Matt Sughrue
About Matt Sughrue
Once burned out on the game of golf, a change of vocations helped Sughrue gain some much-needed perspective and clarity of purpose. He left the insurance business, went back to graduate school and became a mental health clinician. Learning to “love the process of improvement,” success in golf followed, as his career was reborn as a senior – where he’s found great success both in Virginia and at the USGA level. He advanced to the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur final, and he continues to chase success to this day.
Crowning Moment…
Sughrue won the 2020 Senior Open of Virginia soon after successful rehab from two torn elbow tendons. At the time, he said, “It might be the pinnacle of my golf career, in terms of victories. This is a storied championship. Some great players have won this thing.”
2016
Year in which Sughrue advanced to the final of the U.S. Senior Amateur. He lost on the 18th hole to Dave Ryan
9
Times reaching match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur in nine tries, including four quarterfinal appearances, two semifinal appearances, and one championship appearance
26
Times Sughrue has qualified (or has been exempt) into a USGA championship
2
Senior Open wins, one in Maryland and one in Virginia
Achievements & Media
Special thanks to the USGA, PGA Tour, VSGA, MAPGA, WVGA and inductee family members for contributing photos and videos to this project.
Statistics
Date of birth: September 2, 1959
Championships Won
2014-Maryland Senior Open
2016-Middle Atlantic Senior Amateur
2019-VSGA Four-Ball
2020-Senior Open of Virginia
2021-CB McDonald Senior Invitational
2022-Jones Cup Senior Invitational
2024-Crump Cup Senior; Chanticleer National Senior Invitational
2025-Inaugural Giles Invitational Senior division
Accomplishments and Awards
- Played on the University of North Carolina’s golf team from 1997-99
- Runner-up at the British Senior Amateur in 2014
- Member at Trump National Golf Club, Washington DC
- Left the insurance business, went back to school to earn a graduate degree and changed course to become a clinical psychotherapist. He works with elite athletes on the mental side of their respective games
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- Matt Sughrue lines his putt up on the third hole during the quarterfinal round at the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
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- Matt Sughrue lines his putt up on the fifth hole during the quarterfinal round at the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
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- Matt Sughrue with the USGA rules official Tom Johnson after the round during the Round of 16 at the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minn. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Chris Keane)
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- Ronnie Clark, left, congratulates Matt Sughrue after he won the match, 2 and 1, during the round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur at Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Calif. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
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- Matt Sughrue hits his tee shot at the seventh hole during the round of 16 of the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
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- Mark Knecht, left, chats with Matt Sughrue before starting their match at the first hole during the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
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- Matt Sughrue celebrates his 2 and 1 match win on hole 17 during the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
