Jonathan Clark of Hurricane and John Bumgarner of Scott Depot tied for the lead in Championship stroke play on the opening day of play in the Championship Division at the 2025 West Virginia Senior Amateur Championship, conducted by the West Virginia Golf Association (WVGA) and sponsored by Dutch Miller of Charleston, at Edgewood Country Club in Sissonville. Clark was aided by one birdie, Bumgarner was aided by three birdies and an eagle on their way to the lead in the field of 31 players at one under par (-1) 70.
In Senior stroke play, Scott Bibbee of Vienna led a field of 35 golfers, finishing at even par (E) 71, aided by three birdies.
Following 18 holes of stroke play, both divisions embarked on another 18 holes of match play. The first round of 18-hole stroke play was a qualifier to set the seeding for the remainder of the tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Based on the temperatures, we will have heat safety measures in place around the course,” said Edgewood’s Head Golf Professional Craig Berner. “We are honored to have the best senior in the state on our course for three days.”
“We want to thank Edgewood Country Club, along with Craig Berner and his staff, for hosting the 2025 Senior Amateur,” said WVGA Executive Director Chris Slack. “We are thrilled to have Dutch Miller of Charleston as our sponsoring partner this week.”
The 16 qualifiers in the Championship Division on Monday were:
- Jonathan Clark of Hurricane, (-1) 70;
- Bryan Myers of Wheeling, (+2) 73;
- John Bugarner of Scot Depot, (-1) 70;
- Pat Carter of Huntington, (E) 71;
- Harold Payne of Hurricane, (+1) 72;
- Robert McPeak of Parkersburg, (+1) 72;
- Bob Clark of Wheeling, (+1) 72;
- Jason McClanahan of Charleston, (+2) 73;
- Chris Daniels of Beckley, (+3) 74;
- John Kingora of Morgantown, (+3) 74;
- Patrick Amburgey of Charleston, (+3) 74;
- Van Stemple of Shepherdstown, (+3) 74;
- David Corbin of Charleston, (+4) 75;
- Chuck Workman of Marlinton, (+4) 75;
- Michael Koreski of Parkersburg, (+5) 76; and
- Dave Higinbotham of Daniels, (+5) 76.
In quarter-final match play of the Championship Division, Higinbotham defeated J. Clark 4 & 2, Daniels defeated McClanahan 3& 2, Carter defeater Corbin 4 & 3, Payne defeated Van Stemple 7 & 6, Koreski defeated Myers 5 & 4, B. Clark defeated Kingora 1 up, Bumgarner defeated Workman 4 & 3 and McPeak defeated Amburgey 2 & 1.
The 16 qualifiers in the Senior Division on Monday were:
- Scott Bibbee of Vienna, (E) 71;
- Bart Willis of Logan (E) 71;
- Neil Christiansen of Parkersburg, (+2) 73;
- Lee Cooperrider of Hurricane, (+3) 74;
- John Gregory of Hurricane, (+3) 74;
- Joe Crislip of Parkersburg, (+4) 75;
- Rick Sponseller of Charleston, (+4) 75;
- Cledus Judd of Huntington, (+5) 76;
- Jason Camp of South Point, Ohio, (+5) 76;
- David Eller of Barboursville, (+5) 76;
- Gary Cooperof Dunbar, (+6) 77;
- Jim Freeman of Barboursville, (+6) 77;
- Gary Hawkins of Fairmont, (+7) 78;
- Michael Poling of Vienna, (+7) 78;
- Nevin Wilson of Hurricane, (+7) 78; and
- Reid Carroll of Barboursville, (+8) 79.
In quarter-final match play of the Senior Division, Bibbee defeated Carroll 8 & 7, Judd defeated Camp 4 & 2, Carpenter defeated Hawkins 3 & 2, Cooperrider defeated Hawkins 3 & 2, Freeman defeated Gregory 2 up, Wilson defeated Willis 2 & 1, Eller defeated Sponseller 1 up, Christiansen defeated Poling 1 up and Crislip defeated Cooper 2 & 1.
For complete results click here for today’s leaderboard.
The Senior Amateur Championship continues with 36 holes Tuesday and 18 holes on Wednesday.