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How They're Doing: Minnesotans on Pro Tour Money Lists -- April 22
April 22, 2024
FAR HILLS, N.J. (August 10, 2017) - The 156-player field is nearly complete for the 63rd U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, to be held Aug. 26-31 at The Minikahda Club, in Minneapolis, Minn., and it will have a decidedly local flavor.
John Barry, 55, of Lakeville; David Brown, 59, of Minnetonka; Randy Garber, 67 of Lakeville; Jeff Teal, 57, of Excelsior; and David Whittaker, 67, of Duluth, are among the 134 players who played their way into the championship for 55-and-older golfers via sectional qualifying, which took place at 50 sites in 42 states. Nineteen players were exempt from qualifying, while three spots are yet to be determined. Four of the home-state quintet locked down spots in the championship in the sectional qualifier at Wayzata (Minn.) Country Club on Thursday, July 24; Whittaker earned his spot in sectional qualifying, Aug. 8 at the Promontory Club, Park City, Utah.
Garber competed in the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2010, while Barry, Brown, Teal and Whittaker will be making their championship debuts. Teal, however, will be able to draw from his experience of having played in seven USGA championships, including the 1986 U.S. Amateur, in which he reached match play. Prior to his amateur golf career, Teal played hockey professionally, appearing in six games for the Montreal Canadiens. During his collegiate career, he was part of the University of Minnesota’s 1979 NCAA championship team, which was coached by Herb Brooks.
“I’d be excited no matter where it is. You know what a great course [Minikahda] is, so you know it’s just going to be a great week and you don’t have to travel, so I guess there was a little extra motivation there for sure,” said Teal, who has won five Minnesota Golf Association titles. “[USGA championships have] always been special. There’s just an extra excitement around them. You know it’s a big deal when you’re in one.”
The field also includes 12 USGA champions, the winners of the last four U.S. Senior Amateurs among them.
All 156 players will play two rounds of stroke play on Aug. 26-27, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play. The winner will be determined in an 18-hole final on Thursday, Aug. 31. Spectators are welcome and are admitted free throughout the week.
Full coverage of the championship can be found at usga.org/senioram.
For coverage of the local U.S. Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifying July 24 at Wayzata Country Club, click here.
This story was updated 2:45 p.m., Aug. 11, 2017.
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