Hughett advances to match play in U.S. Senior Amateur Championship

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Aug. 27, 2017) – David Brown, of Ligonier, Pa., posted a 2-under-par round of 70 on Sunday for a 6-under total of 138 to earn medalist honors in the 63rd U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at The Minikahda Club. Brown, 56, who is competing in his first U.S. Senior Amateur, topped a trio of players by two strokes to earn the No. 1 seed for match play, which begins on Monday with 64 players.

The bracket is not yet complete, as 12 players are tied for 58th place at 8-over-par 152 after 36 holes of stroke play, necessitating a playoff for the final seven spots in match play. The hole-by-hole playoff will begin on Monday at 7 a.m. CDT on the 10th hole at Minikahda, a 423-yard par 4.

Michael Hughett of Owasso, the most decorated amateur in Oklahoma Golf Association history with 19 titles, finished 12th in qualifying at 145 after rounds of 74-71. He will play Larry Corson of Westlake, Texas at 9:50 a.m. Monday.

Former Oral Roberts University golfer Bryan Norton of Mission Hills, Kan., was one of 12 players tied for 58th at 152 and he advanced in a Monday morning playoff. Bill Jackson of Oklahoma City (160) and former Tulsan Murphy Mitchell of Scottsdale, Ariz., (163) did not make the 64-player cut.

The U.S. Senior Amateur is one of 13 annual national championships conducted by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. The championship is open to amateurs at least 55 years of age with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 7.4. It consists of two rounds of stroke play, after which the field is cut to the low 64 scorers for match play, which concludes with an 18-hole final on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. CDT.

Brown failed to qualify for this championship in 2016, his first year of eligibility. He made 11 birdies over his two tours of Minikahda, which has hosted five previous USGA championships, including the 1916 U.S. Open and the 1927 U.S. Amateur. Three players finished two strokes behind Brown, including Matthew Sughrue, of Arlington, Va., the runner-up in the 2016 championship to Dave Ryan, of Taylorville, Ill.

Sughrue, who shot rounds of 68-72, was joined by Chuck Palmer, of Dallas, Texas, and Mitch Wilson, of Kalamazoo, Mich., both of whom shot 72-68. Ryan was one stroke farther back, along with Tim Jackson, of Germantown, Tenn., the 1994 and 2001 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, who has gotten to the semifinal round of this championship the past two years.

“I was a little apprehensive about not making match play,” admitted 2016 champion Ryan, who shot 73-69. “It puts a lot of pressure on you. But I got through that. I was shooting to the middle of greens, playing conservative. I was trying to par every hole, and I made some birdies along the way.”

Two-time champion Paul Simson (2010 and 2012) was another stroke back at 1-under 143, while two more champions – Doug Hanzel (2013) and Chip Lutz (2015) – were in a group of four players at even-par 144.

63rd U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Minikahda Club
Minneapolis, Minn. 
David Brown, Ligonier, Pa. – 68-70–138
Matthew Sughrue, Arlington, Va. – 68-72–140
Mitch Wilson, Portage, Mich. – 72-68–140
Chuck Palmer, Dallas, Texas – 72-68–140
Dave Ryan, Taylorville, Ill. – 73-69–142
Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn. – 70-72–142
Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. – 73-70–143
Buzz Fly, Memphis, Tenn. – 74-70–144
Doug Hanzel, Savannah, Ga. – 74-70–144
Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. – 72-72–144
Brady Exber, Las Vegas, Nev. – 71-73–144
Michael Hughett, Tulsa, Okla. – 74-71–145
Ken Lee, Manchester, Tenn. – 77-69–146
Don Dubois, Newport Beach, Calif. – 71-75–146
Keith Decker, Martinsville, Va. – 74-72–146
Claud Cooper, Birmingham, Ala. – 75-71–146
David Nocar, Millersville, Md. – 77-69–146
Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, Iowa – 77-69–146
Russ Perry, Winston Salem, N.C. – 75-71–146
Bart Dornier, Metairie, La. – 71-76–147
T.J. Brudzinski, Columbus, Ohio – 74-73–147
Jack Hall, Savannah, Ga. – 72-75–147
Larry Clark, Kingston, Ga. – 74-73–147
Ned Zachar, Bedford, N.Y. – 72-75–147
Sean Knapp, Oakmont, Pa. – 76-71–147
Bev Hargraves, Little Rock, Ark. – 72-75–147
Harrison Rutter, Winston-Salem, N.C. – 73-74–147
Kevin Cahill, Waukesha, Wis. – 75-72–147
Bob Cooper, Monroe, La. – 73-74–147
John Pierce, San Antonio, Texas – 74-74–148
Andrew Fogarty, Ballwin, Mo. – 75-73–148
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo. – 77-71–148
John McClure, Los Angeles, Calif. – 75-73–148
John Fisher, Collierville, Tenn. – 75-73–148
Jeff Hoffman, Folsom, Calif. – 73-75–148
Steve Rogers, Bowling Green, Ky. – 76-72–148
Ronald LaVerdiere, Amherst, Mass. – 76-73–149
Frank Vana, Boxford, Mass. – 75-74–149
John Hornbeck, Saratoga, Wyo. – 80-69–149
Duke Delcher, Bluffton, S.C. – 74-76–150
George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. – 76-74–150
Don Donatoni, Malvern, Pa. – 79-71–150
Alan Hill, Spring Branch, Texas – 76-74–150
James Pearson, Charlotte, N.C. – 74-76–150
Mark Coward, Paradise Valley, Ariz. – 74-76–150
Steve Golliher, Knoxville, Tenn. – 75-75–150
Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va. – 77-73–150
Ian Harris, Bloomfield, Mich. – 74-76–150
Greg Condon, Monte Vista, Colo. – 73-78–151
George Marucci Jr., Villanova, Pa. – 74-77–151
Bob Royak, Alpharetta, Ga. – 78-73–151
Jack Kearney, Peachtree City, Ga. – 74-77–151
Larry Corson, Westlake, Texas – 72-79–151
Chris Hartenstein, Austin, Texas – 71-80–151
David Nelson, Reno, Nev. – 75-76–151
Michael Dunsmore, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – 79-72–151
Scott Thomas, Chesterfield, Mo. – 75-76–151
Keith Holmes, Macon, Ga. – 77-75–152
Scott Smith, Houston, Texas – 75-77–152
Reid Sheftall, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – 74-78–152
Michael Rowley, San Luis Obispo, Calif. – 72-80–152
Craig Steinberg, Agoura Hills, Calif. – 76-76–152
Jay Sessa, Garden City, N.Y. – 77-75–152
Rusty Brown, Phoenix, Ariz. – 75-77–152
Bryan Norton, Mission Hills, Kan. – 77-75–152
Robert Johnson, Vacaville, Calif. – 74-78–152
Gordon Marshall, Sarasota, Fla. – 77-75–152
David Szewczul, Farmington, Conn. – 77-75–152
William Charpek, Red Bank, N.J. – 74-78–152
Rand Mendez, Wilmington, Del. – 75-78–153
Todd Hendley, Greer, S.C. – 79-74–153
Jim Rollefson, Franklin, Wis. – 77-76–153
Chip Holcombe, Saint Johns, Fla. – 71-82–153
Dave Williamson, Crawfordsville, Ind. – 74-79–153
James Smith, Orchard Park, N.Y. – 77-76–153
Stewart Alexander, Auburn, Ala. – 77-76–153
Geno Berchiatti, Greenville, S.C. – 78-75–153
Rafe Johnston, Vernal, Utah – 77-76–153
Scott Mayne, Harrisburg, Pa. – 77-77–154
Alex Moore, Winnetk, Ill. – 76-78–154
Mike Arter, Lakeville, Mass. – 79-75–154
Mike Bodney, Jacksonville, Fla. – 77-77–154
Tom Brandes, Bellevue, Wash. – 78-76–154
David Ujihara, Brea, Calif. – 79-75–154
Kenneth Coutant, Dallas, Texas – 77-77–154
Paul Schlachter, Pittsburgh, Pa. – 78-76–154
Jim McNelis, Gig Harbor, Wash. – 77-77–154
Michael Kelly, Odenton, Md. – 75-80–155
Steven Jacobs, Highland Park, Ill. – 77-78–155
Walter Odiorne, Blythewood, S.C. – 81-74–155
Christopher Clauson, Philadelphia, Pa. – 81-74–155
Frank Remmes, Lilburn, Ga. – 79-76–155
Brad Carey, Lake Oswego, Ore. – 78-78–156
Steven Liebler, Irmo, S.C. – 78-78–156
Roc Irey, Furlong, Pa. – 84-72–156
Jeff Teal, Excelsior, Minn. – 76-80–156
Scott Roser, Ruidoso, N.M. – 80-76–156
John Coles III, Birmingham, Ala. – 79-77–156
Jim Volpenhein, Cincinnati, Ohio – 79-77–156
Carl Ho, Honolulu, Hawaii – 82-74–156
Michael Dallmeyer, Jefferson City, Mo. – 81-75–156
Terry Werner, Dyer, Ind. – 79-77–156
Brian Secia, Nantucket, Mass. – 79-78–157
Jeff Britton, Carmel, Calif. – 78-79–157
Monty Guest, Solon, Ohio – 79-78–157
James Sewell, Cameron Park, Calif. – 76-81–157
Frank Acker, Henderson, Nev. – 80-77–157
Gary Durbin, Houston, Texas – 84-73–157
Rick Cloninger, Fort Mill, S.C. – 76-81–157
Jeff Holmgaard, Rockford, Ill. – 76-81–157
Bill Jackson, McKinney, Texas – 83-74–157
Thomas Destefani, Western Springs, Ill. – 74-83–157
Bradley Karns, Vancouver, Wash. – 78-79–157
Daniel Sivadge, El Cajon, Calif. – 79-79–158
Edward Bugniazet, Harrison, N.Y. – 80-78–158
Mark Vassalotti, Stamford, Conn. – 78-80–158
Mark Guadagni, Hudson, Ohio – 79-79–158
David Whittaker, Duluth, Minn. – 81-78–159
Stu Strang, Olney, Md. – 78-81–159
Lloyd Fisher, Dade City, Fla. – 78-81–159
William Gist, Omaha, Neb. – 77-82–159
Mike Poe, Loudon, Tenn. – 80-79–159
Casey Boyns, Monterey, Calif. – 79-80–159
Rich Rowley, San Jose, Calif. – 84-75–159
Gary Havro, Claremont, Calif. – 79-81–160
William Jackson, Oklahoma City, Okla. – 82-78–160
Ted Zurkowski, Chicago, Ill. – 85-75–160
David Brown, Minnetonka, Minn. – 82-78–160
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo. – 81-79–160
Ed McDugle, Memphis, Tenn. – 79-81–160
Kelly Denessen, Snohomish, Wash. – 82-78–160
Dean Prince, Paradise, Calif. – 79-81–160
Vinny Giles, Richmond, Va. – 82-79–161
Iain Macdonald, Fullerton, Calif. – 76-85–161
Stephen Fox, Barboursville, W.Va. – 80-81–161
Kent Spriggs, Fargo, N.D. – 82-79–161
Keith Wood, Atlanta, Ga. – 79-83–162
Scott Hood, Corona, Calif. – 79-83–162
Thomas Kmak, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 80-83–163
Murphy Mitchell, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 81-82–163
Rod Skyles, Eagle, Idaho – 83-80–163
Chris Chocola, Harbor Springs, Mich. – 85-78–163
Jerry Hudgins, Tyler, Texas – 84-79–163
Scott Ichimura, Mililani, Hawaii – 81-83–164
Jorge Cora, Atlanta, Ga. – 78-86–164
Steven Brown, Chandler, Ariz. – 85-79–164
Sam Billmeyer, Ankeny, Iowa – 82-83–165
Gene Cook, Woodinville, Wash. – 82-83–165
Greg Myers, Twinsburg, Ohio – 85-82–167
Randall Garber, Lakeville, Minn. – 84-84–168
John Barry, Lakeville, Minn. – 85-83–168
Joel Benes, North Miami Beach, Fla. – 86-82–168
Bradley Niswonger, Elm Grove, Wis. – 85-85–170
Murphy Hart, Benton, Ill. – 89-84–173
Gary Blackwell, Jacksonville, Fla. – 79-WD–WD
William Hadden, Manchester Village, Vt. – WD

Match Play Pairings
Round of 64
10:30 am: David Brown, Ligonier, Pa. (138) vs. To Be Determined ()
8:00 am: Robert Polk, Parker, Colo. (148) vs. John McClure, Los Angeles, Calif. (148)
8:10 am: Claud Cooper, Birmingham, Ala. (146) vs. Greg Condon, Monte Vista, Colo. (151)
8:20 am: David Nocar, Millersville, Md. (146) vs. Ian Harris, Bloomfield, Mich. (150)
8:30 am: Buzz Fly, Memphis, Tenn. (144) vs. Scott Thomas, Chesterfield, Mo. (151)
8:40 am: Sean Knapp, Oakmont, Pa. (147) vs. Duke Delcher, Bluffton, S.C. (150)
8:50 am: Doug Hanzel, Savannah, Ga. (144) vs. Michael Dunsmore, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (151)
9:00 am: Ned Zachar, Bedford, N.Y. (147) vs. George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. (150)
10:20 am: Chuck Palmer, Dallas, Texas (140) vs. To Be Determined ()
9:10 am:  Bob Cooper, Monroe, La. (147) vs. Steve Rogers, Bowling Green, Ky. (148)
9:20 am: Ken Lee, Manchester, Tenn. (146) vs. Jack Kearney, Peachtree City, Ga. (151)
9:30 am: Bart Dornier, Metairie, La. (147) vs. Mark Coward, Paradise Valley, Ariz. (150)
10:10 am: Dave Ryan, Taylorville, Ill. (142) vs. To Be Determined ()
9:40 am: Kevin Cahill, Waukesha, Wis.  (147) vs. Ronald LaVerdiere, Amherst, Mass. (149)
9:50 am: Michael Hughett, Tulsa, Okla. (145) vs. Larry Corson, Westlake, Texas (151)
10:00 am: T.J. Brudzinski, Columbus, Ohio (147) vs. James Pearson, Charlotte, N.C. (150)
10:40 am: Matthew Sughrue, Arlington, Va. (140) vs. To Be Determined ()
10:50 am: Andrew Fogarty, Ballwin, Mo. (148) vs. John Fisher, Collierville, Tenn. (148)
11:00 am: Keith Decker, Martinsville, Va. (146) vs. George Marucci Jr., Villanova, Pa. (151)
11:10 am: Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, Iowa (146) vs. Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va. (150)
11:20 am: Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. (143) vs. To Be Determined ()
11:30 am: Bev Hargraves, Little Rock, Ark. (147) vs. John Hornbeck, Saratoga, Wyo. (149)
11:40 am: Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. (144) vs. David Nelson, Reno, Nev. (151)
11:50 am: Larry Clark, Kingston, Ga. (147) vs. Don Donatoni, Malvern, Pa. (150)
12:00 pm: Mitch Wilson, Portage, Mich. (140) vs. To Be Determined ()
12:10 pm: John Pierce, San Antonio, Texas (148) vs. Jeff Hoffman, Folsom, Calif. (148)
12:20 pm: Don Dubois, Newport Beach, Calif. (146) vs. Bob Royak, Alpharetta, Ga. (151)
12:30 pm: Russ Perry, Winston Salem, N.C. (146) vs. Steve Golliher, Knoxville, Tenn. (150)
12:40 pm: Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn. (142) vs. To Be Determined ()
12:50 pm: Harrison Rutter, Winston-Salem, N.C. (147) vs. Frank Vana, Boxford, Mass. (149)
1:00 pm: Brady Exber, Las Vegas, Nev. (144) vs. Chris Hartenstein, Austin, Texas (151)
1:10 pm: Jack Hall, Savannah, Ga. (147) vs. Alan Hill, Spring Branch, Texas (150)