Casino Del Sol’s Sewailo Golf Club was a beautiful canvas for opening round action of the 2022 Golfweek Senior Desert Showdown.
Some of the best senior amateur players from across the country have descended upon Tucson, Arizona, to duke it out in the desert for 54 holes. With players ranging in age from 55 to older than 75, plenty of scores came in under retirement age.
Terry Cook has the early lead in the 55-64 year old senior division. Pacing the field with a blazing 6-under 66, the Iowa native holds a four-shot lead. A lone bogey on the par-4 5th dirtied Cook’s scorecard but he was able to finish strong with three birdies over his final five holes to close out his impressive start.
Four players sit at 2 under with another duo finishing Wednesday’s opening round five back of the lead. Golfweek’s No. 2 ranked senior amateur Kevin VandenBerg finished his day at even par. Unable to keep bogeys off of his card, VandenBerg was able to finish on a high note as he closed with a birdie on No. 18 in hopes to gain a bit of momentum heading into Thursday’s second round.
VandenBerg is practically the only challenger to No. 1 Rusty Strawn for 2022 Golfweek Player of the Year honors. With less than three events left in the season and Strawn playing in the East-West Matches this week, a strong finish by VandenBerg would take a bite out of the 1,930 points that separate him and Strawn.
Super Senior Don Kuehn is in a familiar spot: atop the leaderboard. Kuehn carded a 2-under 70 to take an early two-stroke lead. As a winner of 44 championship events throughout his career, Kuehn looks to make it 45 before heading home to be inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame next week.
Florida’s Jim Starnes trails by two after a 72. Dan Parkinson and Robin Rubrecht are hot on the trail after matching each other with 1-over 73s.
John Hamilton leads the way in the Legends division. The New York native made the cross country trek and is loving the change of pace. Firing a 5-over 77, Hamilton didn’t quite shoot his age but will take a one-shot lead into Thursday looking to change that.
Steve Wilson and Craig Collins came into the clubhouse with some of the most impressive golf of the day. Both in the Super Legend division (75-years-old and up), the pair turned in matching 1-under 71s.
Wilson was bogey free on the day with his lone birdie coming on the par-5 14th. Collins had a much more colorful scorecard that was highlighted with an eagle on the par 5 8th. Neither man can rest easy thinking it’s a two horse race. Dan Nicholson and Richard Hunt lurk at 2 over par, making the Super Legend age bracket one to watch as the championship turns its eyes to Thursday’s second round.
