Waite, a former PGA Tour winner, joined the Champions Tour through qualifying school after turning 50 in August last year and has enjoyed a consistent but unspectacular campaign this season.
Yesterday's effort was his best result of the year - he entered the tournament in 75th on the money list - and his final round of 67 pushed him to seven-under for the week; he shared third place with Germany's Bernhard Langer.
The pair were three strokes back from champion Jeff Maggert (10-under), while Scotland's Colin Montgomerie claimed second at eight-under. The US Senior Open is one of five majors on the Champions Tour.
Meanwhile, on the second-tier Challenge Tour in Europe, Auckland's Ryan Fox finished in a share of 10th at the Scottish Hydro Challenge.
Fox, who earned $8199 for his efforts, carded a three-under 68 to end the week at nine-under, seven strokes back from England's Jack Senior who won at 16-under.
It was another strong effort from Fox after he finished in a tie for fifth at the Najeti Open in France last week in his first event on the tour this season.
On the Japan Tour, Auckland professional Michael Hendry finished in a share of 48th at the ISPS Handa Global Cup. Hendry ended the week at four-under, 10 strokes back from eventual winner Toshinori Muto who beat Angelo Que in a playoff.
Hendry, from the North Shore, who won the tour's first event of the season in April, is firmly placed inside the top 10 on the money list.
