ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 22, 2015) – This week begins the 36^th U.S. Senior Open Championship and some of the Met Area’s best are making the cross-country trip to compete at the scenic Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, California.

Jim McGovern, the current head professional at White Beeches Golf and Country Club comes into the field loaded with confidence after a strong start to his year. This will be the 50-year-old’s first time playing in the U.S. Senior Open after being eligible this year to qualify. In the past two months, the Oradell, N.J. native has won the New Jersey PGA Head Pro Championship, the NJSGA Senior Open, and the NJPGA Senior Match Play last week.

RELATED: McGovern Prepares for U.S. Senior Open

Brent Studer, of Manasquan, N.J. who was recently appointed the head professional at Metedeconk National Golf Club earlier this year, has also had his share of success this season. Studer, who turned 50 this April, won the NJPGA Charity Clambake earlier this month and had a top-10 finish at the NJSGA Senior Open. This will be Studer’s major championship since qualifying for the 1994 U.S. Open.

Roger Hoit, of Summit, N.J., is among the list of the 27 amateurs who will tee it up this week, and is the lone amateur from the Met Area. Hoit, a longtime member at Baltusrol, has career highlights that include winning the Ike Championship in 2006 and also finishing third in 2009.

Mark Mielke, the 1992 and 2008 Met Open champion and former head pro at Mill River Club, will be playing in his second U.S. Senior Open and 12^th major in his career this week. The now Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. resident went through qualifying in Texas at Miramount Country Club, where he grabbed the last qualifying spot by shooting a 70. Last month, Mielke played in the Senior PGA Championship.

Jerry Courville Jr., of Stratford, CT, will be playing in his third U.S. Senior Open and second straight this week. Courville played his way into the field at the Maryland sectional site at Lake Presidential Golf Club, where he shot a 72 to earn one of the final spots. Courville is the son of Jerry Courville Sr., one of the best amateurs in golf, and is a three-time Ike and Met Amateur winner. In 2009, the 56-year-old made the cut and finished in a tie for 28^th.

Fran Marrello, a 57-year-old from Plymouth, CT, will also be in the field this week. He has had an immense amount of success in various Connecticut events, winning both the Spring PGA Stroke Play and Senior Connecticut PGA Championship in the past month. Marrello has played in four U.S. Opens and will be playing in his second U.S. Senior Open.

RELATED: Starting Tee-times | Championship Facts

The 2015 U.S. Senior Open begins on June 25 with 18 holes played each day until June 28. After 36 holes, there will be a cut of 60 plus ties who will advance to the final rounds.  The Championship is open to any professional and amateur golfer who is 50 years of age as of June 22. An amateur is eligible with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4.

This will be the fifth USGA championship at Del Paso Country Club and the first since the 1982 U.S. Women’s Open. This event will have a starting field of 156 players at 6,994 yards to a par of 70.