a talented field.
A three-way tie for second place developed at 10-over-par 221. Michael Rowley of Los Angeles CC rebounded impressively after an opening round 77, firing back-to-back rounds of 72 to nearly force a playoff. Michael McCoy from Seminole GC also finished one shot short after opening with a 72, while Jerry Gunthorpe matched the low opening round of the championship with an even-par 70 before settling for a share of second.
The leaderboard remained crowded throughout the week, with just four shots separating first place from tenth. Claud Cooper finished solo fifth at 11-over 222 after opening with the tournament's low round of 69, while Robert Funk, Brady Exber, Rupert Kellock, and Terrence Miskell shared sixth place at 12-over 223.
One interesting note for our readers: The 7th hole normally plays as a par 3. However, during the second round of play, the tournament committee utilized a different tee box to transform the hole into a tricky par 4.
Leaderboard
+9 | Bryan Hoops | 73-73-74=220+10 | Michael Rowley | 77-72-72=221+10 | Michael McCoy | 72-76-73=221+10 | Jerry Gunthorpe | 70-77-74=221Up Next
R&A Senior Amateur Championship
July 7-10, 2026
Frilford Heath Golf Club
Defending Champion: John Kennedy
The world's best senior amateurs will converge on Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire, England, from July 7-10 for the 2026 R&A Senior Amateur Championship. Contested at the acclaimed Red Course, the championship will once again feature an elite international field of players competing for a title widely regarded as the unofficial world championship of senior amateur golf. Frilford Heath's classic heathland layout, with its strategic bunkering, firm turf conditions, and demanding green complexes, promises to provide a worthy examination for a field expected to include defending champion John Kennedy along with many of the game's top-ranked senior amateurs from around the globe. With a rich history of crowning some of senior golf's most accomplished players, the championship is sure to deliver four days of compelling competition as players battle for one of senior amateur golf's most coveted trophies.
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 - Vance Welch
Anderson Memorial Four-Ball (Senior Division) - June 2026 - O’Connell & Sargent
C.B. Macdonald Invitational (Senior Division) - June 2026 - Dan Keogh
Golfweek Senior National Championship - June 2026 - Bryan Hoops
George C. Thomas Invitational (Senior Division) - June 2026 - Bryan Hoops
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 June 28, 2026
Bob Royak | 1,650.82
Mike McCoy | West | 1,375.00
Bryan Hoops | West | 1,291.50
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 | 578.00
Mike Lohner | 463.50
Mike Sposa | East | 457.50
Robert Funk | West | 433.00
Greg Sanders | West | 427.50
Kevin Vandenberg | East | 422.15
Neal Barfield | 377.50
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
Jerry Slagle | West | 238.50
We love to feature our passionate senior-am golf community. If you have a story, achievement, or event you'd like to share, send us a DM on our Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) @seniorgolfHQ
Until next month…..