Portland, Ore. (Tuesday, August 19, 2014) – As the local representative of the United States Golf Association, the Oregon Golf Association conducted sectional qualifying at Riverside Golf and Country Club for the U.S. Senior Amateur which will be held Sep. 13 – 18 at Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach CA.

Medalist honors went to Randy Mahar, of Portland Ore., who finished three strokes better than the field on the 6,700-yard par 72 layout after firing a 4-under par 35-33 (68).  Mahar made the turn at 1-under par despite bogeys on holes 8 and 9. However, with three birdies and no bogeys on the back nine he cruised to victory.

Mahar lost in a playoff to make it to the U.S. Senior Amateur two years ago at Riverside, losing to Bob Harrington, of Portland Ore. Harrington is this year’s first alternate. This marks the eighth USGA Championship for Mahar but this will be his first US Senior Amateur Championship.  

Just back of Mahar was Bill Hood, of Beaverton Ore., finishing with 1-under par 34-37 (71) to qualify for second spot for the Championship. Bob Harrington, who last qualified for this championship two years ago, here saw first medalist honors after an even-par round of 39-33 (72). Mike Kloenne, of West Linn, finished second alternate.

The inaugural USGA Senior Amateur was held in 1955 at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. The event, for those who are 55 or older on or before the day the championship begins, is open to those with a USGA Handicap Index of 7.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.