21st Super-Senior Amateur Championship: Round Two

Donatoni does it again, wins sixth title

MARLTON, N.J. —Don Donatoni is, was and remains the most prolific Super-Senior Amateur in GAP history. Even at age 78.

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The smooth-swinging savant methodically maneuvered around a challenging Little Mill Country Club Tuesday (par 72, 6,071 yards) to capture a record-setting sixth Super-Senior Amateur Championship. Donatoni finished the two rounds at 3-over par, closing with a 74.

The victory also marked Donatoni’s 20th GAP Super-Senior individual title, a GAP record. Additionally, he has won eight Super-Senior Silver Cross Awards, including this year’s, and nine Super-Senior Player of the Year trophies.

“You maybe dream about winning one or two of these given the talent level in the organization. To continue to do this at my age is a blessing. I feel like I’ve been blessed to be able to play this game at a fairly high level for a long period of time. It’s incredibly exciting to win today,” said Donatoni of West Chester, Pa. “Until you told me [about the 20 wins], I had no idea. That just blows me away. I don’t count wins. I count the number of times, I’ve shot my age [or better]. I’m at 485 now. But to know that I’ve won 20 individual Super-Senior championships is mind boggling. It’s something I can really hang my hat on and feel very proud, of what I’ve been able to do.”

The foundation of Donatoni’s dominance lies in a deft short game and a fearless putter. Both spelled special on Little Mill’s White (front 9) and Blue (back 9) nine holes (The event utilized those two courses at the 27-hole Marlton, N.J. facility).

Witness Nos. 15 (par 5, 490 yards) and 17 (par 3, 140 yards) as evidence.

On No. 15, a poor drive took residence near the left hazard line, and within the confines of a bunker. He hacked his second shot just a few feet farther into the bunker before extricating himself forward and into the rough on the opposite side of the fairway, the right side. The hole bends to the right. He had no angle and a big number was in play. No panic, Donatoni knocked a 7-wood to 71 yards and with a 58-degree wedge in hand found the tonic to his blues. He stopped the wedge a foot from the cup to save bogey.

“I don’t count wins. I count the number of times, I’ve shot my age [or better]. I’m at 485 now. But to know that I’ve won 20 individual Super-Senior championships is mind boggling.”

“I could have made eight there. Under the pressure of trying to get up-and-down, that was one of the best shots I hit in two days,” said Donatoni, who returned from an 11-day European trip last Friday and only practiced a bit before Monday. “That saved my round.”

The bogey dropped Donatoni into a tie with Joe Russo of Wedgwood Country Club. Russo, playing in the group in front of Donatoni, bogeyed No. 17, however, after going long with his tee ball on the drop hole. Donatoni missed his 9-iron hole high left in a nasty lie, but executed a superb handsy pitch that floated onto the green and curled to three feet below the hole. He saved par.

Russo found some tree trouble with his approach on No. 18 (par 4, 390 yards) and made double. He did finish second.

“I never even thought I would be competitive the way I was playing coming in here,” said Russo, 68, of Washington Township, N.J. “I found something the last two days. My game was struggling because I was watching too many YouTube golf swing videos. That messed me up. I’m working to get to where I was before.” Russo won the 2016 Frank H. Chapman Memorial Cup.

Donatoni turned emotional in his trophy acceptance speech. Not for what he’s accomplished, but for what lies ahead. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis while in North Carolina for a couple of golf tournaments a month or so ago. He drove himself to the hospital late one evening due to the pain. He noted testing has revealed a growth in the area and that it needs to be addressed.

“It’s a small growth in the tail of the pancreas. Hopefully, it’s nothing. I’ve lost seven pounds since because I can’t eat the food that I love to eat. We’ll see what happens. I’m in good spirits. I have no pain. I feel really good, but it’s in the back of your mind.”

Stay strong Don.

Super-Senior Silver Cross Award
Super-Senior Silver Cross

As previously mentioned, Donatoni captured his eighth Super-Senior Silver Cross Award (2013-16, 2019-20, 2025-26). It was his third time going back-to-back.

The Super-Senior Silver Cross is awarded to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the Francis B. Warner Cup, Frank H. Chapman Cup and Senior Amateur Championship.

Donatoni finished with a 5-over 290 total. That was 10 shots clear of his nearest pursuer Glenn Smeraglio of LuLu Country Club.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 130,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.