Bemowski Wins The 2004 USGA Senior Amateur

Los Angeles, Calif. - Mark Bemowski, 58, of Mukwonago, Wis., earned a 4-and-3 victory over Greg Reynolds, 57, of Grand Blanc, Mich., to win the 2004 Senior Amateur Championship Thursday at the par-70, 6,491-yard Bel-Air Country Club.

It was sweet redemption for Bemowski, who lost the final of the 2002 championship to Reynolds at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla., 4 and 3.

Greg Reynolds (left) congratulates Mark Bemowski after Bemowski won the 2004 Senior Amateur Championship. (Sam Greenwood/USGA)

"It's just amazing that we would have the opportunity to meet again," said Bemowski. "And then, for me to have the match I did, I'm really thrilled."

Bemowski got off to a sizzling start, winning the first three holes, and built the lead to a 5-up advantage with back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth holes. Meanwhile, Reynolds was struggling, with bogeys on two of the first six holes.

"He just played beautifully on the front side and I wasn't able to match his good play, and he put me in a big hole," said Reynolds. "I had a few chances on a couple of holes if I could just have gotten a few putts to drop."

Reynolds cut the deficit to four holes after Bemowski double-bogeyed Bel-Air's treacherous par-3, 195-yard 10th hole. He had a chance to cut Bemowski's lead to three a hole later but missed a five-foot birdie putt.

Greg Reynolds hits out of a bunker during Thursday's Senior Amateur final at Bel-Air Country Club. (Sam Greenwood/USGA)

Bemowski gave another hole back when he three-putted the 12th for bogey. But Reynolds found trouble on the par-5 14th hole when he hit his tee shot in the trees to the right of the fairway. He went on to bogey the hole after missing a 30-foot par putt, and Bemowski safely two-putted for par to go 4 up and dormie.

A hole later, the two traded pars and Bemowski had the victory.

"When I became a senior, I thought I had a chance to win this," said Bemowski. "What a thrill to win a USGA championship. It's the pinnacle."

The USGA Senior Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Beth Murrison of USGA media relations. You can reach her at bmurrison@usga.org.

Los Angeles, Calif. - Results from the Thursday's 2004 USGA Senior Amateur championship final at the par-70, 6,491-yard Bel-Air Country Club.

Mark Bemowski, Mukwonago, Wis. (149) def. Greg Reynolds, Grand Blanc, Mich. (151), 4 and 3