Joe Sawaia and John Turk earned spots in the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur which was held Aug. 24-29, 2024, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN. Sawaia advanced to the round of 64 while Turk did not move on past the stroke play qualifier. Both had rave reviews about their experiences. –by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Turk won the local qualifier at Red Rock Country Club while Sawaia qualified and was low medalist at a qualifier at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in California.
At the Senior Am, Sawaia posted scores of 80-75—155 and tied for 39th and moved into the match play portion of the event. Sawaia lost in the first round of match play 5-4 to Chip Lutz who went on to lose in the round of 32.
Turk had rounds of 86-86—172 and missed the cut to get into the top 64 and advance to match play.
Louis Brown from Marietta, GA, beat Daniel Sullivan from Padadena, CA, 4-3 to win the title.
“It was the toughest course I’ve ever played,” Turk said. “When only five guys out of 150 of the world’s best senior amateur golfers break par you know it’s tough.”
Turk added he certainly wasn’t happy with his play, but the event itself was over-the-top.
“I just can’t tell you how great it was,” Turk said. “Everyone treated you well and I don’t know if there’s a better facility anywhere. Those guys have their act together. Just wow.”
Sawaia looked at the event as one he won’t soon forget.
“It was a first-class event from start to finish,” Sawaia said. “It was really, really cool to be treated that well. This is the kind of environment I want to be in more often. I definitely left there happy with the experience…but not satisfied.”
On the course, Turk simply said the golf course got the best of him.
“My biggest downfall was I wasn’t able to hit my mid-irons where I needed to hit them,” he said. “Now, I’ll work on that all year. That and the speed of the greens was just brutal. I think they were right around 13 on the Stimp meter and with all of the ridges and mounds between you and the tucked pins, putting was definitely a challenge.”
Turk said he will take one highlight away from the week.
“My biggest thrill came on the ninth hole the second day,” he said. “I hit a good drive and hit a wedge from 104 yards to six feet and made the birdie putt. There were about 120 people around the green and there were a few cheers. That was the bright spot.”
Sawaia said he played solid during the stroke play and was happy to get into the match play portion.
“In the stroke play, I had a really bad nine holes that kept me from being higher up on the seeding going into match play,” he said. “But I had two birdies on the last two holes to finish strong so that was a positive going into match play.”
His time in match play ended early with the 5-and-4 loss.
“It was exciting to make match play,” Sawaia said. “Once you make it there, anything can happen. I think a 55 seed made it to the semifinals so you never know.”
Sawaia started slowly in his match play matchup and he couldn’t catch up.
“I gave him a couple of holes early and that really hurt,” Sawaia said. “That and Chip played really, really well. I think he was bogey-free through 13 holes. I wish I could have applied more pressure but I got out of position a few times. I made it too easy for him.”
But now, Sawaia is driven to get the chance to play the event again.
“I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in that position again,” he said.
