Around the Green

84th Texas Senior Amateur Set for Sept. 24-26

The state’s top amateur golfers aged 55 and older will gather at Westwood Golf Club in Houston from Sept. 24-26 for the 84th Texas Senior Amateur, the last of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the Texas Golf Association.

This is the first TGA championship to be held at Westwood. The club was originally scheduled to host the 2020 South Regional Mid-Amateur, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to conduct this year’s Texas Senior Amateur at Westwood Golf Club,” said Justin Guthrie, TGA Tournament Manager. “We are grateful to the club for their continued commitment to amateur golf and know they will provide an amazing championship experience.”

Founded in 1928, Westwood Golf Club (formerly Westwood Country Club), is the second oldest private golf club in Houston on its original site. Noted Texas architect John Bredemus designed the club’s initial nine-hole layout, which opened for play in 1930. The course was expanded to 18 holes in 1957 under the supervision of Ralph Plummer, a former assistant to Bredemus. Keith Foster completed an extensive renovation and redesign in 2002, and in 2018 Kevin Hargrave oversaw continued enhancements to the golf course that included rebuilding and resurfacing all tees, greens and bunkers.

“We look forward to welcoming the best senior golfers from across the state to Westwood for the 84th playing of the Texas Senior Amateur,” said Ricky Lyons, Westwood Golf Club’s General Manager. “The newly renovated course will be in great condition thanks to our superintendent Wesley Curtis and his crew, and we believe the strategic design will challenge every facet of a player’s game and identify a worthy champion.”

The Texas Senior Amateur is open to male amateurs who belong to a TGA Member Club, have a World Handicap System Index of 6.4 or less, will have reached the age of 55 on or before the tournament start date and are current Texas residents.

The format for the championship is 54 holes of individual stroke play. The starting field of 144 golfers play two rounds on Sept. 24-25. At the completion of the 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 54 players and ties for the final round.

At the 2020 championship, held at Ridgewood Country Club in Waco, host club member John Derrick posted a gutsy 2-over-par 72 on the last day in difficult scoring conditions to win the title in front of a large hometown crowd. His 7-over 217 total was good for a one-stroke victory over Mike Lohner of Southlake.

This year’s Texas Senior Amateur will once again feature an impressive lineup of accomplished veteran competitors. In addition to Derrick, who looks to be the first to win back-to-back titles in over 20 years, seven other past champions will be on site at Westwood Golf Club. They are Gary Durbin of Houston (who won in 2019), Lewis Stephenson of Mansfield (2016, ’18), Mike Booker of The Woodlands (2015), Ron Kilby of McAllen (2011, ’14), Mike Peck of Irving (2013), Chuck Palmer of Dallas (2012) and John Grace of Fort Worth (2010).

Lohner, the 2020 runner-up and reigning Senior Player of the Year, heads a roster of other notable players who will be vying for the title which includes 2021 North Regional Senior Amateur champion Dave Davis of Saginaw, 2021 South Regional Senior Amateur champion David Ortego of Spring and 2017, ’19 Senior Player of Year John Pierce of San Antonio.

Live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available at txga.org once the action gets underway from Westwood.