Amateurgolf member, Jeff Burda of Modesto advances to the quarterfinals along with top ranked Paul Simson, defending champion and Chip Lutz, British Senior Am champ. Brothers Sanford and Louis Lee set to play each other.
by Christina Lance and Michael Trostel
MANAKIN-SABOT, Va. (Sept. 13, 2011)
Paul Simson, 60, of Raleigh, N.C.
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-and-1 victory over Emile Vaughan … 2011 Senior Amateur medalist (71-68–139) … has not trailed a match at any point during the 2011 Senior Amateur … competing in his sixth Senior Amateur and 41st USGA championship … won the 2010 Senior Amateur at Lake Nona … medalist during Senior Amateur qualifying in four of past six years … 2011 marks 27th consecutive year he has played in at least one USGA championship … wears trademark straw hat in competition … three-time British Senior Open Amateur champion … completed an unprecedented sweep by winning national senior amateur championships of Canada, Britain and the United States in 2010 … son, Phillip, has caddied in all of his championship victories except one … 1974 graduate of the University of New Mexico … president of Stan Taylor Insurance … wife, Chris; son, Phillip…birthday is May 10, 1951.
Philip Pleat, 55, of Nashua, N.H.
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-and-1 victory over fellow New Englander Andrew Congdon … competing in his first Senior Amateur and ninth USGA championship … advanced to the round of 16 of the 1978 APL … caddied for his son, James, at the 2011 U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills; James missed match play by one stroke … has won 13 amateur championships in New Hampshire … three-time recipient of Thomas J. Leonard Award as Player of the Year in New Hampshire; the award is named in honor of his father-in-law … 1978 graduate of the University of New Hampshire … a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch … wife, Lisa; daughter, Jennifer; son, James … birthday is May 23, 1956.
Chip Lutz, 56, of Reading, Pa.
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-and-1 victory over Hunter Nelson … all three of his matches at the 2011 Senior Amateur have gone to at least the 17th hole … competing in his second Senior Amateur and eighth USGA championship … advanced to the semifinals of the 2010 Senior Amateur … vying to become the second player (along with Paul Simson in 2010) to win the USGA Senior Amateur, British Senior Open Amateur and Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in the same season … Lutz and his two brothers are all named John, but go by nicknames given by their father … Lutz has an older brother, Wedge; his younger brother, Putter, caddied for him during his win at the British Seniors … wife, Bonnie … birthday is January 11, 1955.
Jeff Burda, 58, of Modesto, Calif.
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-and-4 victory over Richard Marlowe … competing in his third Senior Amateur and 13th USGA championship … advanced to the semifinals of the 2010 Senior Amateur where he lost to eventual champion Paul Simson … has not been taken to the 17th hole in any of his matches this week … started a bank in Modesto in 1998 and sold it to Bank of Stockton in 2003 … three-time California State Senior Amateur champion … 1975 graduate of University of Notre Dame … wife, Cindy; son, Patrick; daughter, Kelly … birthday is March 22, 1953.
William Thomas Doughtie, 58, Amarillo, Texas
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-and-1 victory over John Grace … competing in his fourth Senior Amateur and seventh USGA championship … advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2009 Senior Amateur where he lost to eventual champion Vinny Giles … has also competed in three U.S. Senior Opens … won the 2008 Texas Golf Association (TGA) Senior Championship … also in 2008, named TGA Senior Player of the Year … 1975 graduate of Southern Methodist University … works in investments for TD Co. … wife, Kathy; daughter, Anne, is a surgeon; son, Will, is a professional golfer … birthday is July 22, 1953.
Ronald Kilby, 56, McAllen, Texas
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-and-2 victory over David Anthony … competing in his first Senior Amateur and 14th USGA championship … 2011 Texas Senior Amateur champion … graduate of the University of Houston, where as a senior in 1977 he was an honorable mention All-American on the golf team that won the NCAA Championship … real estate agent … wife, Becky; sons, Eric, Christian, Nolan … born July 23, 1955.
Louis Lee, 55, Heber Springs, Ark.
Advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-and-4 victory over Steve Poulson … competing in his first USGA championship … has won 10 Arkansas State Golf Association titles … brother of fellow quarterfinalist Stanford Lee … had not played competitive golf in 26 years … Lee is the youngest player remaining in the field … 1978 graduate of Louisiana State University … an insurance agent with State Farm … birthday is July 16, 1956.
Stanford Lee, 59, Heber Springs, Ark.
Advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Tony Green in 19 holes … competing in his fifth Senior Amateur and 10th USGA championship … won the 2007 Senior Amateur at Flint Hills … brother of fellow quarterfinalist Louis Lee … is an avid baseball historian and has been to all but four Major League ballparks … 1975 graduate of Louisiana State University … an insurance agent with State Farm … sons, Chris, Michael, Jeremy, Jason; daughter, Shalyn … born September 1, 1952.
The USGA Senior Amateur is open to those with a USGA Handicap Index of 5.4 or lower, who are 55 or older on or before the day the qualifying begins, usually in August. It is one of 15 national championships conducted annually by the USGA.
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