Tom Brandes

Began playing golf at the age of 15 with his friends, but did not start playing competitive golf until age 35. Says his most memorable golf experience was playing a practice round with Bruce Lietzke, Jerry Pate and Jay Haas at Crooked Stick in 2009. Also mentioned having his wife Susan and his son Peter with him at the 2013 Seniors Amateur, conducted by The R&A, when he finished runner-up. Also has a daughter, Kate.
Played in the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Senior Opens, however he missed both cuts. Won the 2006 Pacific Northwest Mid-Amateur and was the MVP of the amateur squad at the 2008 Hudson Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event matching the top amateurs against the top professionals in the Pacific Northwest. Has played in three U.S. Mid-Amateurs, most recently in 2005. Represented Washington at the 1995 USGA Men's State Team.
2012 Notes: Brandes enjoyed a dominant season, as he took home the Washington State Men?s Mid-Amateur Championship, the Washington State Senior Men?s Amateur Championship, the Pacific Northwest Men?s Mid-Amateur Championship, the Pacific Northwest Senior Men?s Amateur Championship, and the Washington State Senior Men?s Champion of Champions. The clean sweep in the mid-amateur and senior championships earned Brandes a spot on the team representing Washington State in the USGA Men?s State Team Championship, held in Galloway, N.J. in September. He was also a quarterfinalist in the Pacific Northwest Men?s Master-40 Amateur Championship and was runner-up at the Senior Washington Open. Was named the 2012 Washington State "Mid-Am Player of the Year."
Enjoyed more success in 2013 as he defended his Washington State Senior Amateur Championship and Pacific Northwest Senior Men's Amateur Championship. Finished runner-up at the Seniors Amateur, conducted by The R&A, and the Washington State Mid-Amateur. Won low amateur honors after finishing 7th overall at the Washington Senior Open. Was named to the 2013 Global Golf Post All-Amateur Second Team Senior category.
In 2014, Brandes once again won low amateur honors at the Washington Senior Open and finished 4th overall. He also was the runner-up at both the Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur and the Pacific Northwest Master 40 Match-Play Championships. He is also a 15-time Rainier Country Club Men's Champion. Brandes qualified for the U.S. Senior Open for the fourth time, where he missed the cut. Also in 2014, he played in the U.S. Senior Amateur and the U.S. Men's State Team.
Last year, Brandes enjoyed more success in USGA championships. He played in the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with Mike Haack, where they finished stroke play in 16th and advanced to the Round of 32. He reached the finals of the U.S. Senior Amateur, falling to Chip Lutz, 5 and 3.
He was inducted to the PNGA Golf Hall of Fame and is a five-time PNGA Senior Player of the Year and six-time WSGA Senior Player of the Year.