Jeff Knox leads as past champions chase at the Jones Cup Senior

February 26, 2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Knox, a former Masters marker, holds a four shot lead heading into the final round as three past champions make up the top five

Thursday at the Jones Cup Senior is set up for a photo finish.

Jeff Knox of Augusta, Ga., is in a great position at Sea Island Golf Club, the Seaside Course, in St. Simons Island, Ga., but some of the top senior amateurs in the country are chasing him with 18 holes remaining.

The Augusta native recorded five birdies and one bogey in the round and birdied the opening two holes of the tournament. He followed that up with a 3-under 67, with five birdies and two bogeys. He birdied holes No. 12, 13, 15, and 18 to close strong.

2020 and 2023 Jones Cup Senior champion Bob Royak of Alpharetta, Ga., is in solo second place at 3-under. Royak is ranked No. 2 in the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings and is looking for his third Jones Cup Senior title.

Four-time champion (2012, 2014, 2019, 2021) Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga., 2024 champion Jack Larkin Sr. of Atlanta, Ga., Steve Harwell of Mooresville, N.C., and Shaw Pritchett of Montgomery, Ala., are all T3 at 2-under and five shots back of Knox.

Knox is a member of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. His role as a marker at the Masters began in 2003. Over that time, he has been paired with Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Ernie Els, Craig Stadler, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Steve Stricker, amongst others.

“He’s the best I’ve ever seen on Augusta’s greens,” McIlroy said after his round with Knox in 2014. Justin Thomas has echoed that sentiment.

Knox also holds the unofficial Augusta National course record at 11-under 61.

Results: Jones Cup Senior

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Jeff Knox	Augusta, GA	1200	66-67-72=205
2	Danny Nelson	Savannah, GA	900	70-70-66=206
T3	Steve Harwell	Mooresville, NC	700	67-71-69=207
T3	Shaw Pritchett	Montgomery, AL	700	70-68-69=207
T3	Bob Royak	Alpharetta, GA	700	68-69-70=207

View full results for Jones Cup Senior

About the Jones Cup Senior

Jeff Knox leads as past champions chase at the Jones Cup Senior

Inaugurated in 2012, the Jones Cup Senior Invitational extends the legacy of the prestigious Jones Cup by showcasing many of the nation’s top senior amateurs each spring at Sea Island Resort’s celebrated Seaside Course in Coastal Georgia. Contested o...