Senior Amateur

Pole position for Kennedy and Eakin in Senior Amateur Championships

The R&A

09 Jul 25

4 mins

The 13th hole on the New Course at Walton Heath.

John Kennedy is enjoying a new lease of life in his first full season playing senior amateur golf, looking for his fourth straight victory.

This one will be a bit special though: another 36 holes and he could be crowned R&A Senior Amateur champion at Walton Heath Golf Club. Kennedy got to the top of the leaderboard with a six-under-par 66 – the low round of the Championship so far – around the New Course on Wednesday to go with his opening 70 on the Old. He sits on eight-under-par 136 with a three-shot lead over Canadian Miles McConnell. Ireland’s Tracy Eakin leads the Women’s Championship. The member of Dooks Golf Club returned a level par 74 around the New to go with yesterday’s 73 over the Old to sit on one-under-par 147. She has a one-shot lead over first-round leader Shelly Stouffer of Canada.

Rich vein of form

Kennedy is making his debut in the Senior Amateur. However, he hasn’t been fazed by playing with the world’s best. Not after his recent run of tournaments. “I’ve been in a bit of rich vein of form,” Kennedy admitted. “I won the Scottish (Senior Men’s Open Championship), I won our (Consett & District Golf) club championship then the (Durham) County Championship and now I’m here and my form has just carried on.” Kennedy was expected to win his club championship after 13 previous wins. As Durham’s most capped player with 109 caps, he’s a perennial favourite to win his County Championship. However, the Scottish Senior victory at Montrose was different. It was his debut win on the senior circuit and reward for a renewed work ethic.

Inspiration to practice

“I turned 55 midway through last year and I was invited onto the England senior squad,” Kennedy said. “Getting into that squad was a huge bonus for me. It almost gave me a new lease of life, a bit of inspiration to practice a little bit more and do the right things.” He's certainly done the right things over the opening two rounds over 1981 Ryder Cup venue Walton Heath. “I have no explanation for the form I’m in," he added. "I think it’s just that I’m doing nothing stupid. I’m keeping the ball in play. There are no disruptive shots in my bag right now. I mean I’ve only missed three fairways in two rounds.” Kennedy is a compliance manager for the Automobile Association and fits his amateur golf around his work schedule. He said, “I play tournament golf during my holidays so I’m trying to play as much as possible. I’m almost tempted to take retirement and just play full-time amateur golf because it's good fun doing this.” He might just give up his job if he wins the 56^th R&A Senior Amateur Championship.

The Championships are being staged at Walton Heath.

Stiff opposition

He’ll have stiff opposition over the next two rounds. McConnell, the 2024 Canadian Senior Men’s champion, has three top-tens in his last three Senior Amateur appearances, including two thirds. He added a three-under-par 69 around Walton Heath’s Old Course to go with his opening 70 on the New. Americans Danny Nelson and 2019 US Senior Amateur champion Bob Royak share third place on four-under.

Gritty ability

Eakin is looking to go two places better this year than her debut appearance at Saunton Golf Club when she placed third. She’s dropped nine shots over the first two rounds but has shown a gritty ability to bounce back from adversity. For example, she made a double-bogey at the fifth but came back with birdies on the seventh and ninth holes. She began the back nine with a bogey but birdied the 13^th and 18^th holes to get into the clubhouse on level par, one under for the tournament. “I’ve just held it together well when things weren’t going to plan,” the 55-year-old said. “I’ve just taken my punishment and accepted it knowing I’ll get chances to put it right. “I didn’t have any expectations coming in here but you always want to do well in this championship because it’s the biggest tournament of the year. Sometimes you can get inspired by a good course, and these are two great courses." Eakin has a number of good players on her tail to ensure the next two rounds will be competitive. Looking past Stouffer, French player Carole Danten Azfi and American Kathy Hartwiger are two shots behind on one-over-par. Australia’s Sue Wooster is on two-over in solo fifth place. Like Kennedy, she has form this year. She’s won three times, including the recent Italian Senior International Ladies Championship. Fellow Australian and defending champion Nadine Gole is only five shots off the lead in joint seventh place.

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