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Hook Tops Parkinson in Playoff for U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying Spot
By Jesse Dodson, Boatwright Intern
Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club near Park City, Utah, hosted 24 players Thursday hoping to advance to this year’s U.S. Senior Amateur national championship at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis. Missouri, Sept. 17-22. Up for grabs were one qualifying spot and two alternate spots.
Russell Hook took home medalist honors with a consistent round of 73 (+1) to earn the qualifying spot, but not without facing Dan Parkinson in a sudden death playoff. One hole was all it took as Hook hit his approach shot on the par-4 No.1 to five feet for his winning birdie. Fortunately, he had the same putt in regulation, holing that one as well. Hook felt good about his winning putt though after having a hard time on the greens during the round.
Hook could have avoided the playoff all together, but he bogeyed the 17th in regulation after his birdie chip edged the hole and his par putt lipped out. In the end, Hook was pleased with his performance and was relieved with the win after what he described as a “poorly played” practice round the day before.
With a front nine of two-under 34 and a back nine of three-over 39, Parkinson claimed the first alternate spot with the playoff loss. Robert Bachman took the second alternate position with a round of 74 (+2), carding a bogey on 18.
The U.S. Senior Amateur is one of 13 national championship conducted by the United States Golf Association. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed Old Warson Country Club will host its third USGA championship, following the 1999 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur.
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