Rick Cloninger, 69, Named Golfweek Senior Player of the Month

Rick Cloninger, a 69-year-old amateur from Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been named Golfweek's Senior Player of the Month for August after winning the North & South Super Senior Amateur and reaching his ninth U.S. Senior Amateur.

What did Cloninger accomplish in August?

Cloninger won the North & South Super Senior Amateur at Pinehurst on Aug. 12, finishing 6 under for 54 holes to beat longtime senior amateur Paul Simson by four shots. He then qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur by finishing second in an 18-hole qualifier at Pinewild Country Club on July 27, and competed at Baltimore Country Club from Aug. 29-Sept. 3 before losing a playoff to reach match play.

At the North & South, Cloninger posted rounds of 73, 68 and 69 across three different Pinehurst Resort courses, Nos. 4, 5 and 8. Earlier in the summer, on July 31, he tied the course record of 62 at his home course, Fort Mill Golf Club in South Carolina, finishing 10 under with three holes to play.

What is Cloninger's competitive history?

A former NAIA All-American quarterback at Wofford College, Cloninger has won state mid-amateur titles in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, along with the North & South Senior in 2012. He tied for 40th at the 2008 U.S. Senior Open and has reached the U.S. Senior Amateur semifinals twice, in 2014 and 2019.

The U.S. Senior Amateur is open to players 55 and older; this year's field included three competitors age 70 or above.