Around the Green

Regional Senior Amateurs Set for April 3-5

The Texas Golf Association’s 2023 men’s regional tournament series rolls on in the first week of April with the back-to-back playing of the North and South Senior Amateurs.

The North Senior Amateur will be held April 3-4 at Whitestone Golf Club in Benbrook, while the South Senior Amateur will be contested April 4-5 at Gus Wortham Park Golf Course in Houston.

Located about 12 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Whitestone Golf Club opened in 2000 and is a design collaboration between Jeff Brauer and Jay Morrish. Set on 150 acres of beautiful rolling land, the par-72 layout plays just over 6,450 yards from the middle set of tees. Gus Wortham Park Golf Course traces back over 100 years to when it opened in 1908 as the original site of Houston Country Club. The 6,388-yard, par-71 course, which has been owned by the City of Houston since 1973, was completely renovated and modernized in 2019 by the architectural firm of Finger Dye Spann, Inc.

First played in 2003, the Regional Senior Amateurs feature two age divisions: 55 and older (Senior) and 65 and older (Super Senior). Entries are open to male amateur golfers who meet the age requirements by the first round of tournament play, have an up-to-date WHS Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.4 (10.0 for Super Senior) issued through a member club of the TGA, and reside in the region relative to their respective championship. The delineation between the North and South regions is the 31st parallel in Salado.

Both championships are conducted using the same competitive format. The starting field of 84 players (60 Seniors, 24 Super Seniors) will play 36 holes of individual stroke play over two days with no cut. Each age division will compete from different tees and yardages, with separate champions recognized. Players who are 65 and older can opt to compete in the Senior Division at the time an entry form is submitted. The top 15 finishers and ties in the Senior Division, regardless of age, will earn exemptions into this year’s Texas Senior Amateur to be held Sept. 8-10 at Amarillo Country Club.

Starting times and pairings for the first round of both championships will be posted online the TGA website no later than March 31. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Whitestone Golf Club and Gus Wortham Park Golf Course.

At the 2022 championships, Mike Booker of Houston secured his fifth overall South Senior Amateur title with a 36-hole total of 5-over-par 147 at Beaumont Country Club. Mike Vacek of Weimar finished at 8-over 150 to win the Super Senior Division for the second straight year. Neal Barfield of Dallas won the North Senior Amateur with rounds of 73-71 (+4) over 36 holes at The Golf Club of Dallas. Jim Quinn of Arlington took home the honors in the Super Senior Division with a 3-over 143 total.