FRANKFORT, KY. (September 29, 2026) – Tony Wise felt the weight of playing at home. He just didn't let it beat him. The Frankfort Country Club member closed with a 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday to finish at 3-under (213) and win the Kentucky Senior Amateur by three strokes, successfully defending his title and claiming his third Kentucky Senior Amateur title. David Reid rallied to win the Masters Division, while Jim Brown captured the Legends Division in a playoff.

Wise carried a one-shot lead into the final round, but it lasted just one hole. He three-putted the first for bogey while Bryan Conway made birdie, handing Conway the lead.

"I promised myself I wouldn't put extra pressure on myself playing at home this week, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that a little bit," Wise said. "I think that shocked my system to refocus, quit worrying about the outside influences and dig in."

He responded quickly. Wise birdied the par-5 third and eagled the par-5 fifth to move three shots ahead of Conway, and Wise never looked back. Wise stretched the lead to four with a birdie on the 13th, and after a bogey on the 14th and a Conway birdie cut it in half, he answered again with a birdie on the 15th. A bogey by Conway on the 16th pushed the margin back to four, and Wise got up and down for par on the 17th before parring the 18th to seal it.

As the round went on, the crowd following him grew. By the back nine, a long line of carts from the Frankfort Country Club membership trailed his group.

"This membership has been so supportive of me," Wise said. "When I'm away playing in tournaments, I'll get messages on my phone and through Facebook and Instagram, phone calls. I looked up on hole 12 and there was like an armada out there. When you get to play in front of a gallery like that, that's really cool."

Wise opened the championship with a 5-under 67 on Monday morning and held on through a second-round 76 before closing with Tuesday's 70. The title adds to his previous Kentucky Senior Amateur wins in 2021 and 2025, and follows a quarterfinal run in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship earlier this year.

"I can remember in 2021 getting interviewed and saying, 'I can't believe my name's on that trophy,'" Wise said. "Now it's on there three times. It's kind of numbing, actually, but I put in the work, and that hard work pays off. I'm glad it was at my home course, that's for sure."

Wise was quick to credit the competition, too. His third title came against a full field of 100 players, one of the deepest senior fields on the KGA schedule this season.

"To win an event like this is very difficult," Wise said. "Winning in general is very difficult, but winning an event like this, it was such a great field that we had."

Conway, who entered the week leading the Tom Musselman Division Player of the Year race, finished second at even-par (216) after rounds of 69, 75 and 72. He made four birdies in the final round, including a closing birdie on the 18th. Past champion Scott Ray finished third at 5-over (221) after a final-round 75.

In the Masters Division, David Reid came from five strokes back to win, closing with a 74 to finish at 8-over (152).  Reid's comeback didn't start smoothly, as he bogeyed four of his first five holes. He steadied from there, playing his final 13 holes bogey-free with birdies on the seventh and 12th to overtake first-round leader Mike Fannin.

Fannin, who opened with a 73 to lead by five, struggled to an 81 in the final round and finished second at 10-over (154). Defending Masters champion David Combs made the biggest move of the day, climbing nine spots into third at 13-over (157). Combs matched Reid's 74 for the low rounds of the day in the division.

Jim Brown of the Country Club of Paducah won the Legends Division in a playoff over Rick Harp, capping a comeback that brought him back to familiar ground. Brown's last Kentucky Amateur title came in 1982, also at Frankfort Country Club.

Brown started the final round three shots behind Harp but played the front nine in 1-under 35 with birdies on the third and seventh. He shot 41 on the back nine for a 76, finishing at 10-over 154. Harp, playing his home course, opened with birdies on the second and ninth but bogeyed four of his final five holes to shoot 79 and fall into a tie with Brown, forcing the playoff. Stacy Russell and Bill Douglas tied for third at 14-over 158. 

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The Kentucky Golf Association extends its gratitude to Clark's Pump-N-Shop, title sponsor of every KGA championship, along with official trophy provider Sterling Cut Glass and tee gift sponsor Tournament Solutions for their continued support of golf in the Commonwealth. The KGA also wants to extend our deep gratitude to Frankfort Country Club and its staff for hosting this year's championship. 

About the KGA

The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is the official governing body for amateur golf in the Commonwealth, as recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Established in 1911, the KGA is a full-service organization representing more than 120 member golf courses across Kentucky. Led by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of course representatives from throughout the state, the KGA plays a vital role in promoting, supporting, and growing the game of golf in Kentucky. It is also a founding member of Golf House Kentucky, the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations. As an Allied Golf Association of the USGA, the KGA is responsible for a wide range of services, including managing the World Handicap System, conducting course ratings, providing expertise on the Rules of Golf, running competitive tournaments and USGA qualifiers, and enhancing the visibility and branding of golf throughout the Commonwealth.