24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship

Jerry White, a member of Hawthorn Woods Country Club since its founding in 2006, bested Mike Henry in 19 holes to win the 24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship on his home track.

24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship
May 18-21 • Hawthorn Woods Country Club (Hawthorn Woods)

Day Four: Thursday, May 21

HAWTHORN HOME CLUB HOPEFUL WHITE SECURES UNLIKELY CDGA SENIOR AM TRIUMPH
HAWTHORN WOODS, Ill. - Being forced to a sudden-death playoff in a title tilt after holding a 2-up lead with two holes to play isn’t a situation any golfer wants to find themself in.

If those circumstances do unfold, however, it’s beneficial to have that playoff hole be one you “normally play pretty well” - with “normally” equating to thousands of times as a 20-year member of the course.

This is the situation Jerry White (Hawthorn Woods / Hawthorn Woods CC) found himself in during the Final match of the 24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship Thursday morning at Hawthorn Woods Country Club. A par on the dogleg left opener wound up being enough to claim victory over Mike Henry (Bloomington / Weibring GC at ISU).

Related Links: (Scoring) / (Photo Gallery)

The win makes it one-for-one in CDGA Senior Am appearances for the 60-year-old White, who did not play competitive high school or college golf and sporadically participates in non-club events. He learned of his ability to claim the host club exemption as the reigning senior club champion thanks to a heads-up from his brother, Jeff.

“I’m super happy and ecstatic,” said White following the triumph. “It’s a great win for me. It was fun.”

White - who joined the club as a charter member when it was founded in 2006 and lives off the 15th green - put his home course advantage to use not only against Henry, but throughout the entire week. He survived a 4-for-3 playoff on Monday to earn the 16th and final spot in match play before riding a hot putter to defeat medalist Scot Frankenreider (Peoria / Arrowhead CC) in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. His familiarity on and around the greens was amplified by fast playing surfaces and demanding weather conditions as he topped two more senior stalwarts, David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC) and Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / The Sanctuary GC), to set up the title tilt against Henry.

“I think it helps knowing the greens and knowing the slight undulations - especially when they’re as fast as they are,” White explained. “I’ve played with them this fast before - they’re always like this for club championships and member guests.”

With a handful of Hawthorn Woods staff and fellow members in tow as spectators, White got off to a hot start in the decider, surging to a 3-up advantage through four holes.

“It made me feel a little more comfortable and settled me down a little bit,” White said of the early advantage. “That was very important for me to get in that position.”

The match mostly stagnated from there, with White stepping to the 17th tee needing to just tie one of the final two holes to secure victory.

Henry, however, had other ideas. He birdied the par-5 17th, blasting a fairway metal approach to just over the green and getting up and down for 4. Then, a piercing Henry drive on the finisher caused White to re-think his club selection. He switched from 3-wood to driver - a club that admittedly “wasn’t working well the whole tournament” - before hitting his tee shot right of the hole onto the driving range. He was able to find his ball and gave himself an opportunity to close out the match with a 15-footer for par, but watched it slide just past the hole.

White admitted to being “nervous” as Henry began to mount his charge. However, the trip back to the first provided an opportunity for him to reset and focus in on a hole he had great familiarity with.

“I was just like, okay - let’s go to No. 1,” White said of his mindset.

White found the fairway off the tee, while Henry’s ball ended up in the right rough. Henry’s approach landed right of the green and kicked forward with pace, crucially causing it to roll past the cup and up a slope to about 50 feet. White, meanwhile, knew exactly where to leave his second. Remember - familiarity.

“I just tried to take an easy swing and hit it up there short or on the green, because I know it’s a lot easier, especially with where that hole location was,” White explained. “It was right at the bottom of a ridge, and that makes it really tough."

He executed his plan to perfection, as the approach landed just short of the green and rolled out to about 12 feet short of the hole. Henry, aware of the finesse needed, left his first putt short of the ridge. His next roll stayed right of the hole, White sidled his putt up to a foot, and the two shook hands - cementing White’s unlikely achievement.

“I didn’t really expect the win, but I came out to compete and everything worked out,” White said after hoisting the Charles Morgan Auld Cup.

The conclusion of the event marked two events in two weeks as the 2026 CDGA Championship Schedule began with a frenzy. The slate pauses for Memorial Day week before returning with the 93rd Illinois State Women’s Amateur Championship, June 1-3 at Elgin Country Club.

Day Three: Wednesday, May 20

HENRY, WHITE TO DUEL FOR 24TH CDGA SENIOR AM TITLE
HAWTHORN WOODS, Ill. - The quest for the Charles Morgan Auld Cup is down to just two competitors following Wednesday’s penultimate round of matches, with former CDGA Senior Player of the Year Mike Henry (Bloomington / Weibring GC at ISU) and home-club hopeful Jerry White (Hawthorn Woods / Hawthorn Woods CC) each earning a win on Wednesday. The two will face off with one another Thursday morning at Hawthorn Woods Country Club in the Final match of the 24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship.

Related Links: (Scoring) / (Photo Gallery) / (Morning Warm Up Instagram Reel)

Henry’s day featured a match with friend and fellow central Illinoisian Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC). Sheppard earned an early 2-up lead before the eventual victor secured four-straight wins at Nos. 8-11 to springboard his 2-and-1 defeat of the two-time event champion.

For White, it was 2024 CDGA Senior Player of the Year Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / The Sanctuary GC) standing between him and a chance to successfully defend his home turf. The two traded a pair of wins through the opening 11 holes before White took Nos. 12, 14 and 17 en route to his 3-and-1 triumph.

After their morning successes, both Henry and White took a moment to discuss their journeys to the finale. Read below for quotes of note from both competitors:

Mike Henry:
On his week thus far… “It’s been a good week. I’ve struck the ball well and am starting to putt it better. I’m getting better around the greens here. I got lucky and got some decent lies this round, and I was able to get them up-and-down. Unfortunately for Tim, every time he hit it off the green, he just got terrible lies…It was really uncharacteristic of Tim, but I played solid.”
On his familiarity with Hawthorn Woods… “I have only played it one time. I played the Illinois Senior Open in 2024 and played okay - placed 15th or something like that. It was really firm and bouncy then, at the end of June. This is a very challenging golf course. Off the tee, if you’re hitting it reasonably, then it’s not so bad, but there are a few really tough holes out here. It’s a good golf course and it’s a great match play golf course.”
On what makes match play a strength… “I’ve always enjoyed match play. I normally have a nice short game and I don’t put myself in trouble a lot. I don’t give holes away and that really helps a lot.”
On his experience in USGA championships… “I’ve had some good runs at the U.S. Senior (Amateur). In 2023, I won a six-hole playoff in my first round and lost to Todd White, the eventual winner…Then, the next year, I went and played at The Honors Course because I was exempt. It is the hardest course I’ve played in my life and I lost the second-longest playoff in USGA Senior Amateur history, on the seventh hole to Jack Hall. So, I’ve actually never lost in 18 holes in my five USGA events and I think people that play golf with me know that I’m a grinder, I’m never going to give up.”
On playing against Sheppard… “I’ve never been paired up with him. Tim’s a legend. He’s the pinnacle for us. So, it’s special to beat him, it really is.”

Jerry White:
On the support he’s received from his home club… “It’s been great, the pros and everyone rooting for me. I don’t really like a lot of people watching, and most of the guys are in Ireland right now - my whole crew is out there, but they’re texting me.”
On how his course knowledge has been an advantage… “I think it helps a lot. This course can be difficult and you have to know where to hit it sometimes, or where not to hit it. I’ve been a member here for 20 years, since it opened, so that’s really helped.”
On facing three past CDGA-administered event champions… “It’s been really tough. It’s been fun and they are all great guys. Today, it wasn’t great golf, but it’s match play, so you’re not keeping score, you’re playing to win the hole.”
On his familiarity with match play… “We do match play out here for our club championships and we have year-round club match play, so I am kind of used to it. That’s helped.”
On playing in the CDGA Senior Amateur for the first time… “This is my first time. I don’t know what stopped me from signing up. The senior events out here are 60 (years old), but I guess I could have started playing this five years ago. Glad to be here now."

Henry and White will begin their Final match at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Day Two: Tuesday, May 19 FINAL FOUR: STORYLINES SURROUNDING EACH CDGA SENIOR AM SEMIFINALIST
HAWTHORN WOODS, Ill. - Match play in the 24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship began in earnest Tuesday at Hawthorn Woods Country Club, with both the Round of 16 and Quarterfinal rounds unfolding. Jerry White (Hawthorn Woods / Hawthorn Woods CC), Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / The Sanctuary GC), Mike Henry (Bloomington / Weibring GC at ISU) and Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC) won two matches apiece to secure spots in the event’s final four. Learn more about the four Semifinalists below in advance of play continuing on Wednesday:

Related Links: (Scoring) / (Photo Gallery) / (Hole No. 13 Drone Flyover)

Sheppard Seeking Historic Third Triumph

Sheppard has the opportunity to match Dave Ryan and Tom Miler as three-time CDGA Senior winners with two more victories at Hawthorn Woods
The 65-year-old has not won the event since back-to-back triumphs in 2019 and 2021 (there was no event in 2020 due to COVID-19)
The three-time CDGA Senior Player of the Year has now made the Semifinal round in three consecutive years

Przybylski Looks For Individual Breakthrough

Przybylski has claimed the CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship each of the last three years and won the CDGA Senior Player of the Year in 2024, but has yet to win an individual senior event
The 59-year-old has only advanced to the Semifinals of this event once previously, in 2023 at Aurora Country Club when he fell to eventual winner Ted Pecora
His 6-and-5 triumph in the Round of 16 over David Corso (Plainfield / Bolingbrook GC) matched Sheppard for the largest margin of victory on the day

Henry Prevails in Tightest Tilt of Day

Henry’s Round of 16 classic with Ron Waytula (McHenry / McHenry CC) was the only match of the day to go extra holes. He earned the victory with a par on the second playoff hole
This marks just the second time Henry has made match play in this event. He lost to Curt Minkel in 22 holes in the Round of 16 in 2024
The 57-year-old won the CDGA Senior Player of the Year in his first year of eligibility in 2023 on the heels of a Quarterfinals appearance in the U.S. Senior Amateur

White Rides Home Course Knowledge

White is the only Hawthorn Woods member in the field. No individual has won this event at their home club since Vance Antoniou at The Club at Wynstone in 2016
The 60-year-old lost the first hole in each of his two matches Tuesday before righting the ship. He never trailed in a match past the fourth hole
He is the No. 16 seed in match play, advancing from a 4-for-3 playoff on Monday. His 2-and-1 victory over medalist Scot Frankenreider (Peoria / Arrowhead CC) marked the second 16-over-1 result of the 2026 CDGA Championship season, with the same occurring in the Round of 16 in last week’s CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Glen Flora Country Club

White and Przbylski will begin the Semifinals at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with Sheppard vs. Henry to follow at 8:10 a.m. The two victors will face off for the Charles Morgan Auld Cup Thursday morning.

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

Quarterfinals
(16) Jerry White def. (8) David Feder, 3 and 2
(5) Glenn Przybylski def. (13) John Wright, 2 and 1
(7) Mike Henry def. (2) Mike Karney, 4 and 2
(11) Tim Sheppard def. (14) Rick Stewart, 4 and 3

Round of 16
(16) Jerry White def. (1) Scot Frankenreider, 2 and 1
(8) David Feder def. (9) Dave Esler, 1 up
(13) John Wright def. (4) Mark Small, 4 and 3
(5) Glenn Przybylski def. (12) David Corso, 6 and 5
(2) Mike Karney def. (15) Aiden Walsh, 1 up
(7) Mike Henry def. (10) Ron Waytula, 20 holes
(14) Rick Stewart def. (3) Andy Nathan, 3 and 2
(11) Tim Sheppard def. (6) Tom Oshinski, 6 and 5

Day One: Monday, May 18 FRANKENREIDER MEDALIST; DEFENDING CHAMP SMALL AMONG OTHERS TO ADVANCE FROM STROKE PLAY
HAWTHORN WOODS, Ill. – The field of the 24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship featured some of the most accomplished names in 55-and-up amateur golf entering Monday’s stroke play portion at Hawthorn Woods Country Club. This remains the case following play on the Arnold Palmer track, as 7 of the 16 to advance to match play are past winners of CDGA hardware.

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This includes Scot Frankenreider (Peoria / Arrowhead CC), who earned medalist honors with an even-par 72. The two-time Illinois State Senior Amateur Championship winner, who has yet to make his mark in that event’s match play counterpart, got off to a sizzling start with four birdies in his first six holes. He gave those four shots back in a six-hole stretch from Nos. 8-13 before righting the ship down the stretch to earn the No. 1 seed.

Others advancing to the knockout round include:

Defending champion and 2024 runner-up Mark Small (Frankfort / Prestwick CC) - No. 4 seed, 1-over 73
Three-time CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball champion Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / The Sanctuary GC) - No. 5 seed, 1-over 73
2023 CDGA Senior Player of the Year Mike Henry (Bloomington / Weibring GC at ISU) - No. 7 seed, 2-over 74
2021 Illinois State Senior Amateur winner David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC) - No. 8 seed, 2-over 74
Two-time CDGA Senior Am winner, and three-time CDGA Senior Player of the Year, Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC) - No. 11 seed, 3-over 75
Reigning CDGA Senior Player of the Year Rick Stewart (Park Ridge / Arrowhead GC) - No. 14 seed, 4-over 76

The 16-player bracket will be whittled down to four following play on Tuesday, as both the Round of 16 and Quarterfinal Matches will take place. Action begins at 7:30 a.m.

Preview

Following its start this week, the CDGA Championship schedule rolls on next week with the 24th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship, May 18-21 at Hawthorn Woods Country Club in Hawthorn Woods. One 18-hole round of stroke-play qualifying and a 16-golfer match play bracket awaits a field featuring 78 of the Chicago District's best amateurs age 55 and up. The victor will have their named etched on the Charles Morgan Auld Cup.

Schedule

Monday, May 18
The entire field will play 18 holes of stroke-play to determine the low 16 who will advance to match play.

Tuesday, May 19
The Round of 16 and Quarterfinal matches will take place.

Wednesday, May 20
The Semifinal matches will take place.

Thursday, May 21
The Championship match will commence in the morning.

CLICK HERE or the image for a full preview and notes package.

Related Links: (Full Preview) / (Stroke Play Tee Times) / (Field) / (2025 Recap) / (Event History)

Championship Information

Created in 2002, the CDGA Senior Amateur Championship is a match play tournament for golfers age 55 and up. In 2019, the maximum handicap limit was increased to 10.4. The event begins with an 18-hole qualifier for the entire field, with the low 16 players advancing to match play. The champion of this tournament is the recipient of the Charles Morgan Auld Cup. Frankfort's Mark Small is the defending champion of the event following his win in 2025 at Briar Ridge Country Club.