The 2023 Golfweek Senior Amateur was full of drama.
Two of the most dramatic finishes in the history of Golfweek Senior Amateur were witnessed at Desert Willow Golf Resort, Palm Desert.
In a wild playoff, Vance Welch defeated four other competitors.
Jeff Burda won the Super Senior division.
George Walker defeated a snowman earlier in the week.
John Seehausen beats an ex-NBA star to win Super Legends division.
We have more information about each division:
Senior Division (55-64)
After 54 holes, five seniors division players tied for second place at 2 over. After rounds of 4-over-76, Tommy Brennan and Kirk Maynord, 36-hole co-leaders, fell from the top of the leaderboard to be tied for second place. They were forced into a five-man dog fight for the title.
All three challengers came from sub-par rounds, with Loren Lopeman winning the most heat after a 4-under 68 that earned him a playoff spot.
Mike Combs made a bogey as he headed to the par-4 first hole. The remaining four players moved on to the par-4 9th hole, where Loperman was eliminated and Brennan was also eliminated.
Vance Welch won with a par on par-3 eighth just as the sun was setting over San Jacinto Mountains. Maryland native Welch improved each day to win the championship with rounds of 75, 72, and closing with a final score of 71 to win.
Super Senior (65-69)
Jeff Burda did more than just play this week. He was dominant.
The only super senior who was exempted from last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur raced laps around the entire field, not just his age bracket.
With back-to-back rounds 70, the So Cal native held a seven-stroke lead but kept his best round for last. His 64th round bogey-free was the lowest score of any age group and six shots shy of the all time scoring record of 18 under.
Curtis Worley finished in second place at 4 over, while Scott Masingill was third with a 5-over performance.
Legend Division (70-74)
Legend George Walker was quite the rollercoaster rider for a week.
Walker opened the tournament with four consecutive birdies and ended his first round with an 8 for a tie for the lead at 18 holes. Walker was four shots behind Fred Clark at the end of the second round, which saw him shoot 76.
Walker birdied four of his first four holes, continuing his hot start on Thursday. Walker, however, was able to finish his round strong. He avenged his snowman at 18 with a birdie that won the championship by two shots.
Fred Clark was second at 2 under, while Patrick Rohan was third at 2 over.
Super Legend (75+)
Another playoff took place in the 75+ Super Legend Division. John Seehausen, ex-NBA star Jack Marin tied at 7 over 54 holes.
Marin lost a playoff in the event two years back. Seehausen beat Marin in a one-hole playoff for the championship.
You think you can play against them. The Golfweek Senior Amateur Schedule features the top senior amateur players in the country.
