MARION, Mass. – Georgia Southern men's golf alum Rusty Strawn topped Savannah native Doug Hanzel 3 and 2 Thursday to win the U.S. Senior Amateur at The Kittansett Club.

Strawn won five of the first six holes of the round en route to the championship match victory. After Hanzel parred 11 and birdied 12 to cut the margin to 3, Strawn parred 14 to go 4 UP and clinched the victory by halving the 16th hole.

"It's amazing. I mean, I never thought that I'd have this -- I thought I'd have the opportunity, but if I could actually pull it off, that's what I was always questioning myself," said Strawn. "I felt like that I had the game if the right conditions and the right course setup, because I have that determination. But it's just amazing, really amazing."

Strawn was one of 156 players to qualify for the event and shot 72-72 to finish eighth in stroke play and advance to match play. He defeated Scott Copeland 2 and 1 Monday and then defeated Craig Steinberg 4 and 3 Tuesday to advance to the round of 16, where he topped Paul Simson in 19 holes to advance to the quarterfinals.

Strawn won six holes on the front nine on his way to topping Miles McConnell 5 and 3 in the quarterfinals in the morning session Wednesday and won seven of 13 holes in the afternoon's semifinal round to win 6 and 5 over Bob Royak.

Strawn competed at Georgia Southern from 1982-85 and was named All-TAAC in 1984 and 1985. Strawn has mentored many junior golfers in his hometown of McDonough, Georgia, including future Eagle Steven Fisk '19.

With the victory, Strawn earns:
-Custody of the Frederick L. Dold Trophy for one year
-Exemption from local qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open Championship
-Exemption from qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Senior Open Championship (must be an amateur)
-Exemption from qualifying for the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Amateur Championships
-Exemption from qualifying for the 2022 and 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships
-Exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Senior Amateur Championships