2019 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying Roundup

June 11, 2019 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Qualifying has concluded at 34 sites across the U.S.; see which amateurs have made it to The Warren Course at Notre Dame

Over 2000 senior golfers are attempting qualifying for the 40th U.S. Senior Open at 34 sites across the country, hoping to make it through to the championship, to be held at The Warren Course at Notre Dame in Indiana, June 27-30, 2019.

Last year 24 amateurs competed at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., with three--Jeff Wilson of California, Mike Finster of Florida, and Robert Funk of California--making the cut and playing all 72 holes. Wilson was the low amateur, finishing tied for 31st at 10-over 290.

Highlights from qualifying include:

May 20

In a 78-for-2 qualifier at Highland Country Club in Fayetteville, N.C., Tim Dunlavey (Spartanburg, S.C.) became the first amateur to punch his ticket to the U.S. Senior Open, taking co-medalist honors with a 3-under 69, and besting a field that included former Senior PGA Tour winner Mike Goodes. Dunlavey (pictured with pro co-medalist Carey Hodsden) also qualified for the Senior Open last year at The Broadmoor.

US Senior Open Q Results Highland CC https://t.co/saO36N5jLz pic.twitter.com/S3rtufLyCV
— Carolinas Golf Assoc (@CGAgolf1909) May 20, 2019

May 21

Todd Burgan

Todd Burgan (Knoxville, Tenn.) birdied the last hole to take the second and final qualifying spot at Harpeth Hills Golf Course in Nashville, Tennessee. Burgan, who made the quarters and semis in back-to-back U.S. Mid-Amateurs in 2009-10, shot a 73 to finish two shots behind medalist Willie Wood, who was the only player in the field to finish under par. On a day when only a third of the field was able to break 80, Burgan was the low amateur by three shots.

Kevin Vandenberg

Kevin Vandenberg (Pulaski, N.Y.) won a seven-man playoff for the final qualifying spot at Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont, New York. Vandenberg, who got into the U.S. Senior Open field in 2016 as an alternate, shot a 2-over 73 and parred the second playoff hole to earn his spot.

May 28

Tommy Brennan

Former Trans-Miss Senior champion Tommy Brennan (Covington, La.) shot a 1-under 71 to earn one of three qualifying spots at the Dye Course at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney, Texas. Scoring was tough -- former British Open champ Todd Hamilton was the only other player to break 74 -- but Brennan played steady, making 14 pars, a birdie and an eagle against only two bogeys. Brennan will play in his first U.S. Senior Open since he qualified for three straight from 2013-15.

Robin Bradbury

After bogeying three holes late in his round, Robin Bradbury (Superior, Colo.) birdied the final hole for an even-par 72 and co-medalist honors at Valley Country Club in Centennial, Colorado. If not for the birdie he would have faced a five-for-one playoff. Bradbury was the Colorado Golf Association's Senior Player of the Year in 2016, the same year that he last played in a USGA championship, making match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Roger Hoit

Roger Hoit (Summit, N.J.) birdied every par five at Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, Mass. to take the second and final qualifying spot. This will be the second U.S. Senior Open appearance for Hoit, who first qualified in 2015 when the championship was played at Del Paso CC in Sacramento, Calif.

May 29

Tony Soerries

In a 91-for-2 qualifier at The Woodlands (Texas) Country Club, Tony Soerries (Montgomery, Texas) shot a 2-under 70 to share medalist honors. Soerries, a former South Texas Amateur and Mid-Amateur champion, was among a large group hovering around even par, but two late birdies on 16 and 17 locked up his qualifying spot.

June 3

Amateurs took both spots at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Mark Mance (Whitefish, Montana) and 2017 California Senior Amateur champ Mark Morgan each shot 1-over 72 on the Lake Course and got through a 3-for-2 playoff.

Mark Mance & 2017 Cal Senior Amateur champ Mark Morgan advanced thru today's 18-hole #USSeniorOpen qualifier at The Olympic Club; both are amateurs https://t.co/YNpiZeX0eW pic.twitter.com/l9FNYcmx8m
— NCGA (@ncga1901) June 4, 2019

Roger Newsom

The qualifying field at The Homestead Resort (Cascades Course) in Hot Springs, Va. featured the deepest field of top senior amateurs of any qualifying site to date, with multiple state and USGA champions taking part. In all, amateurs took 9 of the top 11 spots in the qualifier, but with only two spots available it was recent Lowcountry Senior champion Roger Newsom (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Ray Morton (Lenoir City, Tenn.) advancing. Newsom shot a 3-under 67 to medal by four shots, and Morton defeated multiple USGA Senior champion Paul Simson (Raleigh, N.C.) in a playoff after both shot 71.

Jeff New

In Phoenix, Jeff New (Scottsdale, Ariz.) won a four-man playoff for the final spot at Arizona Country Club to earn his second trip to the U.S. Senior Open. New shot a 2-under 70 to get into the playoff. The former Carlton Woods and Trans-Mississippi Senior champion also qualified for the 2013 championship at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club.

June 4

Kevin King

Kevin King (Bluffton, S.C.) won the South Carolina Senior Championship a couple of weeks ago, and at Wexford Plantation in Hilton Head, S.C., he stayed hot by taking one of two available qualifying spots. King was 3 under through 10 holes, but lost four shots in four holes to put himself on the qualifying bubble. A birdie on his final hole got him to even par, earning him the final qualifying spot and avoiding what would have been a 4-for-1 playoff.

Amateurs took both spots at The Legends at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Ga., with Gasparilla Senior champion Bob Royak (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Robert Sheats (Atlanta, Ga.) both shooting 2-under 70 and clearing the field by three shots.

Bob Royak of Alpharetta & Robert Sheats of Atlanta share medalist honors and qualify for the @USGA U.S. Senior Open! Thanks to @legendsgolfatl for hosting the 18-hole sectional qualifier! ⛳💪
Final results 👉 https://t.co/saeFmKutao pic.twitter.com/iOFJowQp42
— Georgia State Golf Association (@GSGA) June 4, 2019

June 5

Tim Hogarth

Tim Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, qualified for the U.S. Senior Open at the qualifier at Soule Park GC in Ojai, Calif. Hogarth beat out another amateur, Robert Funk, for the second and final spot. Both had finished at 4-under 68, but Hogarth will advance to the championship proper. Funk was looking for his third straight U.S. Senior Open appearance, having made the cut in the championship in each of the last two years.

Hogarth is a fixture in California golf lore, having won several SCGA titles as well as many Los Angeles City Championship crowns. He also qualified for last year’s U.S. Senior Open but missed the cut.

June 7

Todd Schaap

Todd Schaap, 51, of Kenosha, Wis., was medalist at the qualifier at Meadowbrook Golf Club in Racine, Wis., and earned one of four available spots into the Senior Open. His 3-under 68 included 15 pars and three birdies.

Schaap’s comment to Wisconsin.Golf?

“Are you kidding? I’m a schmo.”

According to writer Gary D’Amato, Schaap is a member at Meadowbrook and Kenosha Country Club, where he worked as an assistant professional for seven years before regaining his amateur status about 17 years ago. He has won the Racine Tri-Course Championship and four Wisconsin State Golf Association titles, including the 1986 Boys’ Junior and the Mid-Amateur three times.

June 10

Eddie Hargett

Last year's North & South Senior champion Eddie Hargett (Blythewood, S.C.) shot a 4-under 66 to share medalist honors at Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, Maryland. Hargett was in good form coming into the qualifier, having finished runner-up at the Lowcountry Senior. Another amateur, Tucker Sampson (Chevy Chase, Md.), took the other co-medalist spot with his own 66. Sampson was the only player in the field to go bogey-free in his round.

Stephen Sear

Stephen Sear (Washoe Valley, Nev.) qualified for his second straight U.S. Senior Open, taking the second and final spot at Green Valley (Calif.) Country Club. Sear birdied his final hole to post a 2-under 70 and avoid what would have been a 4-for-1 playoff.

June 11

The final U.S. Senior Open qualifier was held on June 11 in the Kansas City area.

Jay Gregory

Jay Gregory (Lineville, Iowa) won a playoff for the final qualifying spot at the Raymore, Kansas qualifier. Gregory shot a 1-over 73 at The Golf Club at Creekmoor to advance to his first U.S. Senior Open.

What's Next

The first round of the 40th U.S. Senior Open will tee off at The Warren Course at Notre Dame on Thursday, June 27.

Results: U.S. Senior Open Local Qualifying

Place	Player	Location	Pts
Medalist	Tim Dunlavey	Spartanburg, SC	400
Medalist	Robin Bradbury	Superior, CO	400
Medalist	Tony Soerries	Montgomery, TX	400
Medalist	Mark Mance	Whitefish, MT	400
Medalist	Mark Morgan	Shingle Springs, CA	400

View full results for U.S. Senior Open Local Qualifying

About the U.S. Senior Open Local Qualifying

2019 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying Roundup

18 hole stroke play qualifying held at sites across the United States. Open to professionals and amateurs ages 50 and above. Handicap limit of 2.4 for amateurs.