US Senior Open: 28 started - Hanzel is last am standing

OMAHA, Nebraska (July 14, 2013) -- Doug Hanzel, 56, earned low-amateur honors for the second year in a row in the 2013 U.S. Senior Open at Omaha Country Club. Hanzel was the lone amateur to make it to the weekend, shooting a second-round 70 for a 144 total to squeak under the cut line. Hanzel posted a pair of 73s on Saturday and Sunday to finish in 56th place. By virtue of being the only amateur remaining, Hanzel, an Ohio native who now resides in Savannah, Ga., will earn a berth into this year’s U.S. Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and USGA Senior Amateur, as well as the 2014 U.S. Senior Open. He tied for 53rd last year. Prior to the tournament starting, Hanzel spoke to the USGA as last year's low am and put things in perspective. “Those guys [on the Champions Tour] are so good,” said the 56-year-old from Savannah, Ga. “They are playing every week. The mass majority of amateurs here are working. I still have a job. If I play two or three times, that’s a pretty good week.” Jack Hall (74-73) and Mike McCoy (74-73) finished 2 shots over the cut line. McCoy, of West Des Moines, Iowa just two hours away, didn't do anything to hurt his Walker Cup chances, though he could have made a really strong statement by making the weekend and finishing low amateur. Now that the USGA is taking two mid-ams for the 2013 Walker Cup team, it appears that McCoy and several other mid amateurs are chasing front runners Nathan Smith (a virtual lock) and Todd White of South Carolina. Hanzel may not be first in line for one of those positions, but a player with the ability to compete with the top "50-and-over" set of pros would certainly be an asset to the team.