A field of 156 golfers will take on the par 72, 6,836-yard layout originally designed by Pete Dye, then masterfully restored two years ago under the supervision of Gil Hanse. After getting a sneak preview of the golf course two weeks ago at a media event surrounding the upcoming tournament, the place is immaculate and ready to present a formidable challenge.
During my loop around the course, it is evident that Will Misenhimer – the Director of Agronomy at The Honors - is conspiring with the USGA to present a layout that will severely test the golfers. If the long-range weather forecast holds true with temperatures in the 90s and minimal chances of rain, expect the course to be the source of a few more gray hairs for the senior contingent.
It is unlikely, however, that these uber-talented golfers will need the subtle warning our group received from one of our hospitable caddies the day we played The Honors. After tromping through an area covered with suffocating native grasses far from the nearest fairway looking for an errant shot, we were politely encouraged to check ourselves for ticks who may have latched on for the remainder of the round. I can promise you that none of the Senior Am entrants will venture to those wayward places on the golf course, so they should be fine.
Following a quick inspection that found no stowaways, it became apparent that Dye’s layout at The Honors Course is like a symphony that continues to build throughout the round, reaching its epic crescendo over the final four holes where the tournament will either be won or lost.
Tournament Preview
Tournament chairman Randy Yoder, who also oversees the John T. Lupton Invitational each year at The Honors Course, had a sinister twinkle in his eye when discussing the challenge awaiting the golfers.
“Over the last two years, Rob Doone (with the USGA) and I have been walking around the golf course and talking about the layout,” Yoder said. “With how firm these greens can get, the length of the course is not always the issue. I've got my prediction on what it's going to take to make match play, and it's going to be a little higher than normal. I really think 155 is safe, and I think 156 is a playoff.”
If Yoder’s prediction is accurate, that means a two-day total of 11-over par is considered a quality score, good enough to fall inside the cut that advances the top 64 to match play. That should serve as a somber warning to this year’s participants that the margin for error will be razor thin.
This will be the fifth USGA championship at the Ooltewah institution since opening in 1983. Starting with the 1991 U.S. Amateur, the club has also hosted the 1994 Curtis Cup Match, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur, the 2011 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur along with two NCAA Men’s Championships, three Southern Amateurs and several other men’s and women’s state amateur competitions.
The Field
A total of 2,762 entries were accepted by the USGA vying for one of the coveted spots among the participants, with qualifying conducted at 50 sites across 43 states earlier this summer.
Defending Champion and Past Champions
Former Champions in the Field: Todd White of Spartanburg, S.C. returns to defend his title won last year at Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Cal. The high school history teacher defeated Ireland’s Jody Flanagan, 4 and 3, in the championship match. A former Furman University golfer, White went on to win the R&A Senior Amateur Championship in July and previously captured the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball title with partner Nathan Smith as well as participating in the victorious 2013 USA Walker Cup Team.
Other former champions who will be competing are Rusty Strawn of McDonough, Ga. (2022), Gene Elliot of Norwalk, Iowa (2021), Bob Royak of Alpharetta, Ga. (2019), Jeff Wilson of Fairfield, Cal. (2018), Sean Knapp of Oakmont, Pa. (2017), Dave Ryan of Taylorville, Ill. (2016), Chip Lutz of Jupiter, Fla. (2015), Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga. (2013) and Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. (2010, 2012).
Top Senior Amateur Golfers
Field Chocked Full of Top-Ranked Seniors: Based on the rankings provided by AmateurGolf.com, eight of the top 10 ranked senior amateur golfers and 19 of the top 24 are scheduled to compete at The Honors Course this week. Heading the list is No. 1 rated Bob Royak of Alpharetta, Ga.
Local and Tennessee Players
Local and Tennessee Participants: Lookout Mountain Club member Steve Johnson is the lone local entrant, earning his berth by virtue of finishing co-medalist at the qualifier on his home course. Three other participants with Tennessee connections include:
Nashville’s Stuart Smith, a former University of Tennessee all-American golfer who partnered with Jeff Walker to win the Tennessee Senior Four-Ball Championship and snagged the third qualifying spot at Lookout Mountain Club;
Steve Mann of Franklin, the defending Tennessee Senior Amateur champion who was co-medalist at the Bloomfield, Conn. qualifier;
Todd Burgan of Knoxville, a six-time Tennessee Golf Association champion including four State Mid-Amateur titles between 2012-2021, who earned his spot as co-medalist at the Cincinnati, Ohio qualifier.
Lupton Invitational Connection
Lupton Invitational Well Represented: Among the golfers in the field, 24 of them got a taste of what awaits them back in May at the John T. Lupton Memorial. There are also several former senior champions of the event who are among the field including this year’s champion Mike Combs of Savannah, Ga.
Other former Lupton Memorial winners are Royak (2023), Rick Cloninger of Rock Hill, S.C. (2018), Hanzel (2012, 2016 and 2008 mid-amateur winner), Simson (2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014), Lutz (2010) and 2023 USA Walker Cup captain Mike McCoy of Des Moines, Iowa, who won the Lupton mid-amateur title in 2014.
Caddie Last Week, Competitor This Week
Caddie Last Week, Competitor This Week: McCoy and Atlanta’s Jack Larkin Sr., the 1978 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, were on the other side of the golf bag last week at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. Larkin Sr. caddied for his son, Jack Jr., while McCoy – the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion – was on the bag for his son, Nate, this year’s Iowa Amateur champion.
NFL Connections
NFL Connections: Former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver, who played for the Atlanta Falcons in 1996-97, is among the qualifiers for this week’s tournament. He will be joined by Timothy Rypien, the brother of two-time Super Bowl champion Mark Rypien who quarterbacked the Washington Redskins to a pair of titles.
Tournament Schedule
Tournament Schedule: The field will play two rounds of stroke play on Saturday and Sunday, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play. The match play portion schedule is as follows:
Mon. Aug. 26: Round of 64 matches
Tues. Aug. 27: Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches
Wed. Aug 28: Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches
Thur. Aug 29: Championship match
What the Winner Gets
What the winner gets: The champion of the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur receives a gold medal and custody of the Frederick L. Dold Trophy for the ensuing year, exemption into next year’s U.S. Senior Open, exemption into the 2025 and 2026 U.S. Amateur, exemption for the next 10 U.S. Senior Amateurs, exemption into the 2024 and 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur and exemption from local qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Open Championship.
Volunteer Support
Strong Volunteer Support: Thanks to the efforts of Tim Haralson, the chairman of the Chattanooga Classic Club, there will be more than 300 volunteers supporting the tournament while it is in town. With roles ranging from walking scorers, marshals, spotters, ecology, and transportation, these workers are essential to the tournament’s success.
The event is open to the public with no admission.
A Legacy of Amateur Golf
The Honors Course is no stranger to hosting some of the biggest amateur events in golf. The 1991 U.S. Amateur and 1996 NCAA Championship, won by Tiger Woods, to name a few. When it comes to amateur golf, you can argue no course honors the amateur side more. Founded by great Chattanoogan Jack Lupton, the course's foundation is built on honoring the amateur game. After some major renovations the last few years, The Honors Course is more than ready to bring a major USGA event back to its hallowed grounds.
The U.S. Senior Amateur will take place on August 24-29. The event is free to attend.
