Cooper Takes Alabama Senior with Final-Round Comeback

5/20/2018 | by Alabama Golf Association

Claud Cooper (AGA photo)

Claud Cooper started four shots back but went deep at Moore's Mill Golf Club

AUBURN, AL (May 20, 2018) – With an epic comeback, Claud Cooper of Birmingham won the 21st Alabama State Senior Amateur Championship of the Alabama Golf Association at Moore’s Mill Club (Ages 50-64: 6433 yards, par 36-36—72, 70.7/129; Ages 65+ (Super Senior): 5419 yards, par 36-36—72, 66.5/116). Starting the day four shots off the lead, Cooper fired a final round seven-under 65 to finish the championship at 211 (-5) for a one stroke victory over Joey Holley of Troy. This is the first State Senior Amateur and Alabama Golf Association title for Cooper. Cooper was eight-under par for the round and six-under for the championship giving him a one shot lead on the par four 18th tee. An errant second shot over the green left him with an improbable opportunity for a par. He narrowly missed his 40 foot par attempt that resulted in a bogey dropping him back into a tie with Holley at five-under for the championship. Holley was playing two groups behind Cooper. Holley was five-under for his round standing on the 18th tee. Knowing he needed a par to force a playoff, he also hit an errant second shot short of the green. He was unable to get up-and-down for his par to fall one shot short of Cooper. Defending champion Robert Nelson of Fairhope posted a final round 70 (217) to finish in sixth place. In the 65+ Super Senior Division, Wayne Gardner of Mobile posted a final round 73 (217) to win by two strokes over Fred Clark of Mobile. Alabama State Senior Amateur Championship is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 50th birthday by May 18, 2018, is a legal resident of Alabama, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at an AGA member club that does not exceed 10.4 (ages 50-64) and 15.4 (age 65+).

About the Alabama Senior Amateur

Must be a resident of the state of Alabama to enter. 54 holes of gross individual stroke play. Players in the 50-56 and 57-64 Age Divisions will play the championship tees and eligible to win the overall Championship. 65+ Age Division plays a shorter...

Most Popular Articles

2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced

Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing

2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING

Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year

2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners

Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.

Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch

Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory

Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s

Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original

Filters

Related Tournament

Alabama Senior Amateur

View Details

Loading latest news...