Four Locals Qualify for U.S. Senior Open
PARAMUS, N.J. (May 21, 2015) - Four players qualified today in a field of 138 at Arcola Country Club in Paramus, N.J., at the U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifying Round and will head to Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, CA., June 25-28, to compete in the U.S. Senior Open.
Chilly temperatures and strong winds prevailed throughout the day, but six competitors were still able to shoot under par rounds. Four of them tied for the low qualifying round of the day, amateur Roger Hoit of Summit, N.J., Jim McGovern of Oradell, N.J., Fran Marrello of Plymouth, Conn. and Brent Studer of Manasquan, N.J. each carded a 2-under 70 to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open.
Hoit’s round started off slow, going 1-over through five holes, but he was able to finish 3-under on the final 13 holes thanks to birdies on 7, 8, and 9, and nine straight pars on the back for his 2-under 70. Studer on the other hand got hot late in the round, after being 1-over through 13 holes he caught fire and birdied three in a row on 14, 15, and 16 en route to his 2-under round.
McGovern’s day featured five birdies and three bogeys, also with a stretch of three straight birdies on his back nine. The White Beeches head pro just turned 50 this past February and will be competing in his first U.S. Senior Open. Marrello was steady at even par through 12 holes, and wasable to grab birdies on his 13th and 17th holes to qualify in stunning fashion.
Dan Levinson of New York, N.Y. and Jay Sessa of Garden City, N.Y. each carded a 1-under 71 and had a playoff for the first and second alternate spots. Sessa was able to par the first playoff hole and grab the first alternate, while Levinson bogeyed and will be the second alternate.
Arcola played to a par 72 at 6,408 yards.
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