R&A Senior Amateur Championship proves happy hunting ground for North American duo
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
There was a North American double in the R&A Senior Amateur Championships at Royal Dornoch last night.
American Mike McCoy and Canada’s Terrill Samuel were crowned winners as the men’s and women’s events were played concurrently for the first time.
McCoy started the final round nine shots clear of the field and was able to give up six bogeys and a double on the back nine and still win by seven. He is the second consecutive Iowa golfer to lift the trophy, following close friend and fellow Des Moines native Gene Elliott. The 2021 champion was on hand to spray his next door neighbour with champagne when McCoy holed out on the 18th green.
“Up until the end I played some of the best golf of my life in this wind,” said McCoy. “My round yesterday (one-under 69) was one of the best of my life.
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“I knew I had a big lead and I was maybe protecting it a bit today. I was patient all week, which was key. I probably lost a little bit on the back nine today but I just kept my chin up. I grinded hard at the start and when I made the turn after nine I knew I had a lot (of shots) to work with.”
The 59-year-old, who will lead next year’s Walker Cup team for the USA at St Andrews, credited Elliott for inspiring him to victory.
He added: “After Gene won, I definitely made it a goal this year to win this championship. I thought if I worked hard maybe it would become my turn.
“I worked hard over the winter, played well this Spring and was in decent form before I got here. It’s a big honour to have won this championship on such a great course, in tough conditions against such a strong field.”
Samuel is just the third Canadian winner after Alison Murdoch in 2007 and Diane Williams in 1994.
Joint 36-hole leader with Peru’s Anna Morales, Samuel struggled to a third round 85 in the strong winds that sent scores sky rocketing.
However, the 61-year-old, English-born Canadian never gave up. She returned a closing three-over 75 for a 22-over 309 total to defeat 2019 champion Lara Tennant (USA) by two shots. Former Curtis Cup player Emma Brown (Malton & Norton) was a shot further back in third.
Samuel said: “It’s unbelievable to do win on this course, in such tough conditions. I played poorly on the front nine yesterday, but today I made a great start and that helped me mentally. It made me hang in there and I just battled hard over the back nine.
“This is my biggest win in golf because I was born in the UK. I was born in Twickenham and moved to Canada with my parents when I was two months old. I used to come over every year and spend time with my grandparents in Cornwall and play amateur events over here so it feels like a home win.
“I know Diane Williams, so to get my name on the trophy with hers, and become the third Canadian winner, is a huge honour.”