When the 46th U.S. Senior Open begins Thursday at historic Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, the spotlight will naturally fall on major champions and Hall of Famers like defending champion Padraig Harrington, Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink, Ernie Els and Miguel Ángel Jiménez. And some first-timers who have reached age 50, like Henrik Stenson. But for our readers, another storyline is worth watching: the select group of amateurs who survived one of the most demanding qualifying paths in senior championship golf.
The USGA's two-stage qualifying system, used for the second consecutive year, has made earning a place in the 156-player field considerably more difficult. Players first had to advance through 18-hole local qualifying before taking on an equally pressure-packed final qualifier, unless they were already exempt into the final stage. That format places a premium on sustained performance rather than one exceptional round, making this year's amateur contingent especially battle-tested. The championship attracted 2,780 entries before the field was finalized.
That represents a shift from recent years. As we noted in an article featuring interviews with amateur contestants after the 2022 championship, 20 amateurs teed it up at Saucon Valley, none advancing to the weekend despite several strong performances. Historically, however, amateurs have found success in this championship. Mike McCoy's memorable run to a top finish at Del Paso Country Club in 2015 remains one of the best modern examples of an amateur thriving against PGA Tour Champions stars, proving the gap can be bridged by elite amateur players over four rounds.
This week's venue only adds to the occasion. Scioto Country Club, where Jack Nicklaus learned the game under legendary instructor Jack Grout, hosts its third U.S. Senior Open and fifth USGA championship overall. The Donald Ross masterpiece also celebrates the centennial of the 1926 U.S. Open held on its grounds, making it one of America's most historic championship venues.
Amateurs to Watch
Among the amateurs in the field are three recent USGA champions: reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Michael McCoy, 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Doug Hanzel, and 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Bob Royak. McCoy, a two-time USGA champion and former U.S. Walker Cup captain, returns to Scioto after competing here when the championship was last held in 2016.
Several other amateurs earned their way through qualifying, including Chris Kamin, who captured medalist honors with a 5-under 66 at final qualifying in California before making his U.S. Senior Open debut. A former professional who has since regained his amateur status, Kamin also reached the Round of 16 in the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Another intriguing name is Michael Stamberger, the former New Jersey Amateur champion who successfully navigated both qualifying stages. Stamberger recently added the New Jersey State Senior Open title to his résumé and owns victories in both the New Jersey State Amateur and Metropolitan Golf Association Amateur.
Amateurs expected to compete include:
Jay Abraham
Scott Berliner
Craig Bowden
Chris Kamin
Bradford Kuester
Michael McCoy
Greg Sanders
Michael Stamberger
Doug Hanzel
Bob Royak
Jonathan Clark
John Kennedy
Whether any of them can contend remains to be seen. But under the USGA's expanded qualifying system, every amateur who arrives at Scioto has already demonstrated the consistency and resilience required to survive multiple rounds of championship qualifying. That alone makes this one of the strongest—and most deserving—groups of amateur competitors the U.S. Senior Open has assembled in years.