LAS VEGAS (July 13, 2026)–Michael Ketcham earned medalist honors and Brad Sutterfield earned the second qualifying spot in the 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier, surviving a three-man playoff. The one-day qualifier was held July 13, 2026, at Red Rock Country Club’s Mountain Course. The 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur will be held Aug. 29-Sept. 3, 2026, at Baltimore Country Club’s East Course.–by Bill Bowman
Las Vegans Ed Fryatt, first alternate, and John Bobroski, second alternate, were eliminated in the playoff.
MEDALIST
Michael Ketcham put together a three-birdie, no-bogey round in posting a three-under-par 69 for the low round of the day.
Ketcham, the deputy athletic director at UNLV, said the day was a smooth one.
“Fortunately, it was a clean card…no bogeys,” he said. “It was pretty stress-free and that’s always good.”
He said his only scare came on the par-4 14th.
“I made a nice par-save there,” he said. “I hit it into the left-side bunker and hit it a little thin coming out and made a nice 25-foot putt for par.”
He added his game is coming around at an ideal time.
“I’m playing pretty solid and that’s nice to see,” he said. “I’ve been a little rusty but I’ve been so close to playing well and today my game finally came through.”
This will be Ketcham’s fifth time making it to a USGA final field. He played in the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1981, the U.S. Amateur in 1985 and 1997 and the U.S. Senior Open in 2021.
He said the qualifier definitely is a good test for players trying to make it into the big spotlight.
“Anytime you qualify for a USGA event, you have to be sharp in the qualifier,” he said. “For us amateurs, these events are the pinnacle. It’s like the pros playing the U.S. Open. A lot of good players don’t get the opportunity so you’ve got to make the most of chances like this.”
QUALIFIER
Brad Sutterfield moved on following a four-hole playoff to earn the second spot in the national spotlight.
“It was a lot of fun out there,” said Sutterfield, the golf coach at Utah Tech University.
Sutterfield said his round was filled with emotions…both good and bad.
“I got off to a good start,” he said. “I was two-under through eight so all was good. Then I lost a ball on No. 9 and made bogey on the par-5. Then I bogeyed 10 and 11 and then figured I needed to get to at least two-under to have any chance. I birdied three of my next four and had a good look at birdie on 18 but missed. Luckily two-under was good enough for the playoff.”
Also in the playoff were Fryatt and Bobroski.
“I feel sorry for Ed,” Sutterfield said. “He missed a birdie putt on the third playoff hole from about six feet and that kept me in it. But that’s golf, right.”
Sutterfield took advantage on the fourth playoff hole, but it wasn’t easy.
“I had to chip out after my drive and had about 205 yards in,” he said of the par-5 hole. “I hit it to about 12 feet and made the birdie. It was probably the best shot I hit all day.”
Now it’s on to the big-show–again.
“I made the 1987 U.S. junior tournament,” he said with a laugh. “That’s almost 40 years ago. It’s my second event and I couldn’t be more excited.”
He added he wasn’t sure if this type of effort was possible.
“I haven’t played much competitive golf in the last 12 years but it’s fun to get back into it,” he said. “I’ve had a really bad back and could hardly swing a club for years. I finally got back in the gym and have gotten to the point I can play relatively pain-free so I thought I might as well give it a try. It all worked out.”
2026 U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier
Medalist
Michael Ketcham, 69
Qualifiers
x-Brad Sutterfield, 70
Ed Fryatt, 70, first alternate
John Bobroski, 70, second alternate
x-Qualified on fourth playoff hole
