3 days ago
Bryan Hoops in familiar spot after second-round 66 at Golfweek Senior National Championship
Bryan Hoops in familiar spot after second-round 66 at Golfweek Senior National Championship
It took some second-round heroics, but Bryan Hoops is in position to extend his senior golf winning streak. The 56-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, entered the Golfweek Senior National Championship having won his last five senior starts, dating to April. Now Hoops, with a second-round 66 at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina, is in position to extend that streak to six.
Hoops began the tournament at Grandover with an uncharacteristic 3-over 75, but on Tuesday he redeemed himself with a 6-under 66 that not only shot him to the top of the leaderboard but gave him a five-shot lead entering the second round.
Hoops, who plays out of Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, (often with professionals from the Korn Ferry, PGA or Champions Tours), had five birdies on the day. His only blemish was a bogey at No. 15. He added an eagle at the par-5 18th.
Scores: Golfweek Senior National Championship
At 3 under for 36 holes, Hoops now leads Kevin VandenBerg, the top-ranked player in the Golfweek National Senior Amateur Rankings, by five shots. VandenBerg, of Pulaski, New York, has had back-to-back rounds of 1-over 73 at Grandover.
Hoops excels at many areas of the game, but perhaps picks up the biggest advantage with his distance.
'I do things that I feel are stretching my career,' he said in April after winning the Golfweek Senior Division National Championship. 'I don't know anybody that hits it farther than I do constantly. It's a big advantage.'
First-round Senior division leader David Glabicki, of Cary, North Carolina, remains in the mix at 3 over after backing up his opening 72 with a 75. After Glabicki, the next-closest player is six shots back.
Greg Goode of Salina, Kansas, and Randy King of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, lead the Super Senior division at 4 over after overtaking first-round leader Stevie Cannady. James Starnes, who was the Golfweek Super Senior Player of the Year in 2024, is at 9 over, one shot behind Cannady.
Bob MacWhinnie of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is 2 over and has a 1-shot lead on Stephen Fox of Pinehurst, North Carolina, in the Legends division.
In the Super Legends division, Pete Allen of Southport, North Carolina, has created a comfortable lead for himself. Rounds of 73-74 left him at 3 over for the tournament, which is seven shots ahead of the next-closest competitors.
