For two days, some of Savannah’s top amateur golfers battled it out at Bacon Park, vying for the coveted Savannah City Amateur title. After 36 holes, the competition concluded with a familiar name at the top: Danny Nelson, who secured his sixth title in the tournament.

Nelson, a five-time champion entering the weekend, delivered an impressive performance with back-to-back rounds under par. His Saturday round of 68 had him tied for second after 18 holes. On Sunday, he shot a 1-under to narrowly edge out Josh Williams and Philip Kennedy by one stroke. The decisive moment came on the 18th green, where Nelson made a birdie to take the lead.

"Just trying to take care of myself and worry about what I could do, and I couldn’t control what Josh would do," Nelson told WOTC News. "So I just tried to make the eagle putt, and I hit a good putt up there a foot from the hole and made it stress-free when I had to make it." This latest win marks another special achievement in Nelson's career, especially as he continues to compete successfully in both senior and open amateur events.



Nelson’s consistency has made him a staple in this tournament since the mid-1980s, a legacy that he says never gets old. "I’ve been playing in this tournament since 1986 or so, and I’ve been fortunate enough to win it a few times," he shared. "It’s always special to win. It’s always a treat, and it’s always hard."

Nelson's last victory at the Savannah City was in 2017, when he won in a playoff.

In addition to Nelson’s win, other divisional champions collected their trophies, and Chris Bell was awarded the Johnny Skeadas Cup, an honor given to the player who has accumulated the most points across tournaments throughout the year.

About Danny Nelson (view profile)
Savannah resident Danny Nelson, 62, has established himself as one of the most formidable players in senior amateur golf, consistently performing well at prestigious events. His senior career includes standout finishes, such as reaching the final 64 at the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur and a top-20 finish at the 2023 British Senior Amateur.

In recent years, he’s notched impressive showings in rankings events, including:

2023
3rd at the Golfweek POY Classic, T20 at the British Senior Amateur, and T9 at the North & South Senior.

2022
Final 64 at the U.S. Senior Amateur and Medalist honors at the U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying.

2021
6th at the Reynolds Senior Invitational and a strong performance at the Timuquana Cup Senior.

From local tournaments to national senior events, Nelson’s career highlights his skill and dedication to the game, making his recent Savannah City Amateur victory a testament to both his past achievements and his enduring competitive spirit.