After college, Gregory turned professional and moved south, working as an assistant club professional at the Golf Club of Miami while also playing mini-tour golf for roughly three years.

“Back then there wasn’t a whole lot of money in it and I didn’t have a whole lot of money to back me,” he said of his decision to eventually trade golf for software. “It’s worked out for the best.”

Gregory found out earlier in the week that he had secured an invitation to play the British Senior Amateur for the first time. That tournament takes place July 9-12 at Saunton Golf Club in Braunton, England. He’s also scheduled to qualify for the U.S. Senior Amateur (though the British Senior overlaps the qualifier for which he’s currently registered).

It seems Gregory has found his second life in golf, and he credits much of that to a renewed mindset that perhaps is only possible later in life.

“I wish I had the mental strength when I was younger that I do now,” he said. “I think part of it is just realizing – my friend gave me some of the greatest advice – it’s just golf. When you’re younger, sometimes it’s the end of the world. But I’m still pretty competitive and my main competition is myself.”

In the super senior division, second-round leader Stephen Fox of Pinehurst, North Carolina, held on for a four-shot victory. He finished an impressive 4 under par with Dub Huckabee in second at even par. Marcus Beck was the next-closest player at 10 over.

Jim Gallagher of Charlotte, North Carolina, edged Charley Yandell in the legend division by one shot, finishing at 4 over.

George Owens of Suffolk, Virginia, won the super legend title by a single shot also, finishing at 14 over and one ahead of Johnny Blank.