John Kennedy’s remarkable 2025 season reached new heights at Walton Heath – where he lifted The R&A Senior Amateur trophy following a sensational week of low scoring.
Consett & District-based John, who was making his debut in the event, shot a final-round 73 for an 11 under-par total of 277 – leading the field by seven shots from the trio of Todd White and Danny Nelson from the USA and Ireland’s Jody Fanagan.
John can now look forward to playing among the world’s best senior professionals in the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale.
“This is easily my number one experience in golf by miles,” he said. “It feels a bit surreal and hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s a dream come true to think I’m going to be playing in the Senior Open with guys I’ve watched on TV for the last 40 years.”
The victory also earns him a spot in the US Senior Amateur Championship at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.
John began the final day with a seven-shot lead and soon extended that to eight when he found the putting surface of the 262-yard, par four opening hole. A birdie followed and he seemed in complete control.
“I didn’t really have my game today,” he admitted after the final round. “I got off to a great start and thought ‘I’m flying here’. Then my swing broke down in the middle of the round. But I managed my game really well. I never made a decision that was going to result in a double-bogey. I also scrambled really well, which is hard under pressure.”
John works as a compliance manager for the Automobile Association (AA) and fits his competitive golf into his holidays. He added, “I’m going to have a long hard think about taking early retirement after this. I’ll wait and see what the next few months brings. It’s a good problem to have.”
The win was John’s fourth on the bounce – following victory in the men’s Sottish Senior Amateur at Montrose, the Durham Seniors’ County Championship, and Consett & District’s club championship, which he won for the 14th time.
Meanwhile, American Kathy Hartwiger ran out a three-shot winner over Ireland’s Tracy Eakin in the Women’s Senior Amateur – which took place alongside the men’s event at Walton Heath.
