TRIO ATOP LEADERBOARD AT SENIOR OPEN
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (August 27, 2007) – Two of the Met Area’s top veteran professionals and one highly accomplished amateur share the lead after the first round of the 11th MGA Senior Open Championship, presented by Canon, USA. Two-time New Jersey State Open champion Chris Dachisen of North Jersey Country Club, two-time Met Open champion (1988, ’89) Bobby Heins of Old Oaks, and two-time New Jersey Mid-Amateur champion Allan Small of Fairmount all shot even-par 70 on the 6,518-yard layout at Metropolis Country Club and hold a one-stroke lead over their closest pursuers. The field was trimmed to the low 40 and ties after today’s first round, and 56 players survived the cut, which came at six-over 76, and will return for tomorrow’s final round of the 36-hole championship.
A number of former MGA champions are also within striking distance of the lead: 1981 Met Open champ Kelley Moser of Westchester and two-time Met Open champ (1993, 1996) Bruce Zabriski (pictured, above) are both at one-over 71, as are Gary Ostregaof Hyatt Hilss and Tom Joyce of Glen Oaks. Darrell Kestner of Deepdale, a three-time Met Open champion and two-time MGA Senior Open winner, is two strokes back at 72, along with defending Senior Open champ Bill Britton of Twin Brooks and two-time MGA Senior Open winner (1998-’99) Russell Helwig of Essex Fells also came in at 72.
Including co-leader Small, a total of 25 amateurs made the cut. In a large group at 72 are reigning Ike champion George Zahringer III of Deepdale and Tom Graham of Fairfield.
Despite ideal weather and scoring conditions, the Tillinghast-designed layout at Metropolis stood up to the best senior players from across the Met Area. There were no sub-par rounds, and only three players shot even par. The winner will earn $6,000 from the $30,000 purse.
Tuesday’s tee times will begin at 8:30 a.m. For more information on the MGA Senior Open, contact Gene Westmoreland or Bob Nielsen at the MGA at (914) 347-4653. Follow the action with live scoring for the leading groups on www.mgagolf.org.
