Rancho Mirage, CA — After three days of elite amateur golf and sweltering desert heat, Bryan Hoops of Tempe, AZ emerged victorious at the 2025 Trans-Mississippi Senior Amateur Championship, held at the historic Thunderbird Country Club.
Hoops closed with a final-round 67, finishing at 203 (10-under) for the championship. His steady play throughout the week — rounds of 70-66-67 — held off a talented and experienced field that included past champions and national contenders.
Finishing two shots back was Michael McCoy of Norwalk, IA, who posted rounds of 68-70-67 for a 205 total (8-under). McCoy briefly surged into the lead on Thursday’s front nine with a run of birdies, but Hoops answered on the back nine with clutch birdies of his own to seal the win.
Final Round Recap
With a one-shot lead entering the final round, Hoops remained composed under pressure. Key birdies on holes 10 and 13 helped him separate from McCoy and Greg Sanders of Anthem, AZ, who finished tied for third at 6-under alongside Stan Humphries of Monroe, LA. Both players closed with strong final rounds of 69 and 67, respectively.
Daniel Sullivan of Pasadena, CA and Gene Elliott of Norwalk, IA finished tied for fifth at 5-under. Elliott, a past champion, opened with rounds of 69 and 67 before cooling with a final-round 72.
Cut Line and WAGR Implications
Following Wednesday’s second round, 41 players advanced to the final day after making the cut at 7-over-par. All competitors finishing near the top earned valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, underscoring the strength and significance of the event within the senior amateur calendar.
🔥 Tournament Conditions
Thunderbird Country Club offered firm fairways, slick greens, and a championship-caliber test — all under the blazing Coachella Valley sun. With temperatures exceeding 100°F, players showed resilience, especially those in the afternoon wave. Early tee times offered a slight reprieve, but the leaderboard still saw movement from both halves of the field.
Super Senior Division Recap
Mark Morgan of Shingle Springs, CA delivered a wire-to-wire performance to win the Super Senior Division, finishing at 206 (7-under) with rounds of 68, 69, and 69. Adam Kugler of Edwards, CO charged up the leaderboard with a final-round 68 to claim solo second at 210 (3-under), while John Pate of Santa Barbara, CA placed third at 216 (3-over).