Mike McCoy and Terrill Samuel were crowned winners of the R&A Senior Amateur and Women’s Senior Amateur championships, respectively, on July 8 at Royal Dornoch.
With both championships played concurrently for the first time, McCoy was almost able to enjoy a lap of honour in the final round of the Senior Amateur.
Samuel also handled the tough conditions at the renowned venue in the Scottish Highlands better than her competitors to join McCoy as a champion.
Samuel is just the third Canadian winner, after Alison Murdoch in 2007 and Diane Williams in 1994. McCoy is the second consecutive Iowa golfer to lift the trophy, following close friend and fellow Des Moines resident Gene Elliott. The 2021 champion was on hand to spray his neighbour with champagne when McCoy holed out on the 18th green – a moment he will long remember.
McCoy, who perhaps had an eye on the Old Course in St Andrews last week as he will lead next year’s Walker Cup team for the United States of America at the venue, began the final round with a nine-shot lead, the only player in red figures on 5-under-par.
He extended his lead to 12 shots after just four holes and was never in any danger of being overtaken. He had the luxury of an 8-over 78 in strong crosswinds to post a 3-over 283 total and win by seven shots over fellow American Lee Porter.
“Up until the end I played some of the best golf of my life in this wind,” McCoy said. “My third round (1-under 69) was one of the best of my life.
“I knew I had a big lead and I was maybe protecting it a bit. I was patient all week, which was key. I probably lost a little bit on the back nine, 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 credited Elliott for inspiring him to victory and 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.”
MEN’S RESULTS / WOMEN’S RESULTS
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