Close to 500 players from 25 Local Tours competed in the 2025 Senior National Championship!

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – This year’s tournament marked the 27th anniversary of the Senior Amateur Tour. In all, 484 players from each of our 25 Local Tours participated in the two-day, 36-hole competition that spanned six courses.

In the Championship Flight, Wendell Akins won his first National Championship leading wire-to-wire. Akins opened the tournament on Wednesday at Robert Cupp by breaking the National Championship record for the lowest round ever with a seven under par round of 65. The score gave him a three-shot lead over Jeff Wong of Bluffton, SC. Thursday at Robbers Row, Adkins posted a one over par round of 73 to win by just two shots over Wong. Kevin Wooten finished third and Cade Hebert and Derek Riley finished tied fourth.

Wendell Akins, Louisiana (65-73—138)
Jeff Wong, Hilton Head-Savannah (68-72—140)
Kevin Wooten, Eastern, NC (74-72—146)
Cade Hebert, Louisiana (77-71—148)
Derek Riley, Indiana-Western, KY (76-72—148)

Competition in the A Flight was a see-saw battle on Thursday. By the second day, eight players were all in contention at the Fazio course in Palmetto Dunes. Clayton McCoy and Bo Crooks finished up tied after 36 holes thanks to Crooks birdie on the final hole. In the sudden-death playoff McCoy captured the victory and the National Championship Trophy. Ed Paterniti played consistently both days and finished one back of the playoff in solo third. Dana Shoulders and Harbour Town caddie Steve Evans finished tied for fourth.

Clayton McCoy, Augusta, GA (78-72—150) *Won in sudden-death playoff
Bo Crooks, Central, NC (77-73—150)
Ed Paterniti, Jacksonville, FL (75-76—151)
Dana Shoulders, Columbus, OH (79-73—152)
Steve Evans, Coastal, GA (77-75—152)

In the B Flight, Michael Anderson won by two shots in the closing holes. Anderson wins back to back National Championships with a two-day total of 157. Shawn Cacioppo finished just two shots back in solo second followed by Richard McGovern with 159. Reggie Livingston, a long-time veteran, finished fourth and Doug Champman represented the Mississippi Tour with a fifth-place finish.

Michael Anderson, Cincinnati/Dayton (80-77—157)
Shawn Cacioppo, Central, NC (81-78—159)
Richard McGovern, Jacksonville, FL (79-82—161)
Reggie Livingston, Augusta, GA (84-80—164)
Doug Chapman, Michigan (83-83—166)

It took the C Flight players extra holes to determine the winner. Rick Williams and Ken White went back out on the Arthur Hills (PD) 18th hole for the sudden-death playoff. With a ball OB off the tee, Williams still fought hard with an incredible bogie and won the playoff hole for the National Championship. Mike Grant finished in third followed by Jim Whitehead in fourth position. A group of players tied fifth as Don Upright beat out Jody Parker, Kevin Brown and Chris Campbell for fifth place money on the card.

Rick Williams, Jacksonville, FL (85-87—172)
Ken White, Charlotte, NC (84-88—172)
Mike Grant, Charlotte, NC (87-89—176)
Jim Whitehead, Augusta, GA (90-87--177)
Don Upright, Washington DC Metro (91-87—178)

In D Flight, Shep Ellis wins his first National Championship by one single shot. Kevin Thompson and Al Rodgers tied second at 182 with Thompson winning outright on the card playoff. Roberto Benavides was solo fourth, followed by five players tied fifth. Jay Thompson, Roger Roriex, Clarence Whittington, William Evertz and TJ James were all tied at 184.

Shep Ellis, Orlando, FL (90-91—181)
Kevin Thompson, Eastern, NC (90-92—182)
Al Rodgers, Southern, VA (89-93—182)
Roberto Benavides, Columbus, OH (88-95—183)
Jay Thompson, Washington DC Metro (94-90—184)

In this year’s Team Cup a first time ever after 27 years, Louisiana and Augusta, GA tied with two-day totals of 1652. Using the playoff method that was used for individual stroke play, Louisiana won with the lower day two total score of 828 vs Augusta, GA with 830. Orlando, FL was third followed by Eastern NC and Columbus, OH.

 

Regarding the PGA Superstore 2-Man Team Challenge, please extend your congratulations to the following teams for their outstanding performance, as evidenced by their two-day totals listed below:

Champ Flight: Cade Hebert (Louisiana) and Wendell Akins (Louisiana) 286
A Flight: Matt Wiley (Michigan) and Chris Kallgren (Michigan) 312
B Flight: Garrett Maynard (Columbus, OH) and Michael Anderson (Cincinnati/Dayton) 326
C Flight: Dionisio Camacho (Augusta, GA) and Scott Holland (Augusta, GA) 365
D Flight: David Schmidt (Augusta, GA) and TJ James (Augusta, GA) 371

I would like to extend my gratitude to Palmetto Dunes and the Arthur Hills course for once again hosting this year’s National Championship. In 2025, the Senior Amateur Tour experienced significant growth, adding 2500 members across 25 local tours.

This season marked the twentieth year Hilton Head Island hosted our National Championships. Our 1288 competitors (484 Senior Amateur Tour/704 Golfweek Amateur Tour) collectively played on nine courses: Country Club of Hilton Head, Oyster Reef GC, Golden Bear, Robert Cupp at Palmetto Hall, Hampton Hall, Robber Row in Port Royal and Robert Trent Jones, Fazio and Arthur Hills courses at Palmetto Dunes.