2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying: Commonwealth National

Scenna takes medalist honors with lone under-par score

HORSHAM, Pa. – Last summer, Derrick Scenna’s son Patrick made the U.S. Junior Amateur. 

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While the father was happy for his son, he noticed something missing in his own resume that needed a change. His own USGA appearance.

“Patrick motivates me a lot,” Scenna, 55, of Manasquan, N.J., said. “I have to hit the ball farther and try to keep up. He keeps me motivated to play. It is nice to be competitive at my level even though he kicks my tail sometimes.”

Just a few weeks removed from his 55th birthday, Scenna got his wish. With Patrick on the bag, his round of 1-under-par 70 earned him medalist honors in U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying administered by GAP at Commonwealth National Golf Club (par 71, 6,783 yards).

It was the lone round below par.

The 70th U.S. Senior Amateur will take place Aug. 23-28 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.

GAP regulars Chris Fieger, Sr. (71) of Denver, Pa., Oscar Mestre (72) of Berwyn, Pa., Neil Gordon (72) of Warrington, Pa. and Kevin Kelly (73) of Horsham, Pa. secured the remaining spots.

“Qualifying for my first USGA event hasn’t struck me yet,” Scenna said. “I think when I get onto that flight for Texas it’ll start to settle in. My son made the U.S. Junior last year and I went out with him and I told myself maybe one day I would make it. Today is that day.”

Scenna made the turn in 1 over on Commonwealth’s notoriously difficult second nine. On his final nine, Scenna played it in 2 under.

His birdies came on No. 1 (par 5, 517 yards) after canning a 6-footer and a near ace with a pitching wedge on No. 8 (par 3, 121 yards) got him to his magic number.

“I hadn’t played here before,” Scenna, a six-time club champion at Deal Golf & Country Club in Deal, N.J., said. “Patrick just had GPS up on his phone and just told me where to hit it. I am a pretty straight hitter, so I hit it where he told me and tried to hit the next shot onto the green. I made a lot of two putts and I hit a ton of greens. For the most part, it was a stress-free round.

“Visually, I didn’t have any troubles. The course felt comfortable from the beginning. Throughout the round I had a lot of perfect yardages, which is great in tournament play. Regardless, I didn’t want to change my strategy.”

Scenna played Division I golf at Fairfield University and went to Law School at The Catholic University of America. He holds two New Jersey Golf titles: the 2014 Tournament of Champions and the 2020 Pre-Senior. Now he can add USGA participant to that list.

“Qualifying for and playing in a USGA event is the pinnacle for all amateur golfers,” Scenna said. “I never tried a lot of the events like the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur because I thought they were just outside my reach. I was working and raising a family. I turned 55 this year and I had a goal of playing more competitively nationally. This helps me feel like I can compete more now on the senior level. Qualifying for a USGA event is what I was striving for.”

Fieger’s record in U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying is nearly flawless. He has qualified in five of his six attempts.

“We play a lot of tournament golf,” Fieger, 62, of Denver, Pa., said. “When there is one round and you need to be Top 5 it is just a different mindset. You are always thinking how you can get it in the house. I played really well today.”

Fieger vaulted himself into the mix with a 2 under front nine highlighted by birdies on Nos. 8 (par 3, 121 yards) and 9 (par 4, 460 yards). He threw a pitching wedge to five feet on No. 8 and speared a 7-iron from 167 yards to 20 feet on No. 9.

His back nine produced less fireworks with 2 over on the inward side but it was more than enough.

The four-time GAP Senior Amateur champion is looking to make a deep run in Texas. 

“You can’t play high-level golf well without putting well,” Fieger, of Heidelberg Country Club, said. “For me, that’s what I need to do to play better in the U.S. Senior Amateur. I am most looking forward to seeing my daughter who lives in Austin, Texas. I’ll definitely be making it a two-part trip.”

Mestre (Overbrook Golf Club), Gordon (Doylestown Country Club) and Kelly (Philadelphia Cricket Club) were all elated when the news became official. It’s allowed them to reminisce on a bond they have had for 25 years. 

All three advanced through U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying in 2000 and competed in the Championship proper at The Homestead (Cascades Course) in Hot Springs, Va. 

Gordon advanced through a qualifier at LuLu Country Club, Kelly and Mestre advanced through at Philadelphia Cricket Club both on Aug. 8, 2000.

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.