UPDATED 6 p.m. (July 13, 2012) - A very memorable week came to an end on Friday for two Met Area standouts at the U.S. Senior Open in Lake Orion, Mich. Professional Bobby Heins of Old Oaks and amateur David Prowler of Bethpage both failed to make in their first appearances in the senior national championship. Heins, who has played in two U.S. Opens, followed up a first-round 78 with an 11-over 81 to finish T146 at the difficult Indianwood Golf & Country Club. Prowler bettered his opening round 82 with a second-round 79 to finish T149. The cut came at plus-4. 

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ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 9, 2012) – The 33rd U.S. Senior Open will be played July 12-15 at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan, and professional Bobby Heins of Old Oaks and amateur David Prowler of Bethpage will represent the Met Area in the field. As competitors, Heins and Prowler will add to the Met Area’s presence in the most prestigious championship for the 50-and-older set.

In 1980, the inaugural U.S. Senior Open was held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., and was won by Argentine great Roberto De Vicenzo. The event enhanced Winged Foot’s championship legacy and led to two more U.S. Senior Opens in the Met Area, in 1987 at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn., and 1990 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.

Met Area amateurs and professionals, including Jim Albus, Bill Britton, Mike Diffley, Darrell Kestner, Al Small, Ron Vannelli and George Zahringer III have all qualified for and played in the U.S. Senior Open, and Mahopac, N.Y., native Larry Laoretti remains the only Met Area player to ever win the championship when he did so in 1992. This year, Heins and Prowler get their shot to compete against the best seniors in the world.  

This is the second U.S. Senior Open appearance for Heins, the head golf professional at Old Oaks Country Club. At 61, Heins has many titles to his name, including back-to-back Met Opens in 1988 and ’89 and MGA Senior Opens in 2008 and ’09. He is also a six-time Westchester Open champion and four-time PGA Championship contestant, Heins has proved himself capable of winning and competing at the highest level golf has to offer.  

Playing golf out of Bethpage State Park, amateur David Prowler, 54, is playing in his first USGA championship. The U.S. Senior Open has never had an amateur champion, but has had several amateurs finish in the top 10 over the years. Prowler’s list of achievements includes a victory at the 2008 Richardson Invitational, top-five finishes at the 2009 and 2008 LIGA Stroke Play Championships, and a two top-tens in the MGA/MetLife Public Links Championship. He was also a member of the 2009 Stoddard Cup team.  

Qualifying for a USGA championship is an achievement in itself, and playing in the U.S. Senior Open allows players to walk alongside some of the greatest names in golf. Past champions include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Hale Irwin, and Lee Trevino, and competitors in this year’s field include Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Bernhard Langer and Craig Stadler.

Indianwood will be a stern test with its nearly 6,900-yard, par-70 layout. After Thursday’s and Friday’s rounds, the field of 156 seniors will be cut to top 60 scores and ties, something that Heins and Prowler are certainly gunning for as they begin their week in Michigan.

Complete coverage, including groupings and starting times are available on the championship website, and live scoring will begin on Thursday.

First-Round Starting Times (EDT):
Heins: 7:40 am, Tee 10
Prowler: 12:50, Tee 1