UPDATED (August 7) - Harsh weather and a challenging golf course made Northern Ireland's Royal County Down a stern test for the Senior British Amateur, with scores in the 80s not being uncommon during the 54-hole championship. As the only local to make the 60-player, plus ties cut after 36 holes of play, Ken Bakst carded rounds of 75-76-79 for a 230 tournament total on his way to a top-20 finish.

The opening round of play was heavily impacted by rain and wind, resulting in more than three-and-a-half hours worth of delays. Bakst battled through the conditions though, completing the majority of his round before play was supsended due to darkness. Only 25 of 48 groups were able to finish their first rounds on the first day of competition, and once the first round was finished, Bakst stood just one shot off the pace.

Bakst stood within the top-10 entering the last 18 holes of play, but the final round 79 moved him into a tie for 16th at the tournament's conclusion.

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ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 5) – Ken Bakst, Alan Small, John Baldwin, and Adam Kugler are competing this week in the Senior British Amateur Championship at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.

Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head, comes into this week having play in over two dozen events competing against the worlds top Amateurs. Over the course of his career, Bakst has played in 23 USGA tournaments, most recently coming at the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. He won the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur, and was able to travel overseas for the 1996 British Amateur, where he qualified for the match play event. Earlier this summer, Bakst finished in a tie-for-13^th at the Ike Championship at Friar’s Head, his home course.

The 2009 and 2010 MGA President and Chairman, Alan Small of Fairmount Country Club, is playing in the first British Senior Amateur of his career. Small’s senior golf career highlights five NJSGA Senior Amateur victories, a 2009 MGA Senior Amateur win, and a runner-up finish at last years NJSGA Senior Amateur.

Last years MGA Senior Open winner, Adam Kugler of Alpine Country Club, is also playing in his first international event. The 1990 and 1991 MGA Player of the Year, John Baldwin, who now resides in Palm Beach, FL., is also in the field. Baldwin has competed on the MGA international team three times in his career, and has played in the Senior British Amateur in 2002 and was runner-up in the competition in 2006.