Oak Hills Country Club, San Antonio, Texas, August 25, 2025
News Summary
The 70th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship is underway at Oak Hills Country Club, with John Kemp finishing as the medalist for the second consecutive year. Despite challenging conditions, Kemp’s stellar 7-under performance places him as a key player to watch in the match play rounds. With tight fairways and swirling winds, the tournament promises engaging golf as competitors battle for the championship title. Upcoming matches include notable names like Gene Elliott and Jeff Wilson, ensuring an exciting continuation of the competition.
San Antonio — John Kemp Leads the Way as U.S. Senior Amateur Kicks Off at Oak Hills
Stormy conditions, tight fairways and a medalist on a mission
San Antonio is buzzing as the 70th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship roars into action at Oak Hills Country Club. The week has brought firm greens and swirling winds — the kind of elements that expose every wobble in a short game and test nerves when match play stakes are high.
The early headlines belong to John Kemp, who finished stroke play as the medalist for the second year running with rounds of 67 and 68 for a tidy 7-under 135. That performance made him the first back-to-back medalist since 2008–09 and left him one shot shy of the all-time scoring mark. The medalist nod sets him up as the man to watch as match play unfolds.
Who climbed the leaderboard in stroke play
- Jon Brown of Iowa made the biggest single-day move with a 66 to close at 5-under 137 and grab solo second.
- Three players tied for third at 3-under 139: Greg Sanders, Mike Finster, and Terrence Miskell.
- Only four players finished under par for stroke play: Jack Larkin Sr., Jack O’Keefe, Steve Mann at 140, and 2019 champion Bob Royak at 141.
- The cut for match play was set at 7-over 149, forcing a 12-for-5 playoff on Monday to fill out the Round of 64 bracket.
Match play drama: early rounds and current action
Match play is a different animal and Oak Hills has already served up tight battles and a few runaway starts. Here’s the current snapshot from the course:
- Match 1: John Kemp (England) tied through 5 with Chris Holland (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- Match 2: Trae Cassell (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) defeated Pat O’Donnell (Happy Valley, Ore.) 3 and 2
- Match 3: Jody Fanagan (Ireland) 1 up vs. Tony Hejna (Buffalo, N.Y.)
- Match 4: Todd White (Spartanburg, S.C.) defeated Mike Sposa (Spartanburg, S.C.) 2 and 1
- Match 5: Jack Larkin Sr. (Atlanta, Ga.) defeated Mike Houlihan (San Antonio, Texas) 3 and 2
- Match 6: Doug Clapp (Manomet, Mass.) defeated R.J. Nakashian (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) 4 and 3
- Match 7: Bob Royak (Alpharetta, Ga.) is 1 up through 12 against Ron Roden (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
- Match 8: Defending champion Louis Brown (Marietta, Ga.) tied through 11 vs. Tommy Brennan (Covington, La.)
- Match 9: Mike Finster (Saint Petersburg, Fla.) is 6 up through 6 vs. Rick Stimmel (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Match 10: Michael Anderson (Northville, Mich.) is 3 up through 11 vs. Mark Strickland (San Diego, Calif.)
- Match 11: Steve Albright (Ocala, Fla.) is 2 up through 10 vs. Brent Paterson (New Zealand)
- Match 12: Tony Wise (Georgetown, Ky.) is 1 up through 9 vs. Rick Corkill (Vancouver, Wash.)
- Match 13: Terrence Miskell (New Braunfels, Texas) is 1 up through 6 vs. Jon Hurst (Fredericksburg, Va.)
- Match 14: Danny Nelson (Savannah, Ga.) tied through 9 vs. Rusty Strawn (Eatonton, Ga.)
- Match 15: Michael McCoy (Des Moines, Iowa) is 1 up through 8 vs. Mike Lohner (Southlake, Texas)
- Match 16: Greg Earnhardt (Greensboro, N.C.) tied through 7 vs. Matt Sughrue (Arlington, Va.)
Upcoming matches to mark on your watch list
- Gene Elliott (Norwalk, Iowa) vs. Jack O’Keefe (Little Rock, Ark.) at 1:00 PM CDT
- Jeff Wilson (Fairfield, Calif.) vs. Bryan Hoops (Scottsdale, Ariz.) at 1:20 PM CDT
- Daniel Sullivan (Pasadena, Calif.) vs. Ed Wyatt (Lincoln, Neb.) at 1:40 PM CDT
Course, conditions and backstory
Oak Hills is no soft touch. The layout is designed to challenge senior golfers with tight fairways and demanding greens, a combination that has punished wayward tee shots and rewarded clean approach play. The club has a history of staging big events, with past stops including the PGA Tour Texas Open and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.
Originally scheduled for Asheville, the championship was relocated after Hurricane Helene left damage at the previous host club. Oak Hills stepped in and immediately gave players a stern test in what is shaping up to be an edge-of-your-seat week.
What to expect next
Match play will continue through an 18-hole final on Thursday, where the week’s survivor will claim the title. Expect more tight matches, momentum swings and a premium on steady putting and smart course management with those tricky greens and the ever-present winds.
FAQ
How long does the championship run?
The tournament runs August 23–28, 2025, with match play continuing until the 18-hole final on Thursday.
Where is the championship being played?
Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas. The venue is known for tight fairways and challenging greens.
Who is the medalist and why does it matter?
John Kemp is the medalist after stroke play, finishing at 7-under 135. Medalist status seeding helps position a player in the match play bracket and shows strong form heading into head-to-head matches.
What happened to the original site?
The event was moved from its original home after Hurricane Helene caused damage, prompting a relocation to Oak Hills.
How was the cut established?
The cut for match play was set at 7-over 149. A 12-for-5 playoff was held to finalize the Round of 64 spots.
Who are a few players to watch?
Keep an eye on John Kemp, defending champion Louis Brown, Mike Finster, Todd White, Mike McCoy and other early winners and big movers from stroke play.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 70th U.S. Senior Amateur Championship |
| Dates | August 23–28, 2025 |
| Location | Oak Hills Country Club, San Antonio, Texas |
| Medalist | John Kemp — 7-under 135 (67, 68) |
| Defending Champion | Louis Brown |
| Cut for Match Play | 7-over 149 (12-for-5 playoff to finalize bracket) |
| Course Traits | Tight fairways, demanding greens, firm surfaces, windy conditions |
| Notable Ongoing Matches | John Kemp tied thru 5; Mike Finster 6 up thru 6; Louis Brown tied thru 11 |
| Final match | 18-hole final on Thursday to determine the champion |
Keep watching Oak Hills — this week is shaping up to be full of tight matches, bold shots and the kind of late-round drama that makes match play must-see for golf fans of every stripe.
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Additional Resources
- AmateurGolf.com: Live Scoring U.S. Senior Amateur at Oak Hills
- Wikipedia
- AmateurGolf.com: U.S. Senior Amateur Preview and Perspective
- Google Search: U.S. Senior Amateur
- Golf.com: Oldest Player at U.S. Amateur
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Desert Sun: Trae Cassell’s Journey to U.S. Senior Amateur
- Google News: Senior Amateur Championship
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