DANVILLE, KY - Danville Country Club played host to the 2024 Clark's Pump & Shop Kentucky Senior Amateur this week, a tournament that showcases the best amateur golfers in the state over the age of fifty. The field of nearly 100 players was extremely competitive, and each division title was decided on the final holes in regulation. 

The first round of play on Monday saw quite a bit of scoring, as Mike Brumfield, Olin Bryant, and Scott Ray each shot a 69(-3) to top the leaderboard. They were followed closely by five golfers within two strokes of the lead. 

The second round was quite the roller coaster of emotions for the leaders. Brumfield and Ray got off to a hot start in the final grouping of the day as each golfer birdied two of the first three holes. A double-bogey on hole #5 by Brumfield granted Ray his first lead of the day at five-under-par, but it did not last long. Olin Bryant stormed back with birdies on holes #5 and #6 to get to four-under-par at the turn, while Ray bogeyed holes #8 and #9 taking him back to three-under-par. Brumfield was also at four-under-par through the first nine holes after birdies on holes #6 and #9. 

As the field continued to chase after Bryant, Brumfield, and Ray, it was Mark Knecht who found the most success. The 2020 “Kentucky Senior Slam” champion started the day at one-under-par and chased down the leaders with a slow and steady approach. Knecht managed to find birdies on holes #3, #8, #10, and #11 to reach five-under-par through eleven bogey-free holes. Brumfield and Bryant each made a bogey on hole #11, taking them to three-under-par alongside Ray, and giving Knecht a two-shot lead heading to hole #12. This was the sixth lead change of the day, and Knect was the fourth player to claim at least a share of the lead. 

Knecht found misfortune in the form of bogeys on holes #13 and #16, dropping him back into a tie for the lead with Brumfield at three-under-par with two holes to play.

As he stood on the 17th tee, Brumfield knew that he had been given a chance to take control of his own destiny. He did exactly that, capitalizing on the moment and going birdie-birdie on the final two holes to achieve his first victory since last year's Kentucky Senior Open. Brumfield finished the tournament with a score of 139(-5) and was followed by Mark Knecht and Scott Ray at 141(-3). 

During his victorious round, Brumfield was sporting a motivating personal reminder written on his wrist tape. "I did this for my mom today," said Brumfield, noting that his mother is currently ill, "I wanted to have a reminder that I am fighting for things that are bigger than golf". 

Brumfield is no stranger to success, as he had an outstanding junior and collegiate career. He was the individual medalist at the 1993 OVC Championship and received OVC Player of the Year honors that same year. More recently, Brumfield has found success in the senior amateur circuit marked by his victory at last year's 24th Kentucky Senior Open. 

Congratulations are also in order for Rick Harp who finished at 142(-2) to claim the masters division title and Dennis Long 151(+7) who took home the legends division title. 

The KGA expresses its greatest appreciation to Clark's Pump & Shop for their continued support of this week's event and golf in the state of Kentucky as a whole. The KGA would also like to thank Joey Sachs, PGA and the entire staff at Danville Country Club for their hospitality in hosting this event. 

QUICK STATS: 

• Five eagles were scored during the tournament, including a hole-in-one on hole #12 by David Farrell. 
• Mike Brumfield and Tommy Webb led the field with 10 birdies each throughout the tournament. 
• Hole #1 played the easiest of the tournament with an average score of -0.01 under par. 
• Hole #10 played the hardest of the tournament with an average score of +0.71 strokes over par. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FINAL LEADERBOARD

About the Kentucky Golf Association:

The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is one of the three organizations encompassed under Golf House Kentucky, in addition to the Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF) and Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA). The Kentucky Golf Association represents the amateur body of Kentucky’s golfers working in assistance with the United States Golf Association (USGA). The KGA provides a wide range of services, including handicapping, USGA course and slope ratings, and tournament management software to its Member Clubs. The KGA also operates the state’s premier amateur tournaments along with USGA National Championship qualifiers. Alongside the KGF and KPGA, the KGA strives to promote the benefits and enjoyment of golf while continuing to grow the sport across the Commonwealth.