Southern Hills Country Club, in partnership with Cedar Ridge Country Club for the practice and stroke play rounds, is honored to host the 109th U.S. Amateur Championship. Both Southern Hills and Cedar Ridge have a keen connection to the U.S. Amateur Championship. Five Southern Hills members, one of its staff golf professionals and five Cedar Ridge members, one of whom is a touring golf pro, qualified for and played in this prestigious event and several advanced to the match play rounds. The years and places they played are shown below and several of them have been kind to share some of their memories with us.
Mike Alsup of Cedar Ridge – 2003 at Oakmont Country Club
“Been trying to come up with some interesting memories about my trip to US Am @ Oakmont in 2003……
Several things stand out to me:
-Walking into the clubhouse and all the history that was everywhere- pictures of past championships, trophies, the spiked-marked wooden floors in men's locker room, etc.
-Seeing the sign posted on way to 1st tee, telling you the day's green speed- the Stimpmeter reading- 14.5….Oakmont is notorious for its brutally fast greens, and the members are very proud of being known as the hardest championship golf course in the US.
-Going to the Driving range to practice, and having my choice of all the different brands of golf balls to use… just like the pros- guess we made the big show!
-Playing the course with the greens surrounded by all the bleachers… very different than playing a normal set-up golf course.
-Hitting it into the famous "church pew" bunkers in Rd 1, just like I saw on TV!
Just happy to be there, at age 47, after trying to qualify for many years. I have played in lots of big tournaments, including the US Mid-Amateur and the US Publinx Championships, but it is whole another atmosphere at the US Am. Very special...”
Tom Beck of Southern Hills - 1952 at Seattle Golf Club, advanced to the first round; 1954 at Country Club of Detroit, advanced to the second round; 1958 at Olympic Club, advanced to the second round; 1966 at Merion Golf Club, made the cut for medal play
“I have played in four USGA Amateur Championships and three USGA Junior Amateur Championships:
1950, 1951, and 1952 – Junior Amateur Championships.
1952 – 52nd National Amateur, Seattle Golf Club, Seattle, Washington; lost in the first round to Don Cherry, 3&2
1954 – 54th National Amateur, Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. I disqualified myself in the second round. [A poem and newspaper article were written about him.] Arnold Palmer won the tournament and immediately turned Professional.
1958 – 58th National Amateur, Olympic Club, San Francisco, California; lost in the second round.
1966 – 66th National Amateur, Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa. After qualification we played Medal Play. I made the cut and finished with a score of 297. Deane Beman and Gary Cowan entered a play-off at 285 and Cowan won.”
Michael Boyd of Cedar Ridge - 1994 at TPC at Sawgrass; 1997 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, advancing to the quarterfinals; 1998 at Oak Hill Country Club
David Bryan, Jr. of Southern Hills – 1992 at Muirfield Village
“I qualified for the 1992 US Amateur, via 36 holes at Tulsa CC on a brutally hot Monday in July. That year's tournament was held at the very well known Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, OH (a.k.a. Jack's Club, yes as in Nicklaus). I was 20 years old and it was my first and only US Amateur. My dad/caddie and I made the trip to Dublin, and I vividly remember getting to Muirfield and going through the player registration process. It had a very "big-time" feel to it. Several volunteers and USGA officials were around to welcome me. I got a very official packet complete with my contestant badge and a watch. I even remember signing the two contestant scrolls, one copy is for the USGA's Golf House and the other copy is for Muirfield Village to display.
The traditional contestants’ dinner was held at the course and hosted by Jack Nicklaus himself. He gave a lengthy speech at the dinner and emphasized how special the USGA and their amateur events are. He even mentioned Southern Hills in his speech, because that was the site of his first national event (the 1953 US Junior Amateur). That was an unexpected thrill to hear him talk about Southern Hills.
The golf course was in incredible condition! The fairways were bent grass, which is what our putting greens consist of (the type of grass that produces an enormous divot even when you strike the ball perfectly). The greens were extremely hard and fast, probably the most extreme I had faced at that time. Metal spikes were still allowed back then, and I remember a very distinct "crunchy feel" as my spikes penetrated the turf.
I was playing very well going into the event and felt prepared. My first practice round was with two other collegiate players on a perfect day. I will never forget how well I hit the ball; it was an effortless one under par my first time around Muirfield Village under championship conditions. I beat the other two guys handily, and I felt like I was ready to compete with the big boys (the field that year consisted of the likes of Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard, David Duval, etc.)!
Unfortunately once the tournament began my game was not so effortless. I missed the match play cut after two rounds. I did play both rounds with Stanford player and Tiger teammate Casey Martin (the one with the bad leg, who got to take a golf cart on the PGA Tour). He was very nice and a heck of a player.
The Amateur was a terrific experience and one I will never forget. I described it to people as the US Open for amateurs. That may sound over-blown, but it is not. The USGA is very proud of its oldest event, and they run it every bit like the US Open. It is just without the level of fanfare, corporate hospitality, 24-hour television, etc.”
Jimmy Chew of Southern Hills - 1963 at Wakonda Club, advanced to the second round; 1981 at Olympic Club, advanced to the first round
“In 1963, players qualified directly to match play at the tournament site. I was the sole qualifier from Kansas shooting 144 at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson. The U.S. Amateur was at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa. I beat the Missouri Amateur Champion, Ted Adams, in the first round and lost to Texan, Rives McBee, in the second round, 1-up. The Championship was won by Deane Beman. In 1981, I qualified locally at Tulsa CC with Willie Wood for the U.S. Amateur at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. In 36 holes of onsite qualifying I made the low 64 for match play. The course was set up very difficult with high rough and hard fast greens. I lost to Jay Siegel, 5&3, in the first round. Jay was the 1979 British Amateur Champion, and the 1982 and 1983 U.S. Amateur Champion. I would have been lucky to win one of five matches against Jay. The 1981 Championship was won by the son of Kathryn and Bing Crosby, Nathaniel. Nathaniel was a really fine young man who I’d gotten to know in Florida. I have also competed in USGA National Junior and Mid-Amateur events. Playing in all USGA Amateur events has given me many fantastic and memorable experiences.”
“Another little sidelight on the 1963 US Amateur. I really wanted to win my second match because I would have had the opportunity to play Charlie Coe, one of the great amateur golfers of all time. Charlie was a SHCC member from Oklahoma City and finished tied for second with Arnold Palmer in the 1961 Masters, losing by 1 stroke to Gary Player. Coe won the 1958 US Amateur at the Olympic Club.”
Fred Daniel, III of Southern Hills – 1979 at Canterbury Golf Club
“I qualified at Southern Hills in 1979 and shot 75-72 to make the top 3. I shot 32 on the last nine holes to make it by one shot. The tournament was held at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio. Canterbury has been the site of 12 major championships. I shot 77-75 to miss the cut by 2 shots. Mark O’Meara was the champion that year! It was truly a wonderful experience. The USGA does an outstanding job and I look forward to the tournament this summer!”
Joey Dills of Southern Hills – six U.S. Amateurs, the first at age 13
“I will go back and try to verify the first time I played in the Amateur. I do recall playing in my first U.S. Amateur when I was 13 years old, and I played in several over the years. The first Amateur that I played in was still medal play, and Bob Dickson won. It was played at the Broadmoor in Colorado Spring, Colorado. We were both from Muskogee, Okla. I believe the year was 1965. I think the best I ever finished was in 1973 or 74, and I finished 9th. It was won by Gary Cowan and played at Wilmington, Delaware. I played in six U.S. Amateurs and three U.S. Mid-Amateurs, The U.S. Open and several other European Open Championships, before retiring from competitive golf. Hope this helps, and good luck with the tournament. It is an honor for Southern Hills to hold this fine National Championship.”
Bill Heldmar of Cedar Ridge – 1978 at Plainfield Country Club
Mr. Heldmar became lifelong friends with Mark O’Meara after playing at the event and sat at the Player’s Dinner with the Olympic Gold Medalist in pole vaulting! He has since played in 7 Senior Amateur Championships among other USGA events.
George Hixon of Cedar Ridge – 1960 at St. Louis Country Club
Mr. Hixon advanced to the second round; he was tied going into 17 before hitting his drive out of bounds into a cemetery, losing the match – “how perfect!”
Bob Karlovich, Jr. of Cedar Ridge – 1968 at Scioto Country Club
“I was seventeen years old when I qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 1968. I shot rounds of 70-69 at Tulsa Country Club and qualified with Mike Norman of Muskogee and Doug Tewell who was playing out of Stillwater, OK at that time. Mike went on to have a very good amateur career in golf and became a district judge in Muskogee County. Doug Tewell as everyone is aware has become a very prominent touring pro and has been consistently in the top ten several years on the Senior Tour. The 1968 Championship was held at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio which is known as the home course for Mr. Jack Nicklaus. My best memory of the '68 Championship was being introduced to Jack at the players’ banquet the Tuesday before the tournament. I was really excited to be in the tournament and even though I missed the 36 hole cut (I shot 80-79), I look fondly at my experiences and memories of that week. Good luck to you and the 2009 Championship.”
Bob Mase of Southern Hills – 1974 at Ridgeway Country Club
“Following are some comments and the details on my US Amateur experience:
As you may know, the US Amateur was a match play event from its beginning in 1895 until it was changed to stroke play in 1965, also the only year Southern Hills has hosted the event. The tournament remained stroke play for the next 8 years and then changed back to match play. I believe that, at the time, they thought stroke play was a better test of skill, but they changed it back because they ultimately realized match play was more in keeping with the spirit of amateur competition.
The first year that it went back to match play was 1973 at Inverness in Toledo and Craig Stadler won. The following year, 1974, was the year I played at Ridgeway CC in Paramus, NJ. There was no 36 hole qualifier that year (some years there were, others not), everyone was seeded into match play with some players receiving byes in the first round. I played Keith Fergus, from Killeen Tx, in the first round, and Keith beat me 4 and 2. Keith went on to lose in the quarter finals to Jerry Pate, the eventual winner. The next year, 1975, Keith went to the finals before losing to Fred Ridley.
Another change may be of interest. In 1965 when Southern Hills hosted the Amateur you had to be a member of a USGA club to enter the event. This eligibility rule was changed in the early seventies so that anyone with a low enough handicap was eligible to compete. Without this rule change, Tiger Woods would not have won any of his six straight USGA Amateur/Junior championships. I hope that helps. Let me know if I can help further. Looking forward to a great tournament.”
Bo Van Pelt of Cedar Ridge - Mr. Van Pelt, an Oklahoma State University graduate, played in three U.S. Amateurs before turning pro in 1998
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