Those victories, while plentiful, haven`t been a reality for Ryan recently. Doubts began to creep into his mind if those winning ways would return.

"To be honest with you, I haven`t won a golf tournament since 2016 and I was starting to feel like I wouldn`t win one again," said Ryan. "When you get to my age, I`m 68, you think `Oh boy, it`s never going to happen again?`"

His pessimistic thoughts were quelled Thursday at Medinah Country Club, as Ryan re-entered the winner`s circle, defeating 2021 Illinois State Senior Amateur champion David Feder (Lincolnshire / Conway Farms GC), 4 and 3, to claim the 20th CDGA Senior Amateur Championship crown.

While the first three days of the Championship were contested on Medinah`s Course Two, the title tilt shifted to the venerable Course Three. The challenging layout proved to cause Ryan some trouble early, with Feder taking a 2-up advantage through five holes. He was able to get one back with a birdie on the par-4 sixth. That red figure was the catalyst for two more wins, in the form of a birdie on the par-5 seventh and a par on the par-3 eighth.

That sudden string of winning holes could be traced back to a range session Ryan had earlier in the week, in which he solved a self-proclaimed "drag-block" by releasing the club more through impact. He also utilized a hot flatstick to capitalize on those well-struck approach shots.

"I found something on the range the other day and it worked and I stayed with it," said Ryan. "My ball-striking was good and that kind of carried me through. I made some good putts this week."

The advantage would build to 2 up with a birdie on the 12th after a masterful pitch shot from 80 yards to 5 feet. Another birdie came on the par-5 14th, before the match finished on No. 15 with a Ryan par to Feder`s bogey.

Ryan`s victory came after the veteran trailed in each match this week. He attributed his calm demeanor under pressure to both a mentality of staying the course and the uncertainty surrounding match play.

"I`m a grinder. I just try to stay positive and keep chugging along," he said. "You just try to hit a good shot and follow it with a good shot. And you keep building on that and keep going forward."

Speaking of forward, Ryan`s summer plans will include even more golf. He`s eyeing a trip to The R&A Senior Amateur at Royal Dornoch in Scotland in July, and will play again in the U.S. Senior Amateur at The Kittansett Club in Marion, Massachusetts in late August. He also plans to compete in the Crump Cup, an annual event in mid-September at prestigious Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey.

While titles may have been few and far between as of late, the victory at Medinah may be the key that unlocks even more potential to come.

"Winning breeds confidence," said Ryan. "Whatever tournament you win, it frees you up."

Locally, the CDGA Championship schedule will take a brief hiatus before the 102nd CDGA Amateur Championship visits Glen Flora Country Club in Waukegan, June 27-30.